OTAGO HARBOUR

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 13

OTAGO HARBOUR

WHARVES AT PORT CHALMERS IMPROVEMENTS AGAIN DISCUSSED The improvements to he made to the .Port Chalmers wharves were again under discussion by the Harbour Board at its monthly meeting last night, when the following were present:—Messrs J. B. Waters (chairman), J. Preston, D. F. H. Sharpe, R. S. Thompson, F. E. Tyson, R. Duncan, J. Smith, T. Scollay, R. Harrison, D. Copland, J. 11. Duncan. The Standing Committee reported having received and noted a communication from the Marine Department, forwarding approved plan of the proposed widening on the northern side of Bowen pier. Regarding a letter from the District Engineer of Railways asking whether the present proposal to extend this wharf on the northern side for 600£t could bo varied to give another 9(Jft or 100 ft of extension, thereby giving increased room for shunting at the outer end of the wharf, and the report of the engineer, the Standing Committee recommended that the necessary steps be taken to provide for the widening of Bowen pier for a further 100 ft, at an estimated cost of £1,401.

Mr Scollay expressed his gratification that at last the problem had been tackled. He hoped the work would be pushed ahead during the winter, and that, all things being equal, Port Chalmers shipwrights and carpenters should have preference of employment. If the work were to be restricted to the board’s wharf staff the completion would be very uncertain.

The Secretary reported that he had advised the Port Chalmers Shipwrights’ Union that few extra men would be employed, but the union members would be favourably considered.

The Engineer said he anticipated that the work would he completed by the end of November. Once the pile' driving was done perhaps two or four extra men would be employed. Mr Scollay: Employing two to four extra men on a job like that does not ,seem like giving all the employment we should

Mr J. H. Duncan raised the question of the obstacle caused to the working of the wharf by the mice ot trucks from the fish stage, and the engineer replied that the railway engineer had stated that he had plans for overcoming the difficulty. He had no definite information as to the department’s proposal. Mr Sharpe contended that congestion would be inevitable unless a set of rails for the fish trucks was laid down on the other side of the fish landing. Mr Thompson said the board had been criticised for the state of the Port Chalmers wharves. The critics should bo reminded that the hoard find controlled the wharves for only six years and had set out to make improvements at the first opportunity. The recommendation was approved, subject to the engineer being satisfied that the arrangements to be made for the handling of fish would not interfere with the working of the wharf. Last year, said Mr Scollay, the hoard received from “ a wharf and a quarter ” —those at Port Chalmers—£l7,ooo from cargo dues and £22,000 from ships’ dues. The improvements were being paid for out of the earnings of the wharves. An additional sum of £2,120 could be expected in the ensuing year from the new charge of -id a ton on expert cargo and Is a ton on import cargo handled there. It was high time that the board spent a “ few pounds ” on improving the wharves. HEAVY PAYMENTS AHEAD. A net credit balance of £17,000 was reported. ‘The Chairman: We have a very healthy balance at present, hut ■ we have to meet £23,000 for interest on July 1. The receipts for the seven months ended April 30 were £93,574, comparative receipts for previous years being: 1934-35, £92,101; 1933-34, £84.941; 1931-32, £80,727; 1929-30, £106,375. REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS. A communication was received from the King Edward Technical College Parents, Association requesting a donation in cash or goods towards a sale of work in connection with the raising of a sum of £2,000 for the purpose of erecting a new gymnasium for the college. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, it was decided to advise the association that the hoard regretted that it had no funds available for this purpose. The following donations were approved:—£lo 10s to both the St. John Ambulance Association and the British Sailors’ Societv; £5 5s to fho Harbour Board Social Committee for the annual social and dance. NEW RELIEF RATES. A letter was received from the 1 Labour Dep;r Inieiit advising the new rates

