HARBOR BOARD REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 11717, 28 November 1901, Page 1

HARBOR BOARD REPORTS

At to-day's meeting of the Harbor Board the following reports were presented ; ' Re reclamation works, Mr Rawson reports : As the reclamation works about to be undertaken at Ravensbourne will not take many months to complete, it is necessary to consider, the question of the next area to be reclaimed. I am of opinion that the mud flats at Pclichet Bay, between the lime works and the railway, offer the moat advantageous site. It would be necessary to have an embankment, confining the Water of Leith, and also to erect staging to carry the pipes to within about 400 ft to 600 ft from the channel. I recommend that a contract be prepared for an embankment of rubble rock and quarry spoil, the approximate cost of which would be about £2,500. -This would give an area to reclaim of about thirty acres. It would also be necessary to give tho local authority notice to extend the Frederick street sewer as far as the forQshoro. Mr Rawson’s general report reads thus: —Dredging: Good progress continues to be made with tins work. The greater part of the Victoria wharf and across to and including the channel has been dredged out to 20ft; and a cut is now being taken out opposite the lower end of the Rattray street wharf, where some shoaling has taken place. This will be completed in a few days, and will then give good water to the approaches of all the wharves. During the month of October 222 lifted and deposited by the Vulcan forty-eight loads, or about 39,700 cubic yards, which were pumped on to the reclamation at Lower Hanover street at a combined cost of about s|d per cubic yard. The Priestman also lifted 104 punt.loads, or 2,496 cubic yards, and has now completed tho dredging of the Lower Jetty street wharf. The reclamation undertaken for the Railway Department is now completed, and the quantity, as arrived at by an independent survey, as agreed upon, is 56,911 cubic yards, at Is 3d (£3,556 18s 9d). , As the rest of the reclamation as far as Frederick street is about completed, I propose early next month to move the plant to Ravensbourne, and at the same time to dock 222 for her annual overhaul. New buckets and links for Dredge 222: This contract is completed. Some of the buckets have been placed on the ladder, and are doing good work. Extension and widening of Victoria wharf:

Tho upper berth of 300 ft is completed, and will be available for tho opening wool season. The pile-driving has been suspended, awaiting a further shipment of piles, which are now daily expected. Open culverts at Ravensbonme: Good progress is being made with this work. The other work in connection with this reclamation is also well in hand, including the erection of trestle piers to cany the pipes, catch-water drains, and embankment Various works in hand include the formation and metal- ' ling at the new shed, Jetty street wharf; the raising of the crane at this berth on a portable frame; and sundry repairs to wharves. Increased shed accommodation at the Victoria wharf: I have gone carefully into this matter, and recommend that the shed at the lower end of wharf be lengthened 80ft and widened 25ft, thus giving a shed 180 ft long by 75ft wide, or with a floor space of 13,500 square feet. This should give ample cargo accommodation for tho larger class of boats which, when the wharf is completed, it is proposed to berth at this place. I submit a proposed plan of this work, and recommend that tenders be called.