HARBOR BOARD REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 12205, 25 May 1904, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD REPORTS

The following are summaries of the reports to be presented to the ordinary meeting of the Harbor. Board to-morrow : The Works Committee recommend that notice be given to Mr Keast. the wharfinger, that his services will be dispensed with in one month from June 1. Accounts totalling £4,005 17s 4J are recommended for payment. The Acting-engineer (Mr J. Blair Mason) forwards the monthly report on the various works and operations of the Board, as follows : Dredging.—Dredge 222 is now dredging between piles 25 and 26, and 15 and 16, Victoria Channel, and is working steadily. During the month of April she lifted fortysix loads, or about 55,000 cubic yards, which have been deposited on the flat by the Vulcan, at a combined cost of BJd per cubic yard. The new cast steel runner for the Vulcan was successfully cast on the 20th inst., and is now being annealed. A new driving pinion for runner shaft, also new cutter and gearing, which were urgently needed, are now under construction, and along with the new runner will be fitted shortly. Tbis wifi, it is hoped, enable pumping on to the Pelichet Bay reclamation to be resumed. Improvement Works, Lower Harbor.— During the past four weeks sixteen barge loads, containing about 2,400 cubic yards, were discharged on the line of wall’ at a cost of 2s 6d pier cubic yard, making up to date 238 barge loads, or about 27,200 cubic yards. On the 11th inst. I visited the works, and commenced a- marine survey of the waters between Harrington Point ’and the Kaik, in order to obtain a record of the conditions of depth and current now existing. Such a survey will serve as a base for noting any future changes that may occur during the construction of tie wail or other works that mav be found necessary. Victoria Wharf Extension and New Shed.—The contractor for the wharf extension commenced pile-driving on the 13th inst. The contractors for the new shed commence to-day to continue the protection sheeting 250 ft from U shed. Part of the piles for the new shed foundations have arrived, and a start will shortly be made to drive them. Sundry Works.—The filling for road approach to Victoria wharf extension is bermr extended as material offers, and 50 cubic yards of metal spread at U shed, where the traffic is increasing. The contractors for new boiler for s.s. Plucky are well advance with their work, and’will have the boiter ready for the sheer-legs in a fortnight Visit to Heads Works.—On the 17th inst the chairman, the chairman of Works Com 1 miTtee. accompanied by the harbor-master and mr-srif, paid a visit of inspection to the Heads works. At their suggestion .it wifi bo my endeavor to furnish an early repert on tbe present positron of these works and other matters connected with the maintenance and improvement of the Board’s worts in the Lower Harbor. It i s hoped that, given suitable weather, the snrvev wT £ necessaiy to this end will be completed early in June.