HARBOUE RECLAMATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16265, 26 June 1916, Page 7

HARBOUE RECLAMATION

ST. GEORGE'S BAY SCHEME.

WORK NEARLY FINISHED.

AREA FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES.

Practically the whole of the work in connection with the reclamation of St. George's Bay, which was commenced by the Harbour Board nearly eight months ago, has now been completed. The area reclaimed comprises no less than 18£ acrds, and the rapid progress which has been made with th© work is considered very satisfactory in view of th© nature of the undertaking and the difficulties encountered in conection with it. The position at present is that the whole of the filling-in is practically completed, and at the far end of the bay a road is now under construction to connect the Quay Street extension with the King's Drive. Gangs of men are employed in laying out the new road, which is being formed in a fashion similar to Factory Road, with grass plots in the centre. The kerbing and channelling will be deferred for a short period to give th© ground reclaimed every chance of settling. Some "pockets" of slurry which still exist on th© reclamation are now "being filled in with solid material from Campbell's Point.

tt Referring to the work yesterday Mr. H. D. Heather, chairman .of the Harbour Board, commented on the comparatively short time which had elapsed from the beginning until the completion of the work. The material used in the reclamation consisted of spoil from Campbell's Point, and the results of dredging on the waterfront, the letter being placed in position by the suction dredge. In th© near future the dredging plant would be removed to Freeman's Bay to complete the reclamation behind the north wall. " The whole of the work of reclamation has been carried out by the Harbour Board at the expense and for the Railway Department," added Mr. Heather; "and the whole of the acres will be taken over by the Department for railway purposes. The new engine sheds on the reclaimed ground at Mechanics' Bay have been completed, and th© Department expects within th© next four of five weeks to remove the engines from th© old sheds, which will then be demolished. This will allow of the throwing open to traffic of the whole of the Quay Street extension, and the street will then stretch in an unbroken straight line from the Ferry Buildings to Campbell's Point.