NEW HARBOR WORKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10139, 27 October 1925, Page 2

NEW HARBOR WORKS

PROGRESS DURING MONTH. ENGINEER’S REPORT TO BOARD. Progress of construction of the. .vinous sections of the new • harbor" works during the current month was indicated by the Engineer (Mr R. Campbell) in the following report submitted to the ; Board meeting yesterday : . . ' ' Dredging.—The dredger. Korua continued dredging at the Kaiti wharf until September 30, when she completed the work required and resumed the dredging of the diversion cut. She continued dredging the area between the old slipway and the south side of Read’s Quay, by No. 3 shed, completing as lar northward its desired at present. She then swung round heading seaward and continued the dredging of the cut. The Korua’s operations in the dredging of the papa have been all that was expected from her, and she is making steady and satisfactory progress. The other items of the dredging unit have be'en working in a satisfactory manner throughout the month'. Training Wall: The driving of piles for the training wall to as far as it is intended to continue at the present time, i.e., to opposite the Board’s offices, is practically complete. The construction of the superstructure consisting of the reinforced concrete trestle frames and slabs with the necessary beams is suitably progressing, the .work operating at'two points. A timber track lias been constructed, from -which to drive the reinforced concrete piles to form the breastwork to: Read’s Quay and preparations made for the assembling of the piledriving plant when available for use at'this section of the works. The output of the various units in % the construction yard continues satisfactorily, piles, etc., being constructed to meet the requirements respectively of tlio various works.

New Slipway: The rcinfrocement to the ways at the upper end of the si ipway has been assembled and placed in position and the ways concreted in, the reinforcement for the concrete deck has also been constructed as far as practicable at the present time and concreting operations are now in hand, as also are the concrete foundations for the hauling machinery. The cofferdam is being dismantled and an extension of the dam shcrewards is now proceeding. Diversion Cut: The two Osborne drilling machines have shown good progress throughout the month and are now operating on the sand dunes above the foreshore, the area as drilled being blasted. The concrete forming the old slipway has been blasted and broken up ready for removal by the dredger. Railway Bridge: The forms for the beams for the first span are being constructed and the reinforcement fabricated and assembled for this section of the work, viz., from the western abutment to pier No. 1, town side. Temporary piles to carry forms have also been di-iven. Breakwater Construction: The surveys, land and hydrographical, of the quarry site at Wlmreongaonga have been completed and locations allotted for the protection breakwater, blockyard, buildings, railways and other necessary .services respectively. Delivery of a large portion of the material for the huts, mess-room, workship and other buildings, has been effected and the timber cut and prepared as far as practicable at the Board’s workshop for erection at the quarry. General: The construction of the spud pontoon is well advanced. Contracts have been placed for a new grab dredge, also for additional machinery required for new slipway. Mr Tombleson asked if in construeting the slipway, whether it would have been more economical to build one to take the Matii. The Engineer: No, it would be-muclx more expensive. “What depth is the water at Whareonguonga where the breakwater is to be constructed,” asked Mr Holdsworth. The Engineer: Twenty feet at lew tide.

The report was-adopted. PURCHASE OF PLANT AND MATERIALS. ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Detailed information in connection with the acquisition of plant and materials, appointments and other matters relating to the works was contained in the report submitted by the Advisory Committee, who authorised the following:— The appointment of G. Lomas, at present foreman in charge of blasting, to the position of quarry manager at ! the salary of £8 per week ; plus awa.y-frbm-lioiue allowance until a cottage is provided. The appointment of C. Lewis of the blasting gang to the position of foreman in charge of blasting operations at the salary of £6 per week. Tlie purchase of a horse (half-draught) for use at Whareongaonga. The Engineer to order from Messrs Poole and Steel, Sydney, six new buckets, with links,, required as spards for the Korua, The Engineer fo arrange for IL Patty to again "install his wireless set on the Korua and to operate the apparatus on.the voyage when the vessel proceeds to Auckland for docking. The acceptance of Messrs Price .and Co.’s offer at .£B7 to supply a clutch, a shaft and other machinery parts required for tl*c‘ new slipway. The acceptance of the following fenders: (a) C. Aickin and Sons’ tender at £422 13s Gd for a quantity of timber; (b) Mar tin and Swain’s tender at £259 10s for about 7\ tons of galvanised corrugated iron; (c) McKay Bros.’ tendei at £157 10s for boxframe windows, ail being material required for huts etc., at Whareongaonga. The Committee agreed, also, to make the following recommendations to the Board: That the Board join the Employers’ Association. That the Board let the cook-house at Wliareongaonga at £1 per week, and that ! the application of Mrs A. Perry to occupy same and cater for the quarrymen be accepted, under 1 conditions to be arranged. That the Board purchase a motor-car (5-seater) at approximately £SOO for use in connection with the quarry. That tlie Board . authorise the erection of three or four iiiits at the quarry suitable for married men. That the Board authorise the .Engineer to hire a lighter from Nelson (N.Z.) Ltd., at £3 .per trip for transporting gear to Wharoonguonga. Acceptance of Mr J. W. Holmes tender.at 57s 9d per ton for. 1000 tons of Westport unscreened coal delivered in 200 ton lots on site ncarHhe Waikanae cattle yards. Acceptance of W. Wilson’s tender at 7s Gd per cubic yard for 13,000 yards of shingle, stone and sand delivered at the Board’s yard, Kaiti. Acceptance of thp Public Works Department’s offer to' supply the following materials required prim cipally-at the quarry : 20,000 feet of 551 b rails at £l3 pea; ton; 4,00!) hardwood sleepers at 7s each, all delivered on. wharf at Gisborne. The acceptance, subject to the Engineer being satisfied- regarding certain details, of the tender of J‘. Duthie and. Co., of Wellington, to supply IO.OCOft of 141 b rails at £l3 4s per ton, also the same firm’s tender at £290 to supply 12 sets of points and crossings each fpr 141 b and for 551 b rails. The secretary submitted particular of office equipment which he recommerrled should now he purchased to enable the increasing work:ill the office to be .satisfactorily and economically coped with. Tiic equipment particularly referred to was a “Burroughs” adding machine to cost £lB3 10s. required particularly in the preparation of monthly 'trade returns for the Government, and a National receipting cash register to cost £350, required in connection with the rate collection, but designed to deal with < all cnslf receipts. The commit Lee recommended the Board to purchase tho equipment. Jn order to establish responsibility and author- ,

ity in connection' with' the -collection of rates over, the Harbor district tne committee agreed that it would be advisable to make an appto n ‘' n * en , t i and now recommend the Board to appoint the secretary, Mr Barton, to, be its rate-collector. The committee'* considered a request made- by a local firm that a quantity of hardwood posts recently imported be charged wharfage at timber rate instead or at the i ate for posts. Certain action was agreed upon, but at.a later;meeting.- the committee agreed that tne. matter should be discussed by the Board. / . ~ Concerning the firm’s request, the secretary stated that when the tarifr was arranged it was stipulated that posts should be charged about the same rate as timber; 100 posts to equal 1000 superficial feet of timber. Recently Dalgety’s landed a quantity of sawn posts, which, were smaller than visual, arid if the Board charged for them as timber it would have been to the firm’s benefit. Mr Todd explained that the committee agreed sawn posts should be charged as timber, and split posts as posts. , , . ~ - The chairman stated that in tins case the materials were described in the manifest as posts, and the Board had no option but to charge them as such. , , ... ~ It was decided to deal with the matter when the alteration of the tariff was under consideration. The report and recommendations were adopted. 1