PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 4 March 1919, Page 4

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs Christensen (chairman), Pacey, Corrigan, Verry Dickie and Grainger. *

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION.

The contractor, Mr Pulley, wrote to tne Board drawing attention to the difficulties in fixing the caissons at the present level. Waves had been comuig. right over the top of the caissons durmg the last ten days, notwithstanding the fine weather experienced, rwo men had already lost their lives, on these works, and in consequence of the present low level of the cap of the + OnS + ith^ me? working there were constantly drenched in their eiforts to nil in the chambers: Last Wednesday one man nearly lost his life, the waves taking him under water. The contractor saw no remedy for the present difficulties other than to bring the caissons up to a higher level. He had used every effort to make the works a success but could only succeed with the aid of the Board. Work at the present level was both dangerous and costly, notwithstanding all the facilities at hisr disposal, and he thought there should be no difficulty in designing an efficient scheme at the original levels.

The engineer, in a verbal report to the Board, mentioned that the original contract was £67,500, and the extra work on the eastern wall subsequently agreed to £5169. It was originally intended to extend the eastern wall 490 feet, and of this amount 159 feet had * already been completed, absorbing £11,451 8s 6d. The contract price wa« c >er hneal foot > but the adoption of the pell-mell foundation had increased this- to £77 per foot. The contract price for, 490 feet, less work already done, left a balance of £20,116 2s 4d, and this would carry out the structure another 268 feet, or a total length of 427 feet, as against 490 feet. Reinstating the original scheme of construction, namely, adding the additional two feet of shoulder to the caissons, would further reduce the length by 11 feet, but it would add to the stability of the structure. The amount paid to the contractor on account of the western wall was £16,052, or a total payment for both walls, including capping on the eastern wall, of £35,044. Deducting balance of advance payments, the Board's liability to the contractor under the original contract, plus the extra agreed upon for the eastern wall, was £33,150, or, deducting that day's payment, £32,----409. The loan money available was £25,000. So far as the western wall was concerned the pell-mell system of foundation, had increased the price per lineal foot from £86 to £99, and would mean a reduction in length of 34ft Bin. The eastern wall now overlapped the.westerp. wall by 60ft 6in. In a general discussion it was pointed out that the first year's interest and costs of flotation had been takes out of .the loan. The two dredges had cost £7000, and the cost of dredging^ £1500 a year, had also been charged, against the loan. Two special engineers' reports, had cost £500^ and their own engineer's salary, which co far amounted to £2000, as well as approximately £3000 for wharves and slip. These had all been debited to. loan account. Their* general account was in credit £2000, which had been placed ont fixed deposit. The contract they had with Mr Pulley was a flexible one, and?, the Board.had the right to curtail theworks if it so desired.

- It was resolved that the bontractor'* request be acceded to, and that he be* instructed to keep the eastern watt 100 ft. in advance of the western wall-

ENGINEER'S REPORT

The engineer reported as follows: During last month, fair progress was made with the breakwater extensions, contract. A good deal of time was lost owing to the necessity of protecting the shingle and stone stored on the eastern, side, due to the large amount of erosion that has occurred on that, beach. On the eastern breakwater, one caisson, No. 35, was deposited and consolidated. One caisson, No. 36, was: manufactured in the eastern yard, and caisson No. 24 in the western yard, whilst © total of 82$ cubic yards of pelt mell blocks were also manufactured. The total length of the western break-, water extension to date is 127 feet, and the eastern breakwater extension 219 feet, which now overlaps the western-' breakwater a, length of 50 feet. For work done in connection with the eastern breakwater' a progress payment amounting to £683 15s has been certified to. This brings the total payment for contract work done in connection with this breakwater to the amount of" £16,244 16s lid. For contract work done in connection with the western - breakwater & progress payment amounting to £189 15s lOd has been certified' to. This brings the total payment for contract work done in connection with this breakwater to the amount of £16,242 5s 7d.

Regarding the material in stock, there is at present 158£ tons cement, 59£ cases distillate, 13 casks oil. 1200 feet 3ft. steel wire rope, 2000 ft. 2in. steel wire rope, 2021 yards hessian, 4500 super, feet timber.* 1581bs sewing •twine, and for the amount of material used out of stock during last month there is an amount of £132 3s 9d duo by the contractor to the Board Dredge "Wallace.—This dredge has been employed dredging alongside the wharves and snagmng the channel adjacent to the railway viaduct. The load-easing gear ordered some time ago from the makers of the Priestman crane came to hand and was fittecf in nosmon by the dredgemaster. Mr S. Hodge, who reports that the addition of tins srear has considerably improved the working of the crane. The total number of loads dredged since the 10th ult. was 44, eauivalent to 2640 cubic yards. A numbe- of snags were alsoremoved the total time spent snaggingdnrmcr the period from the 11th u!t. being five hours.

Wool Store.—A quantity of wool, hides, cased meats, tallow, etc was received at this store for shipment.

PILOT'S REPORT

The pilot reported that the channel over the bar was straight, with 12ft n.w.s. tides, and Bft. high water neat> tides. He sounded on March 22nd ™he found 12ft. good en the bar and 9ft. 3in. showing on the tide gauge ; one hour before high tide. There was good water m the channel up to the wharves. There had been 14 arrivals and fifteen departures during the month. B