HARBOR WORKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11324, 30 September 1930, Page 2

HARBOR WORKS

ENGINEER’S REV 1 K\Y

PROGRESS DURING AIONTH Dealing with ilie progress of harbor works during the past month, the engineer, Air. C\ i. Alarshe.il Smith, presented the following report to- the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday:—

“Dredging.—The weather during the early part of the period was very broken, a good deal of southerly weather being experienced.'' 'Phis lias delayed the dredging lit the channel, but, nevertheless. Jo-, 700 tons or spoil have been removed since last report. On completion of the dredging at the entrance, the harbormaster made representations that the safety and convenience of working the port would be increased by widening the existing ' channel inside the entrance. After conferring wi.a the harbormaster’ and myself, the chairman authorised the retention of (he dredger in the channel for tiie additional time required to carry this into effect.- This work is now well in hand and should not occupy more than another two weeks, ft- shouldho emphasised that ail dredging m the channel is now definitely productive. as we can now affirm that me accretion of extraneous material, whether silt from the river or sand from the entrance, is practically negligible. “Training AYalk-—This contract is now completed and the wall is safe against all reasonable conditions. There are still two or three places-m the wall where a small seepage is taking place, but these are being attended to as opportunity offers, the wall as a whole is watertight and should now only require normal maintenance.

“Breakwater. Another matter that- I wish to bring to the notice ot the hoard. is that of concreting m the top layer of blocks.on the breakwater extension. These blocks are not keyed into the structure m any way, having been laid on their backs so as to form a level surface for the Hercules otraue track. The gales during the last two years have caused some of these blocks to work over towards the leeward side and there is the imminent danger of some ot them falling over and possibly causing an obstruction in the' fairway, i would i,suggest- that during the coming summer the blocks should be readjusted and the whole t ;, 'd together monolitliically with a mass concrete cap. 1 have not yet been able: to prepare ail estimate of the cost ot this work, but l w-as arixioits to bring it before your notice at once. “Kaiti Wharves.—Surfacing No. 2 whatf: This contract is now in progress and over 77)0 square yards of surface .is now finished. Some alterations have been necessary in the proportioning of the concrete, owing to the nature of tlie‘materials being employed, but it lias been possible to do so, and at the same time ensure a hrst-elnss job with very iu.,e extra expense. Section No. b: me contractor is’now on the final stage of this contract, being employed m ‘fixing the boilards and concreting the kerb. I expect- tliis will be completed in another week. Filling behind tlie wharf has been continued with the grab dredge, at the same time deepening the berth alongside fho wharf. Sufficient filling has new been put in, 'anil the contractor tor the third shed must mark timC until it has hardened sufficiently to support Mho foundations. If warm weather' is experienced it-- should bo possible! to continue in about- throe mouthsl ‘ V',.-”. V. A f “Railway Track.—A single lme “ railway| is now completed from The main lift?, the small shed on -the—lvalti-wharf dpwate ■ the'- i reering winks-and thisljport-ion will be nvailahL for uso jiswsoon as passed

by the .Railrrav Department-. One loop’ line; is also nearly completed, which' will facilitate shunting .arrangements, and I am calling tenders immediately for the pile driving necessary before the second loop can Do installed.

“General. General maintenance work’ has been earned out wherever necessary to sheds and wharves, floating plant overhauled .and attended to and shifted and moored as required and various detail work;” Replying to questions, the engineer stated that the cost of the suggested capping with concrete of the top layer of the blocks on the breakwater would be about ilihUO, ; but there was no immediate haste for The work. Actually these blocks were not part of the construction of the breakwater. The railway line hau now been passed. The reDort was ndonted.