OPUNAKE HARBOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 August 1925, Page 9

OPUNAKE HARBOUR.

MEETING OF BOARD. At-fhe August meeting of the Opuixake Harbour Board the engineer submitted the following report on the pro. giess of construction work. Staging.—A further consignment of timber has arrived per “Koromiko’ comprising 44 pieces. These are being carted out at present. Work is now in progress at Bay 550 and would have been further advanced but for the weather conditions. On 31st July a pile broke during driving. It turned out to be faulty at the heart, but the failure was apparently due directly to the fact that it had encountered a boulder in driving. One pile which was being used on the beach was carried away during a storm and has not been recovered. With the two piles which arc being used on the pile driver, and which will be required therefor further use on the wharf, this leaves us 4 short, and these will have to be ordered at once. Bench. —For the period. 20th May to 30th July a quantity of 2624 cubic yards was put out, comprising 2594 cubic yards of earth at 2s Bd, and 30 cubic yards of rock at 7s 6d per cubic yard. * This average price, for this cutting, including both classes of work, has been 2s 7.9 d since the commencement. ... j Mole.—ln the same period 1660 cubic yards have bebn lifted and placed in the mole at a cost of £584 14s or 7s Old per cubic yard. The total . quantity placed from all sources is 9465 cubic yards at a, cost of £3540 18s 2d or 75.6 d per cubic yard. * - Seas on 24th and 26th July and 3rd August have been exceedingly heavy. The condition of the cliff along the bench is causing me anxiety. The removal of the stone off the sbor© allows the breaking seas to reach the cliff’ with greater force, and owing to‘a seam of .sand near the foot the cliff is being undermined. Two falls have occurred. Steps have been taken to protect tlie cliff, and no further stone is being removed from close up. Wharf.—All the bar steel has been delivered, and the balance of material under this contract is advised as being on the “Dorset.” The wrought iron bolts are also expected by the same steamer. No deliveries of timber are yet in view, but the contractors promise that ilia whole, will be delivered by the “Bonita” in about three months. Work on the abutment was commenced, but has been held up owing to an accident and to the heavy seas. General. —Tlie number employed is as before. G. Johnson and L. Anderson were injured by a fall on the rocks on 10th julv and the former is still off work. Wintry weather conditions have again been experienced during the month. Tlie report was adopted. The engineer submitted a record of the variations of the wind, the velocity, duration, etc., at the works. Plans showing the tfopes of the recently completed portions of the rubble work were also shown.

Four pi'es to replace those mentioned in the report were authorised to be obtained. Mr. Trotter ashed if stone could be Hoisted from Middleton’s Bay where there was plenty. The engineer said it was quite possible; the cost of making a. gradient for tii e tramline would be heavy and was not provided for out of the loan; when the stone near the works is used np they can go further afield. . Tii reply to the question of keeping the pile work, well ahead of the rubble work the engineer said it war. necessary to do to. The pile driving in the wharf 'construction was. a slower process and the r-lant used at present, wi’l be utilised at the wharf whilst the construction of the mole will continue. The otliei- alternative was two plants, the engineer stating that he was avoiding expenditure on duplication of plant.— Opunabe Times.