LYTTELTON'S DOCK

Evening Post, Issue 82, 6 April 1936, Page 15

LYTTELTON'S DOCK

EXTENSION PROPOSAL

AN ADVERSE REPORT

(Bjr Telegraph—Press.. Association.) '

CHRISTCHURCH, April 5.

An adverse report on the proposed extension of the graving dock at Lyttelton was received by the Lyttelton Harbour Board at a meeting on Saturday from the board's engineer (Mr. P. W. Fryer).

He~ reported that it was practically impossible/ to lengthen the dock because of its closeness tq the railway line at the upper end and the unfavourable nature of the bottom at the lower end. In his opinion, the widening would be of little benefit without an increase" in the depth, which would involve almost complete reconstruction. Mr. Fryer argued that the case for widening had been weakened almost to vanishing point by the provision of large docks at Wellington and Port Chalmers, especially as, with no addition to the length and depth, the increase in usefulness would be very small indeed.

Even disregarding the financial aspect, he did not consider the widening was justified because the number of extra vessels which could be accommodated would be very small, and with two larger docks, within such easy steaming distance, at Wellington and Port Chalmers, he doubted whether there would be any increased demand for the dock at all.

Consideration of the report was deferred until Mr. t Fryer's return from Australia.