THE CALLIOPE DOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 5

THE CALLIOPE DOCK.

Yesterday, at the invitation of Mr. Graves Aickin, the newly elected Chairman of . the Harbour Board, the members of the Board/ with a few other gentlemen who were invited, went over to the site of the new dock, to see the progress of the works, and the working of the pulsometer, which Mr. Fraser has erected to clear the water from the excavation which has' been made. The following gentlemen formed . the party : -- His Worship • the • Mayor; Messrs. Aickin, Peacock, Lamb, L. D. Nathan, Brett, Stone, Leys, Berry, Wateraton (of Melbourne), Errington (Dock Engineer), G. J?raser, Winks, McDonald (Harbour Board Engineer), Captain Burgess, Brigham (Secretary to Harbour : £ioard), Anderson (City Engineer). As our readers are aware, a'large excavation was made on the site of the dock for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of- the bottom. : This excavation is 100 feet long by 86 feet in breadth. Arrangements were made with Mr. Fraser to pump out the water, and it' is expected that this will be accomplished by this _ evening. He has then to keep the space dry for seven days, dnring which time.an aocount will be taken of the inflow of water. This will be included in the information afforded to contractors, and will be of great use to them. The knowledge of the bottom will also be of service to the Engineer—enabling him to proportion the material to be used for the .floor of the dock to the strength of • the bottom. We presume that most of our readers are familiar with the aspect of Point Calliope, as seen from the deck of the ferry steamers, but it is not till one has landed that the large amount of reclamation that has been done is appreciated by the eye. There is still a considerable portion of the hill at the point to be taken down by the present contractor, and* the present area of reclamation will be much extended. This frontage will be most valuable for many purposes, and we quite expect to see it leased-at as high-prices as have been realised for some of the frontageß on the reclaimed land at this side. It commands immediate access to deep waters and a breastwork could be formed along whioh large vessels could lie. The party were taken across in the ferry steamer, and landed by boat on the reclamation.' A new length of piping was being fixed in the pulsometer, Tinder the direction of Captain Farquhar, and when this-was done the pump was started. It is being worked by a large marine engine, for which - sea water is used. The pulsometer was that which was so useful in the case of the Triumph, and is a very powerful instrument. It throws out about 300 tons of water per hour, or 800 gallons per minute. After inspecting the works, and. taking a view from the top of the cliff which is being cut down, those' present assembled at the engine-house, where the toast of " Success to the Calliope Dock" was drunk in bumpers of champagne. The party shortly afterwards returned to town. The plans of the new dook as designed by Mr. Errington have not yet been laid before the Harbour Board, and indeed in some particulars cannot be fully deoided upon till the bottom has been inspected. It is understood, however, that Mr. Errington intends to carry the dock further back into the solid ground. This will enable a large saving to be made in several ways. -The cofferdam which must be constructed to keep out the sea while the necessary excavation is being made, need not be so enormous and costly a structure as was provided for in the former scheme, and the same or greater strength may be attained in other parts without using such large quantities of material as were previously specified. We have a confident expectation that it will be found that Mr. Errington's designs can be carried out within the funds at the command of the Harbour Board, and that in a period of between two and three years Auckland will have a dock unequalled in these seas.