THE HARBOUR WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13778, 17 June 1908, Page 8

THE HARBOUR WORKS.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME

COMPLETION OF RAILWAY WHARF,

The various works in'connection with the Auckland Harbour improvements continue to make steady progress. The Railway Wharf has been finished, and practically all that now remains to be tarried out in connection with this .structure -is the asphalting, the completion of ■ the tidedeflector, and the sheds. The repairing of the deflector by means of stone obtained from Mount Eden is still going on. but the progress is necessarily somewhat slow, owing to the difficulties of working under the wharf. The asphalting is being pushed ahead as rapidly as possible, and good progress is also being made with the fine sheds, four of which are in 'course of erection, whilst the material for the fifth is being prepared. One or two of the sheds would probably have been completed by now but for the wreck of the Star of Japan, which had amongst its cargo a. considerable quantity of corrugated iron intended for these buddings. The contract time for the erection of the sheds will expire about the middle of April next, and it is anticipated that by then the whole of them will be out of. hand. By that time no doubt .the first, of the electric cranes will be arriving. The electric lighting of the wharf is now in the hands of. the city electrical engineer. A jarrah kerbing is Being placed around the edge of the wharf. Dredging is now proceeding on the site of the old tee. where there is a considerable accumulation of .silt. At the Queen-street Wharf the portion on the western ■ side adjoining the ferry tee has'been completed, with the exception of the asphalting.' This portion'will be' available for use later on,-while the lerro-concr.ete decking is being placed on the eastern side, on which there is now a temporary wooden decking. The mass concrete wall in front of the Harbour Board's buildings has been completed, and it gives a,'much improved appearance to this portion of the water-front/ In connection with the Freeman's Bay reclamation a start has been made with the northern ferro-concrete wall, and about 50 piles have already been driven. The mass concrete wall on the eastern side is nearly completed, whilst at the embankment on the western side good progress is also being made. i.At the Calliope Dock the work in connection with the foundations for the sheer-legs is proceeding satisfactorily. The large block of concrete upon which the large screw will rest is now being put, down, and the reclamation is also being continued. Eastward of the Railway Wharf preliminary borings are being put down on the site of the proposed reclamation. At this spot there is a - great - accumulation of silt, the depth of mud in some places being over 80ft. ■ The extension of the Norlhcote Wharf lijaS been completed, and is how being used by the ferry boats.