PORT OF WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 6

PORT OF WANGANUI

Raising the Moles IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, Dee. 14. Some time ago’the Wanganui Harbour Board engaged the services of Mr. F. W. Furkert (late Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department) for the purpose of obtaining from him an opinion as to the best method to be employed in the proposed work of raising the harbour moles. Mr. Furkert has made a thorough inspection of the hti jL l »i!> t!ie quarries and the moles, and his detailed report was tabled at the board meeting this week. Mr. Furkert has not definitely ruled concrete out, but he has expressed the opinion that shell rock would be the cheaper proposition. When the report was tabled discussion indicated that the board had confidence in Mr. Furkert’s ability, but some difference of opinion arose as to whether the shell rock could be obtained as cheaply as was suggested.

A further meeting was held during the week to discuss the matter, at which Mr. Furkert said that practically all the arguments he had listened to had been placed before him during a previous visit to Wanganui. As far as the quarries were concerned, the rock cost 12/- a yard, in spite of the difiiculties that had been referred to. Reference had been made to repairs necessary to the plant, etc.; for the transport of the rock, but these repairs would be necessary in any case. Mr. Furkert advised calling for tenders, the alternative being given that the contractors could put in concrete blocks if they wanted to. If concrete blocks could be put in for the same price as shell rock, let them be used, but he did not think there was any chance of this being done. Mr. Furkert. said he was confident that big blocks of stone could be obtained. I’he former quarry foreman had said be could get 40-ton blocks if they were required. Mr. Furkert said he would not be as optimistic as that, but be had no hesitation in saying that blocks large enough for the board’s requirements could be obtained. Mr. Furkert said he was quite convinced that the work could be done more cheaply with shell rock than with concrete blocks.

After further discussion the board adopted Mr. Furkert’s report. On the motion of Mr. A. S. Burgess, the board decided that steps be taken to have the stripping at the quarries done by piecework under conditions to be arranged between Messrs. Furkert and Deem, and that tenders be called for delivering the stone as directed on to the moles, the Harbour Board to supply punts and tug; also that tenderers have the right to quote for the use of concrete blocks to be delivered at Castlecliff.