HARBOUR FACILITIES

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 22

HARBOUR FACILITIES

VICTORIA WHARF RAILWAY CONNECTION NOW IN USE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTED A little over four' months from the commencement of the work of building the marshalling yards, including .a ramp, from the north end of Victoria wharf to the Harbour Board’s slipway, and the construction of the back shunt to the Leith Canal, the connection by rail between the Victoria wharf and tlie main railways system is now open for traffic, the first load of cargo being discharged into trucks on the wharf on Thursday from the Karctu. That ship and the City of Bagdad both used the connection yesterday, when an inspection of the scheme was made by the Harbour Board and representatives of bodies primarily interested iu the city and the development of the port. For 23 years rail connection with the Victoria, wharf has been projected, and finally achieved at a cost of just over £6,000. The history of the negotiations is both prolonged and stormy, the Railway Department ns- well as some sections of local' opinion having been in opposition to the scheme. However, it is now generally agreed that the completion of the scheme is a subject, for commendation, particularly as much depended on the linking of this wharf by rail before the reconstruction of the Birch street wharf could be undertaken, and opportunity to acquaint Dunedin and provincial interests with the future policy of the Harbour Board to, improve the port and its facilities was taken at a function after the reception. There are two sets of rails on the Victoria wharf and the shunting is at present being done bv a heavy tractor. Tiie future haulage has yet to be decided. The ramp leading to the marshalling yards, with three sets of lines eacli 700 ft in length, is of an almost imperceptible grade. The yard has been brought to the required level and solid-

ity by the use of spoil from the Leith Canal; the material has been cheap, the only cost to the board being the cartage. The work has been carried out most expeditiously. Representatives of the Chamber ofCommerce, Expansion League, Otago Fruitgrowers’ Council, shipping companies, Importers’ and Shippers’ Association, Manufacturers’ Association, and Farmers’ Union, and Messrs'E. 0. Hazlett and J. Loudon and Captain Coll M'Donald (ex-chairmen of the board) were among those who inspected the works, and were later the guests of the chairman (Mr J. B. Waters) at an appropriate function in the board room._ A brief history of the negotiations since 1912 to obtain railway connection with the wharf was given by the secretary (Mr James Renton). ; “ The rail connection at Victoria wharf which you haye just had an opportunity of inspecting forms another connecting link between sea transport and the railway system of this province,” said Mr Waters. “ It is the obvious and logical corollary to the Victoria Channel and the Victoria wharf, and while it will facilitate the handling of inward bulk cargo to country points on rail, it is hoped that it will be of still greater benefit to the fruitgrower, the farmer, and the exporter.” Previous boards had often been criticised for improving the Upper Harbour in order to make it navigable for overseas steamers, but Mr Waters submitted that such criticisms were made without full knowledge of the facts. Hi the first place, the critics forgot that harbour space at Port Chalmers was distinctly limited, and that, except at very great expense, it would be difficult to provide more berthage accommodation than was already in existence, to say nothing of the space required for sheds and railway layout. In the second place, no board conldi long have resisted Dunedin pressure for adequate facilities, and he was of opinion that they should bo thankful that at an early stage the harbour hoard of these days decided on the Victoria Channel and the Victoria wharf, as the greater portion of these works was carried out when wages and material were less than half the presentday cost. _ In his opinion the failure to provide sinking funds was the only serious mistake of their predecessors. That omission compelled the Harbour Board in recent years to build up a substantial reserve in’lieu of a sinking fund, and in order to provide thiat, necessary works, such as wharf improvements and renewals, were almost entirely shelved. Now that the loan renewals had been successfully negotiated and the board’s finances readjusted, it was faced with the urgent necessity of bringing the working plant into a reasonable state of efficiency, and with this object in view the present board had agreed upon the following programme of works:—(l) Completion of rail connection with Victoria wharf, £5,500: (2) extension of Bavensbouriie wharf by 80ft, £2,200; (3) the widening of the Leith Canal, £30,000; (4) the widening and strengthening of Bowen Pier, £13.000; (5) the reconstruction of Birch street wharf, £40.000; (6) the general improvement of George street pier, £27.000. Tile estimated cost of these works amounts to £117.700, of which £35,000 would bo provided from loan money and the balance from reserves recently accumulated, and from revenue. Of these works, rail connection with Victoria. wharf, as they had seen that day, had just been completed. The Leith canal widening _ was in hand and would be, finished within two years. The timber for Bowen pier would be delivered about March or April, and it was hoped that BoWeu pier would be completed by November next. "The board would then proceed with the reconstruction of Birch street wharf. That would occupy about two years, and would provide a very fine modern wharf carrying three lines of rail. If finances permitted the board would at

the same time carry on improvements to George street pier, finishing first the south side, then the north side. These improvements included the provision on this wharf of two five-ton cranes. When that work was completed it would be possible to berth from four to five oversea boats at Port Chalmers during the peak of the export season. .In addition to the foregoing, the board intended to provide new quarters for waterside workers and office accommodation on Rattray street wharf for Customs officials. He -thought they would agree that this programme, together with the usual administration and maintenance of the port,, would keep the board’s Staff very fully employed for- the nest two or three years. He expressed sincere appreciation of the work done by previous boards, and particularly of the signal service rendered by Mr J. M‘C. Dickson, Mr John Loudon, Mr K. -C. Hazlett, Captain Coll M'Donald, and Mr H. C. Campbell, also by Mr W. J. Bardsley, the late secretary lii regard to the Victoria wharf rail connection, Mr Waters expressed appreciation of the energy with which the board’s engineering staff and the workers employed had prosecuted this work. They had given an excellent job, promptly carried out, and he took the opportunity of saying _ Thank you' ” The board was also indebted to Mr Morey and Mr Beck, of the New Zealand Railway Engineers’ Department, and to the foreman platelayer they engaged for the board. Their assistance had greatly facilitated the planning and construction of the lines and marshalling yard, for whicn. the board was particularly grateful. “ I think the information I have given will prove that the hoard is doing its best to provide adequate and efficient shipping facilities in the port of Otago, under which head we include, without distinction, Dunedin, Ravensbourne, and Port Chalmers,” concluded Mr Waters. Mr John Loudon said he was very pleased that the Railways Board had gone back on the hard and fast ” obstructionist tactics previously adopted. . He could never understand the decision of the Railways Board nor the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce, and other people in Dunedin towards the connection. Their attitudes showed a lack of vision in regard to the harbour. However, all was well that ended well, and citizens would congratulate themselves in the near future on the completion of the connection. Whim the programme of works outlined by Mr Waters was carried out, the Port of O.tago would be up to date. Captain M'Donald recalled the criticism of his action in having the rails laid on the wharf as a preliminary to a public demand for railway connection. From hia wrong, their had come right, arid the facilities now given would enhance the name of the port. Other speakers who voiced their pleasure at the carrying out of the rail connection were Messrs J. H. Duncan and W. Begg (members of the board), Mr M. Myers (on behalf of tile Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), Mr G. J. Errington (Otago Expansion League), Mr A. C, Cameron (Otago branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union), Mr D. Leslie (O.tago Fruitgrowers’ Council), and Mr E. Wood (Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association). Mr Duncan said he specially wished •to thank Mr J.-Loudon, Captain Coll M'Donald, and Mr H. C. Campbell for assistance they had given in having the work brought to a successful conclusion, also Mr G. W. Reid (a member of the Railways Board), and the Dunedin newspapers, whose willing co-operation had been a big factor in the success of the undertaking.