SHIFTING DREDGE APITI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 283, 14 November 1929, Page 3

SHIFTING DREDGE APITI

CONSIDERABLE WORK NECESSARY. ENGINEER’S REPORT TO HARBOUR BOARD. “Owing to the height of the machinery, pontoon trusses and derrick, it is not possible to pass the dredge under the Westshore bridge without dismantling a considerable portion of the plant,” stated Messrs R. W. Holmes and Son. engineers, to the Napier Harbour Board yesterday when reporting on the proposal to shift the dredge Apiti from its present position, opposite the 28-acre block through to the Inner Harbour, so as to enable it to proceed with the reclamation of the South Pond. “A channel about 14 mile long would have to be dredged to float the dredge down to the Westshore bridge and this, together with the amount of dismantling that would have to be done makes that method of bringing the dredge down out of the question, they added. “The best method is to dismantle the dredge, float the pontoon down and reassemble at Nelson quay and the upper end of West quay. “The mouth of the Tutaekuri river has been examined and the deepest channel at the present time is one in a westerly direction. Soundings were taken along this channel and the shallowest depth was found to be Ift 6in at low tide. If a rise of tide of Ift is allowed, the depth is 2ft Gin at high tide. “When the pontoon was taken into the river it was drawing 22 inches forward and 14 inches aft. The heavy timber detrick was then in place at the forward end. The derrick has to be removed to allow the pontoon to go under the bridges, so when this is done the pontoon should be on a more even keel. “Unless the conditions alter considerably, there should be very little difficulty in floating the pontoon down to the Inner Harbour. The cost of the works will depend to a large extent on the time taken, as the major portion will be labour charges, and the time will depend largely on weather conditions. “With reasonable weather conditions the dredge should be moved and reassembled in about two months, and we estimate the cost to be approximatelly the same cost as if the dredge was in operation as it has been lately, including shoremen.” In reply to Mr Higgins. Mr Holmes stated that the dredge was costing the board £lOO a week at present. The maximum length o elivery was 1200 feet. The dred< .ould deliver spoil from the Inner I our into the South Pond, which would depend upon where the dr mg was done from. Mr A. E. Jull stated that it was proposed to do the dredging from the basin. Consideration of the report was held over un.il after the conference with P'’ Napier Borough .Council had been 1 Id,