PORT'S FACILITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18040, 15 March 1922, Page 8

PORT'S FACILITIES.

PROPOSED EXPORT. WHARF. CHECKING OF CARGOES. PROGRESS OF NEW WORKS. The Auckland Harbour Board met yesterday afternoon, the deputy-chairman, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, presiding. There 1 were also present, Messrs. G. R. ' Hutchinson, J. Henderson, J. fc. Bond, E, H. Davis, M, H. Wyhyard and the 6 Hon. E. W. Alison, M.L.O. ' On the recommendation of the board in committeo it was decided to approve ' the proposal to provide at some future J time an export wharf. This was the out- •* Come of tho report received at last meot--9 ing from the trafSo manager relative to • the handling of frozen meat, etc., at the 1 port. The board's engineer was asked to > submit the fullest information regarding s the proposal, and the harbourmaster, ' traffic manager, and secretary were also ' asked to furnish reports. »j A request from the Union Company t that the board should appoint cargo . checkers to check all cargo before it was . taken off the wharves, all expenses to be born* by the shipping companies, was ' reported upon by the board in committee. 5 On its recommendation it was decided to - appoint gate-keepers at each wharf with s authority to check loads, but without ( involving the board in any liability for f loss of goods; tho companies to appofnt cargo checkers to be nominated as special ' constables by the board if desired. The engineer and traffic manager were asked I to report as to accommodation that would i be required. s Gangways at Ferry Wharves. ; The Devonport Steam Ferry Company 5 was granted permission to instal two permanent gangways on the Stanley Bay wharf. The necessity for improvement in embarking and disembarking ferry ' passengers at Birkenhead was mentioned 1 by Mr, Hutchinson. It was decided to .communicate with the company on tho subject. J i It was decided, at the request of the Ponsonby Cruising Club, to erect an additional boat grid in St, Mary's Bay, to the eastward of the jetty. ' The estimated cost was £150. I On beha'f of the Ellerslie Town Board s a firm of solicitors asked the hoard to f instruct its contractors for the supply '> of stone not to use certain roads in the I town district The Harbour Boaid would f be held responsible for any damage done > to the roads. The secretary stated that ) ho had replied stating that the Harbour • Board had no jurisdiction over the contractors regarding the use of roads, an 1 > declined to admit any liability in th > matter. I The harbourmaster, Captain H. B 1 ' Sargent", reported that a recent stori ' had grcat'v damaged the road leadin • from the Blow-hole to the top of th hill at Manukao South Head. This wa interfering with the conveyance of stores etc., to the lighthouse. The matter wa referred to the board in committee wjtl power to act. Watchmen on Hulks. ft was decided to sanction the em ployment by the. shipping companies o one watchman for each three hulks in th , harbour. As to port charges the board' ' solicitor advised that hulks were liabl as navigating within the haibour, bu that no dues should be charged on vessel | lying out of comnrssion. It was agreei ! that charges should be adjusts | accordingly. | The ensineer reported thit the eaeten third of the eastern reclamation had beei i almost finished. He regretted the board' decision to close down dredger No. 12 ' I before the dredging programme could b . completed. Sightly over half the lengt /of the eastern breakwater had bee ' finished. At Princess Wharf 188 piles ha 1 been driven, and 12.440 ft. of falnewor had been erected. The roncrethsr of th quay hid been commenced. Tenders ha< been ca'lcd for 1694 tons of round stee bars. New fire fittings and additiona hoseß had been installed on the wharve as recommended by the superintenden of the Fire Board. The hatbourmaster reported that durini February the total arrivals at the pori were 251,969 gross tons an increase o: ,31.106 tons in lar?e shipping comparec I with the correspondine month last year Local coastal vessels showed a decrease of 55 vessels of 31.106 gross tons. Th« departures last month totalled 224,94 C , gross tons.