HARBOUR WORKS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 13

HARBOUR WORKS

Important Development Plans MEETING THE NEEDS OF TRADE New Wharves And ' Extensions lu his survey of port affairs during the last financial year, the chairman 'of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. D. J. McGowan, at the annual meeting of the board last, night, dealt _ with works in progress, and outlined important plans for extensive developments of wharves and sheds to meet the growing needs of the port and future developments of trade and shipping. The chairman said “the comparatively strong position in which the board now finds itself cannot be attributedto recent years, but the credit must be given to earlier boards and administrations who established the present financial system on a sound business-like basis. Statements have been made here and abroad in regard to the necessity of providing for serious trade fluctuations and slump conditions.’’ This board, in the past, had provided for a period of falling trade, and members would remember that in the depression years the board was not only able to carry on without retrenching its staff, but it actually put in hand capital and other works, involving the employment of a large number of men. The fine berthage provided at Aotea Quay was an actual example of such a policy, the extra berthage provided there assisting the port of Wellington in avoiding cargo congestion and shipping delays. ■ The various works and operations ot the board during the past year were given in full detail in the executive officers’ reports which were now before members, and he therefore did not propose to do more than refer to one or two matters that appeared to deserve special attention. Flying-Boat Terminal. In conjunction with the City Council, the board had endeavoured to keep under the notice of the Government the case of Wellington Harbour as a suitable base for flying-boats, either for the proposed trans-Tasman air service or any other service that may be established. The Government had now set up a commission to investigate this matter, and he was quite confident that, from expert opinion that had already been given, and more especially from the experience that had been gained from the recent visit of the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centaurus in charge of Captain J. W. Burgess, the claims of Wellington Harbour as a main terminal could not be overlooked.

In the engineer’s report was a reference to the progress of the construction of the new store, No. 49, at Aotea Quay. The main dimensions of this store were: Length over all, 650 feet; width,. 102 feet 9 inches; height under crane tracks, 24 feet; and under roof tie beams, 31 feet 6 inches. The floor area would be 64,100 square feet, and the stacking space 1,158,000. cubic feet. •Compared with store No. 37, on the i’ipitea Wharf, the floor area would be about 20 per cent less, but the stacking space would, be about, 20 per cent, greater. : This' store, when completed, should prove a very valuable addition to the present store accommodation, with the special advantage _ that it would be connected to the railway system. Future Developments. During the year, said the chairman, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce had asked the board for an assurance that early steps would be taken to improve the present shed accommodation, particularly at the Queen’s Wharf in order to facilitate' the landing and delivery of cargo. The inquiry of the chamber of commerce had given him the opportunity of obtaining a report from the general manager giving a comprehensive survey of the requirements of the port for the next ten years. A good many of the schemes outlined had been discussed by previous boards, but he was now putting them forward with the idea of letting their clients know that the board intended to keep the port in line and, if possible, ahead of the needs of ships and shippers:— 1. Provision of a wharf for produce and local cargo between the Clyde Quay Wharf and Taranaki Street Wharf. 2. The widening, for traffic and cargo purposes, of the Jervois Quay Breastwork, and also Sheds 14, 16, 18 and 20. 3. The widening of the outer tee of Queen’s Wharf and the construction of larger cargo sheds thereon. 4. The widening, for traffic and cargo purposes, of the Customhouse Quay breastwork. 5. On account of the widening of the Queen’s Wharf, the conversion of the present Railway Wharf into a Ferry Wharf with a two-storied shed, the top floor for passengers and the bottom floor for cargo. 6. Provision of the coal-handling facilities at the northern end of the city wharves. , 7. The replacement of the present King's Wharf cranes, which are now unable to work the more modern overseas vessels, 8. Additions to cool store No. 27 to provide for greater cool storage space for cheese, fruit and possibly butter. 9. The construction of the Thorndon Wharf. 10. The building of two or more concrete stores on the Aotea Quay breastwork, and the provision of cargo-handling cranes at this breastwork suitable for overseas vessels discharging and receiving cargo. The board had already authorised the engineer to prepare, after consultation with the general manager, a general scheme of future works with approximate estimates and sketches for consideration of the board. Involved in this scheme of development would be the question of finance, but this would be dependent on time and trade factors.