EVER CHANGING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 142, 15 December 1908, Page 8

EVER CHANGING.

THE WATER-FRONT. .WELLINGTON'S HARBOUR WORKS. A map of Wellington harbour does not long stand without amendment. Many maps have been, made since the days when small boys (now grandfathers) fished for spotties from -tho little wharf near the ancient Customhouse, part of which is still extant in Old Customhouse-street, and the maps have shown that man in Wellington has ever been battling with the sea and beating it back. Wharf-building and reclaiming have been going on briskly for years, and will continue for many years yet. The shoreward half of the King's Wharf is practically out of tho contractor's hands, but the outer portion (including the goods-shed) will not be finished for a, month or two. Every week sees a ohangq at the dock site. Many a long week was required for the work that is known by the expert as "false" and by other people as temporary. The preliminary operations required great quantities of timber and much pile-driving, but the permanent work is now well begun. Some concrete has gone into its ocean-bed for a fast sleep, and much more will follow. It is expected that tho dock area will be a very busy place in the near future, when more of the machinery that has been ordered arrives. Out at Petonc the wharf has advanced as quickly as could be expected, in view of a difficulty in getting adequate supplies of "(ronbark. The other day, however, a surprise packet oi the tough Australian wood reached Wellington, and with this Christmas-box the contractors hope to have their task done within schedule time, which expires on 31st December. The Harbour Board's engineer (Mr. Cachernaille) anticipates that the wharf will be ready for regular traffic early in the New Year. Next Saturday the Duchess, with a party of picnicking school children, will be the frsfc steamer to call at t"he new wharf. Preliminary work, such as surveying, required for the Evans Bay project is being done. It is anticipated that by the middle of next year the contracts for enlarging the Miramar wharf, road improvements, and, incidentally, the reclamation of several acres, will be let. Timber and other materials needed for additions to the Rona Bay wharf are in Wellington, and are ready to be towed over at the first opportunity, while the work is going on the board will repair' the subsidence at the approach to the wharf. Some time in the New Year tenders will be called for an extension of the breastwork at the Waterloo-quay reclamation to enable the board to win more ground from the sea. 'The new land already made is passing into the Government's possession at something like cost price, in accordance with an agreement under wHich the board was permitted to operate in that quarter, but the further reclamation will remain among the board's assets. Clyde-quay wharf is steadily progressing. It is questionable whether the board will consider it necessary to make any appeciable alterations at the Queen's Wharf in the near future. It is anticipated that the completion of the King's wharf will largely remove the complaints of overcrowding (especially in the goods sheds) raised at various times during the past year or two.