AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15887, 7 April 1915, Page 4

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD

| PLANS OF . NEW WORKS. GOVERNMENT'S APPROVAL'. The Auckland Harbour Board met yesterday afternoon, there being present: Mr. J. H. (iunson, chairman, the Hon. J. Fisher. M.L.C.. Messrs. G. W. Hutchinson. E. W. Alison. A. J. Entrican, \V, 13. Leylnnd, J. H. Bradney, H. H. Adams, H. R. Mackenzie, and W. E. Hutchison. 'the Marine Department notified its approval of the plans of the pressed launch moorings in Quay Street, the dolphins, and training pier at the Free- ! man's Bay slipway, the stone embankment in St. George's Bay, .and a landing stage which Messrs. Leyland-O'Brien and Co. proposed to erect in Customs Street, West". A letter was received from the Prist and Telegraph Department, stating that the sending of the time signal north and south involved the .suspension of the telegraph traffic for five or 6ix minutes at a busv time of tho day, and that it was therefore regretted that the Department was not at present prepared to send the signal more than once a week. It would, however, be prepared to again consider the matter in July next if the board renewed the application. The matter was referred to the board in committee for a report. The Waiuku Town Board drew attention to the continual silting up of the .'•winging basin at Waiukn, and urged that immediate action be taken to remedy these. unsatisfactory conditions. The matter was referred to the board in committee. A letter from the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation asking to be informed when the board intended to make any alteration in the transhipment charges was referred to the board in committee. It was reported that negotiations were, being carried on with the Railway Department in regard to the future maintenance of the King's Drive Road. It was resolved, on the recommendation of the board in committee, to grant the kauri gum commissioner the use of halt of the top floor of shed 14 for the storage of gum for six months at a weekly rental of £7 10s. The board in committee recommended that the question of alterations to the Calliope Dock machinery be deferred for three months. This course was adopted. The report of the Works Committee contained the following recommendation :— "Your committee is of opinion that when the next agreement is entered into with the Railway Department, the board's dredging plant should be directed to tin area comprising the approaches to the north wall and the berthage thereat, with the object of obtaining a minimum depth, of 20ft in from the deeper water over the entire area. This will render the wharf available for the use of the rapidlyexpanding interests to the westward, which, in view of the existing facilities at Freeman's Bay, is very desirable." Mr. Alison expressed the opinion that it would not be desirable to remove from Freeman's Bay spoil which might later on be required for reclamation in that locality. The chairman said that Mr. Alison's pointin principlewas a sound one, but as the amount of spoil that would be required for the Freeman's Bay reclamation was relatively small, there was no need for saving the spoil in question until it was decided to complete this reclamation. The report was adopted.