NEW ONEHUNGA WHARF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18664, 21 March 1924, Page 10

NEW ONEHUNGA WHARF

OPERATIONS START TO-DAY.

THE PEOBLEM OF TRAFFIC.

CONTINUANCE PROVIDED'FOR

CONSTRUCTION BY SECTIONS

The first steps in connection with the building of the new concrete wharf at Onehunga are to commence to-day, when a start is to be made in preparing the eastern end of the present wharf for heavy traffic. This section has not been used very much lately, and will require to be stiffened considerably to carry a larger share of the traffic while the oentre portion is being rebuilt in concrete.

The actual construction of "the new wharf presents a problem quite different to any that have been met in Auckland, where it has been possible to divert to other wharves all the traffio formerly carried by the particular wharf that had to be dismantled and reconstructed. As a result of representations by the - shipping interests concerned it has been decided to keep open for regular traffic, during the whole of the work of reconstruction, at least three berths for large steamers, as well as a certain frontage for small coasters and harbour vessels. As these berths have to be all served by railway tracks, a very interesting problem arose, especially as the new wharf is to project further into the channel than the old wooden structure. Complete plans for the new wharf have been in hand for some time, and this week the members of the Auckland Harbour Board conferred with the Mayor of Onehunga, and 1 other local representatives, when the actual scheme for rebuilding was settled. Yesterday afforded good opportunity to see the traffic carried by the Onehunga Wharf, all being necessarily served by railway, as well as by motor transport, and there was a very busy scene during the morning when this traffic was at its height. On one side of the wharf were the Rarawa, loading for New Plymouth, and the Ngatiawa, discharging from Kawhia and loading for Hokianga, while the Arapawa, running to Wakiato Heads and Wanganui, was also discharging. On the inside berth was the Ohinemuri, discharging timber just brought by barge from Whangape, in the Far North, while still further m. lay a whole fleet of small vessels discharging sand and other commodities into rajjway trucks and motor lorries. The problem of building the new wharf, while giving a minimum of interference with this regular traffic, has been met by again bringing into use the eastern end of the wharf. When strengthened it will afford one berth, and will relieve the main portion of the wharf to the extent of allowing the centre to be built for the length of one berth, while still leaving two berths to the westward of it. When this is completed, and provided with railway lines, the next berth westward will be reconstructed in concrete to the designed width, and so on with the next section.

The new wharf will be 100 ft wide, compared with 30ft. in the present wharf, and the inner berths, as well as the outer berths, are to be furnished with a complete set of railway lines. Provision is also made for shed accommodation in the centre of the wharf, for which the width will allow about 40ft., in addition to serving both sets of berths with ample railway and motor facilities. It is intended to dredge the inside berths when, the wharf is complete, so that the numerous small craft now using that portion will not be high and dry at low water as they are at present. Preparations are well forward for the work'of concrete construction. About 200 massive - erro-concrete piles have been constructed, on the Mangere foreshore,, and >: have been maturing for about 12 ■.months. '■••.

• This is by far the largest public work thiat has ever/been carried out at .Onehunga, and it has been necessitated by the constantly increasing traffic.