NAPIER HARBOUR WORK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 56, 18 February 1935, Page 8

NAPIER HARBOUR WORK

Breakwater Construction PROGRESS MADE TO DATE Report by Board’s Engineer Tire progress made with the construction work at the Breakwater harbour was reported upon by the engineer, Lowson, to the Napier Harbour Board to-day as under:— Breakwater Extension.—The contractor tor the extension of the breakwater has practically completed the erection ot the various sheds, etc., as well as of the tali gravel chuting tower. .Reclamation.—The reclamation wall, built of broken concrete and boulders secured during excavation elsewhere, has been continued, at a height ot four feet above high water, down along the eastern side of the large concrete wharf approach to well across the face of the abutment of that wharf, and the area behind same reclaimed with spoil obtained from similar sources, 1019 tons of concrete being placed in the wall, and 1766 cubic yards of material deposited behind same. Waterfront.—The demolition of the shoreward portion of the breakwater to the required level in order to afford rail access to the central wharf and to conform to the new formation levels generally, has been well advanced, and the areas adjacent to same are now being levelled off to grade. The store and offices were moved over to their final positions. Roads.—The construction of the Breakwater road diversion is proceeding, the cutting at the southern end having been carried well round the corner of the existing road at half width on a 1 in 30 gradient, and a large portion of the lower section metalled and rolled. 3209 cubic yards of spoil and 122 tons of boulders were excavated, and 246 cubic yards of spalls used in the formation of the road. Railway Tracks. —Failure of the contractors to give delivery of hardwood sleepers has now resulted in track laying being brought practically to a standstill, almost all the available sleepers being used up during the period. Costs.—The following amounts were expended upon the under-mentioned works, during the month:—Wharf approach excavation, reclamation and reclamation wall, £5lB 3/5; block-yard, £lBB 16/7; new railway yard, main line approach, £ll4 10/1; loading, £293 6/8; permanent way maintenance, £46 6/10, Breakwater wharves maintenance, £lO 19/2, Inner Harbour wharves maintenance, £ll 4/3; buoys and beacons, £l2 16/8. Dredger Whakarire.—The Whakarire’s output for the period under consideration was as follows, viz.:— No. 1 cut, 16,750 tons; No. 2 cut, 8750 tons; total, 20,500 tons. The dredger duly brought the No. 1 cut right inshore for a width of 50ft. to its final low water depth of 35ft. on January 30th, at the same time completing the benching under the eastern side of the proposed wharf. Numerous surface boulders were encountered in so doing, whilst the output was further restricted owing to the bucket chain coming off the bottom tumbler an the 11th ultimo. Upon completion of the No. 1 cut, the moorings were lifted and relaid for the second cut, which was commenced on the Ist. instant, and is at the moment being brought in at a low water depth of 24ft. for a width of 250 feet. Tho heavier mooring chain on indent arrived during the period. Dredger J.D.O.—The J.D.O.’s dredging activities were interrupted last month through the vessel having to execute the periodical overhaul of the Breakwater Harbour and Roadstead buoys. The dredging returns were, however, as follows: —Breakwater wharf, 1775 cubic yards; cast side Glasgow wharf, 515; west side Glasgow wharf, 67; N.W. cr. Glasgow wharf, 225; Inner Harbour entrance channel, 95; total, 2677 cubic yards.