HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12833, 5 April 1905, Page 6

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME .

THE BOARD AND MARINE

DEPARTMENT.

CRITICISMS OF THE ENGINEER-IN-

CHIEF.

At tho meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon a letter was received from Mr. G. Allport, secretary to the Marino Department, enclosing a copy of a memorandum furnished to the Minister for Marine by Mr. W. H. Hales, engineer-in-chief, regarding tho Board's resolution in respect to his (Mr. Hales') former report on the proposed cart road on the new Queenstreet Wharf, as provided for in Mr. Hauler's scheme for harbour improvements. The Minister stated that tho Department wished to know what the Board intended to do in regard to the objections to its proposal to have only one ferry jetty. Mr. Hales, in his memorandum, stated: — The Board explains that the statement that the plans show the cart road on tho wharf to bo at a lower level than the surface of the roadway on Quay-street is quite incorrect, and" that- the centre of the cart road on the wharf is shown to 'bo on the same level as Queen and Quay Streets. I may remark in reference to this that the explanation of the intentions o» the Board regarding the levels of the wharf structure is satisfactory, but at the same time have to point out that there is nothing in the plans submitted by tho Board for approval by the Governor-in-Couneil to indicate that the surface of the cart road on the wharf is intended to be on the same level as the roadway on Quay-street. The longitudinal sections of the wharf site show the whole of the wharf structure below the level of the lines marked Quay-street on the drawing, and the line of high-water mark about sft torn below that; whereas the large scale detail drawing of the half cross-section of the wharf and cart road show the outer edge of the surface of the decking to be 6ft. the inner edgo next the cart road 7ft, the sides of the cart road 4ft, and the centre of the road sft above the line of high water; consequently,, if the centre of the cart road is to be at the same level as the surface of the roadway on Quay-street, the decking of the wharf constructed in accordance with this detail drawing will be from one to two feet above the level of the roadway on Quay-street, which is a point that should be clearly shown on the drawings submitted for approval. Witk regard to the sunk cart road referred to as being provided for by the plans of the Railway Wharf, which have been approved by the Governor-iu-Council, it may be noted that the principal traffic to this wharf will be in connection with the carriage of goods to and from the railway and wharf. The convenience of the approaches is, therefore, not of so much importance at this place as at the Queenstreet Whan, where a general YfikicVuar traffic will hav« to be provided for." On the motion of the Mayor, the letter was referred to the Works audf Tariff Committee, the engJ?£fc?;. on the mattcFt^jcvtouTimttce. ■" 'JTher Board agreed, on the request of the Chamber of Commerce, to publish the report; ,and plans of the engineer in pamphlet form.