THE KING'S WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 463, 23 March 1909, Page 6

THE KING'S WHARF.

h — ; — "THE FINEST IN AUSTRALASIA." ■ "Wo expect to fly tho flag to-morrow," said a gentleman interested in tho King's Wliarf contract.' Tho flying of tho flag, as nil builders know, signifies tho completion, lof tho job. In tlio oaso of tlio King's Wharf, tho latest and northernmost of Wellington's improssive array, the job lias been a long one. Tho contract was let to Mr. C. P. Pulley, in Septomber, 1906, and tho timo. allowed for , the work expired on September 30 last year, so that nearly six months longer than anticipated has been taken with tho work, a delay largely occasioned by the difficulty in getting supplies of ironbark piles in tho early months of contract timo. King's Wharf has been described as tlio finest wharf in Australasia. It certainly is a very impressive and expensive ono, and no detail has been overlooked in strengthening the structure beyond all conceivablo neods. Tho wharf projects into tho harbour from Waterloo Quay for 861 feet, and is piled by 42 bays of 20ft. each. In tho construction, 903 ironbark piles wcro used, tho longest measuring 65ft. (tlireo corner piles at tlio end of the wliarf). The wharf is 160 ft. wide, and has two largo doublestoried sheds of unique design, each 329 ft. 6in. by 45ft. 6in. The sheds, which are built of wood, aro surrounded on tlio outside by a gallery about 6ft. broad on a level with tho first floor, and by a system of drop doors (erected on tho counterweight principle) tho wholo sido of tho shod oar bo opened on a level with tho gallery. As showing to what lengths tho engineer (Mr. W. Ferguson) lias gono in making the structure stable, the flooring of ■ the upper flat was specified to bo three-inch jarrah planks, which are tongued in the centre to tako a strip of ljin. 16-gaugo black iron, so that not so much as a pin could drop between the planks. Everything is provided for on tlio same scale, and those whose opinions are entitled to. respect state that the sheds will bo sound when tlio wliarf itself —strong as it is—has succumbed to tlio onslaught of the corroding sea and tho in-' sidious teredo. Tho outermost shed terminates in a tower, which will bo more ornamental than useful. Tho wharf, with tho exception of tho 29ft. on each side reserved for a railway track, is decked with jarrah blocks (including tlio floors of tlio sheds). Tho vehicular way—between tho railway track and the sheds—is 28ft. 3in. on each sido. Tho contract price of the King's Wharf was .£79,515. Tlio magnificent sli'cds created on tlio King's Wharf aro covered with Malthoid Roofing, a flexible mineral material manufactured' by the Tarafline Paint 1 . Company, of San Prancisco. The action of sea-spray does iwt corrode Malthoid, henco this material is singularly suitable for roofing buildings exposed to atmospheres laden with alkaline or acid vapour. Local agents aro Messrs. J. Dutliio and Co., Ltd., Willis Street, and James W. Jaok, Bank Chambers, Lambton Quay. 6582