of payment under scheme No. 5, and sustenance, and asking for the support of the board. It was decided to comply with the request. CHAIRMAN S HORORARIUM. The chairman’s honorarium for the coming year was fixed at £2OO, Mr Thompson remarking that there was no question that the honorarium had never been better earned than last year. BIRCH STREET WHARF. The Marino Department forwarded the approved plan of proposed reconstruction of the Birch street wharf. The Standing Committee recommended for approval the report of the engineer, advising that as a result of pile driving tests. recently carried out, much longer piles would be required for this work than was anticipated, and that the additional cost for piles and extra work was estimated at £3,000; and, further, that the probable increase in general wages in the near future had also a bearing on the cost of the work, the increased cost being estimated at £1,300, making a total revised estimate for the whole work of £44,942. The report was adopted. The District Engineer of Railways advised that proposals of_ reconstruction of this wharf were suitable as far as the department was concerned. MUSSEL BAY RECLAMATION. The Port Chalmers Borough Counciladvised that the council had been spreading street sweepings, etc., on Mussel Bay to combat the sand drift nuisance, And asked for information in regard to the resumption of reclamation in this area. The Standing Committee recommended for approval the report of the engineer advising that there was no possibility of operating the Vulcan at Port Chalmers until a new transformer bad been installed, and suggesting that tho* completion of the reclamation be undertaken ns soon as the necessary electrical equipment came to hand, by which time ho anticipated that the dredging programme would fit in with that suggestion. Mr Scollay asked when the electrical equipment was expected to ai-rive. “It has been cabled for and is expected to come to hand within six months.” replied Mr Waters. “ That will fit in with our dredging programme and the shifting of the Vulcan.” The recommendation was adopted. PHOTOGRAPH FOR OVERSEAS. Concerning the disposal of the framed enlarged photograph of Dunedin and Port Chalmers forwarded by the board through the Department of Industries and Commerce to the Empire Exhibition at Johannesburg, the Standing Committee recommended that at the termination of the exhibition the New Zealand Commissioner he requested to forward the picture to the High Commissioner, London, for presentation to the British Industries Fair, and failing its acceptance, the photograph be left in the hands .of the High Commissioner to dispose of as he shall think fit. The recommendation was adopted. TOWING BEAM FOR DREDGE. The report of the ■ sub-committee advising the acceptance of the tender, in the sum of £283, by Messrs..!. Sparrow and Sons Ltd. for a towing beam and •stanchion for the dredge Otakou was adopted. % GEORGE STREET PIER. Following a report by the engineer with respect to the laying of decking of a temporary nature between the rails on the north side of George street pier, it was decided to instruct the engineer to proceed with this work at an estimated cost of £350. TENDER FOR IRON. The tender of Messrs Patterson and Barr for corrugated iron for shed repairs was accepted. ENGINEERING WORKS. Tile monthly report of the engineer (Mr J. M‘C.'Wilkie) stated;— Dredging.—During April dredge Otakou carried out the following operations:—Bowen pier, 7 loads (10,360 cubic yards) ; oil berth, Victoria wharf, 4 loads (5,920 cubic yards); piles 13-14 Victoria Channel, 7 loads (10,300 cubic yards) ; —a total of 18 loads (26,640 cubic yards). Of this material 14 loads or 20,720 cubic yards were deposited at the dredge Vulcan, and 4 loads or 5,920 cubic yards at sea. The dredge steamed 258 miles, and consumed 77.7 tons of fuel oil. The dredge Vulcan pumped material received from the Otakou into tiie south endowment reclamation area. Docks. —The following docking operations were carried out: —Vessels docked, 2; number of pumps (Otago Dock and Port Chalmers Dock), 4 (two in both). Leith Canal AVideniug.—Excavation operations were continued on the section between Harbour Terraco and Anzac Avenue bridge, and the bottom levelled off in preparation for laying

the concrete floor slab. A portion of the material was used for back-filling behind the completed wall, and the surplus carted away and dumped on the board’s land adjacent to Anzao Avenue. Concrete work : the wall and. floor of the section between Forth* street and Harbour Terrace have been finished as far as possible until the Forth street bridge is extended.

Ravensbourhe Wharf.— I The construction of the 80ft extension of this wharf was completed and the decking treated with a coat of tar and spncl. Dock Floor.—The repairs to the altars, entrance gateway, and sill wera completed. A considerable improvement was effected, all serious leaks having been stopped. Victoria Wharf.—The fastening down and trimming of the decking of this wharf was continued as shipping allowed.

Export Wharf, Port Chalmers. —lies pairs were effected to this wharf whore damaged by fire. One beam, one cap, a length of kerbing, and four short lengths of decking were renewed. Deborah Bay Obstruction.—Twelve pile stumps which were the remains of the old Government jetty at Deborah’ Bay were removed or broken off at ground level. Shag Bay.—The half-tide wall across the entrance waterway to Shag Bay was completed.

Half-tide Wall. —The removal of a, portion of the half-tide wall opposite Ravenshourne was continued during the month. For the period of four weeks ended May 8 528 cubicyards of stone were dredged and deposited on the new wing wall, a further length of 120 ft of which was constructed. Bowen Pier Widening,—The drpdgiiyj on the north side of the pier is neariiig completion. On May 11 a commencement was kiade to draw certain damaged piles, on the completion of which pile driving operations will be started.: Eighty-four piles have been prepared and rings and shoes fitted. Birch Street Wharf.—Five test piles were driven at Birch street to ascertain the length of piles required for the construction of the new wharf. Relief Works.—Relief workers wera engaged erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the south endowment area. Harbour Survey.—The north side of Bowen Pier was sounded before and after dredging, and the sounding of Victoria Channel has been continued as opportunity offered. The report was adopted. ■ SHIPPING RETURNS. The harbour master (Captain J. MacLean) reported that during the month of April 51 vessels, totalling 114,868 tons, arrived at Dunedin and Port Chalmers. During the same period 55 vessels, aggregating 124,537 tons, sailed from the port. The tug Dunedin spent a total of 76 hours 50 minutes under steam, covering 428 miles. lit tha channel from the Mole to Port Chalmers the least depth at low water was 30ft. The Victoria Channel was maintaining a low-water depth of 20ft 6in.The tug Dunedin was due for overhaul,' but owing to shipping it was impossible to dock the tug until such time as tho arrivals and departures eased off. The report was adopted.