REBUILDING A WHARF

Evening Star, Issue 22595, 12 March 1937, Page 3

REBUILDING A WHARF

BIRCH STREET CONSTRUCTION LIFTING OF OLD PILES STARTED The towage of the pile-driving plant from Port Chalmers to the Upper Harbour yesterday by the small steamer Maroro marked the beginning of the second stage of the reconstruction of the Birch street wharf, one of the major works now being undertaken by the Otago Harbour Board. This wharf, the oldest on the waterfront and sharing with the Rattray street wharf the honour of being the oldest wharf in use, has long needed reconstruction, and, with the improvement in finances, the Harbour Board has taken the work in hand. It is a big project, occupying _at least 18 months. So far, the decking and beams for a length of 200 ft from the board’s office at the corner of the cross wharf have been stripped, and, with the arrival of the plant, last used on the widening ,of the Bowen Pier at Port Chalmers; the drawing of the piles will now be started. That will be followed by the driving of piles in new positions, as the wharf is to be widened from 20ft to 42ft, the extension being carried out partly into the steamer basin and hack on to the coal belt. For its whole length of I,looft, and to the width of 42ft, the Birch street wharf is to be rebuilt. On present indications the work _ should progress smoothly, as already most of the timber for the first section has arrived in Dunedin. Most of the shipwrights employed on the Bowen Pier were transferred to this job; their work there gave complete satisfaction, one of the board’s executive officials saying some months ago that he had never seen more efficient work. In the meantime 17 men are being employed. When completed the Birch street 'wharf will accommodate the largest vessels negotiating the Victoria Channel, the basin off the wharf having been dredged to a least depth of 27ft. With the railway now on Victoria wharf Dunedin will have two railway wharves fitted to handle the biggest overseas ships coming right to the front door of the city t;