FLYING-BOAT BASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 26, 30 July 1938, Page 25

FLYING-BOAT BASE

AUCKLAND MOORINGS

IMPROVING BREAKWATER

Operations have been started by the Auckland Harbour Board in improving the flying-boat harbour off Mechanics' Bay, which it is anticipated will be used by Pan-American Airways before the end of the year and by the Tasman air-mail service early next year, states the "New Zealand Herald." Workmen are now engaged in preparing foundations on the eastern rubble tide deflector which are to carry reinforced concrete caissons and on which will be built a roadway. :

These caissons will form an unbroken wall and will project five feet above the high-water level. The roadway will be 18 feet wide ,and there will be a suitable turning place for vehicles at the projecting end of this reconstructed breakwater.

As it is desirable to speed up the work, the board has ordered the ren> forcing steel for the caissons from Canada, which is. able to give delivery in New Zealand within two months of the receipt of the order, this being a considerable improvement on Australian deliveries.

The reconstructed breakwater should ensure an area of sufficiently calm water for the moorings of flying-boats; At present heavy seas pour over the breakwater in rough weather and when the Samoan Clipper: was last in Auckland it \ was deemed desirable on the threat of rough weather to removeher to .'an anchorage at Islington Bay.