ROCK AT QUARANTINE ISLAND

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 2

ROCK AT QUARANTINE ISLAND

EARLY REMOVAL STRONGLY URGED Described as the only danger to 'slapping between the Heads and the JDunedin wharves, the -rock in the between ' Quarantine and Goat island is giving the Otago Harbour ,Hoard, some, concern. At last night’s '..meeting of the board members strongly purged the early, removal of the rock. ; Early in the meeting, Mr D. F. H. Sharpe said he understood that the .harbour master’s report ,on the rock at, the islands was to be sent to memibers and discussed at-the board nieci;dng. The holding over of the report ,Would delay the matter at least for month.. The. Chairman said the Standing Committee had decided that the report should be held over-till its next meeting, the report to be circulated in the ‘meantime. - -

: When the harbour _ master’s report :came up for .discussion, Mr Sharpe said, that there was no more than 16 ft to 20ft of , water on the rock at low tide. Dredging in the. Upper Harbour iwas useless iinless the- rock was re--moved. ■ • • ■

The Chairman: We realise that, Mr vSharpe. It is unreasonable to expect Overseas ships ‘to take the risk of passing the islands; The position was serious, as petrol companies had installed tanks in Dunedin and the oil ships ■Were- big vessels. ■Mr J. H. Duncan asked when the rock-boring plant would he ready. •- The Chairman explained that no auithority had yet been given to the engineer to remove, the rock. The only -instructions'given were to blast away -the' pinnacle. The work would cost £7iooo, and it was a question of finance. ■■■•,'-

■j Mr Sharpe: Only a month ago the board decided to spend £25,000 on a lirew wharf; Why cannot we spend this £7,000. . Mr Goiv asked the engineer what ‘■work could be carried out with £2,000 already set aside. Mr Wilkie: Not very much after the boring plant has been purchased. Mr Gow said ho intended to call a meeting of the Standing Committee next week, and the engineer would bo able to give some indication then. “Whatever tho - cost, the work ■should ho done,” said Mr-Loudon. Although there might not bo any specific resolutions On the books, the board had on several occasions decided that the 1 work must he carried out as scon as possible. The removal of tho rock was one of the big planks in the 1925 harbour platform. If the harbour were to be in proper condition the rock should be removed immediately. Mr Gow said the work was not provided for under the £350,000 proposals. The’ cost would have" to be met out of revenue.

.. Mr Moller; Cannot tlio treasurer give us a report as to how the moiicy can he found? He suggested that the job would take two years. The' Chairman: I should say that .when the holes are bored and sufficient ■explosives put in, the work will take 10 minutes. (Laughter.) Captain M‘Donald said the only danger to ships between the heads and the Dunedin wharves wan at the islands. ! A ship could ran on a sand bank and escape undamaged. Mr Scollay • Should not the ship (owners, be warned of the,risk of bringing vessels through the islands? Mr Moller: I sincerely trust that |the reporters will not publish’this discussion, as it is a very serious thing for Otago Harbour. (The islands have been there for all time and only two jK»idents have v

Mr Sharpe: More than two accidents. He had brought the matter up to show the public why big ships could not bo brought to Dunedin, The rock meant that‘shipmasters courted disaster. . •

Mr Mollcr; Have the islands ever stopped a ship from coming up to Dunedin ?

Mr Gow said the owners refused to bring a ship exceeding 480 ft past tho islands. They feared that in the narrow channel the vessel’s stem would swing and strike the rock. , The Harbour Master (Captain M‘Lean)‘ admitted that the chairman’s statement was correct.

Captain M‘Donald; tho shipping people, know about the rock, and tho Shipping _ Committee in Wellington gave tho instructions. Mr Moller said that, the reseno funds could be drawn upon to pay the cost of the removal of the rock.

Mr Sharpe said the harbour master had stated at tho last meeting in committee that the removal oi the rock would lift a burden off his mind. Mr Dickson said tho board was making a great deal more of the matter than, was necessary. They were crying stinking fish. Big. boats, provided their draughts were not excessive, wero coming up to Dunedin. The reserve funds should not bo touched, as large loans were falling duo.in 1934. After further discussion, tho board decided to instruct the secretary to prepare a report on tho finance to carry out the work. A defeated amendment was that the engineer he instructed to take the necessary steps to remove the rock as soon as drilling plant was available.