HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 17

HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF THE BOARD.

ONEHUNGA WHARF WORKS

eRECONSTRUCTION PROPOSALS.

Tho Auckland Harbour Board mot yesterday, the chairman, Mr. M. H. Wynynrd, presiding. The question whother the romaining portion of tho old wooden wharf at Onohunga should ho reconstructed or meroly repaired was submitted by tho board's engineer, Mr. D. Holdcrness, in a report with plans attached. Mr. Holderness said that when tho concrete wharf was built 11.050 squaro feet of tho old wharf on the eastern sido was left and incorporated in tho schemo. It was used mainly by sand boats. Tho cost of maintaining it was about £4OB a year, and the Railway Department which had one siding along tho berth and other tracks crossing tho inner portion, was continually asking for additional repairs. Tho engineer said ho had prepared four' alternative schemes for reconstruction, two each in concrete and hardwood respectively. Three provided for an extension of the main berth by 240 ft.., with another berth of 120 ft. on the inner side. In concrete this would cost £11,500, or with a modification £9500. In timber it would cost £6500. Tho fourth scheme was a reconstruction of tho present. wharf in timber at a cost of £9OOO. Tho total annual charges on the four schemes would be £768, £634, £656 and £BIO respectively At present extensive repairs were being carried out at a cost of £BOO, including a number of new piles. These would considerably roduce tho maintenance charges for a number of years.

The report was referred to tho Manu kau Harbour Committee.

Tho engineer also reported that material from the Railway Department's reclamation between tho Onohunga wharf and the Mangero Bridge was being washed into the harbour, and was causing extensive shoaling at the timber wharf berth. The department had been depositing spoil for many years, and tho leakage was due to the fact that tho stone wall on the seaward sido was incapable of retaining tho finer matter. It was decided to forward a copy of the report to the department with a request that a proper retaining wall should be built.

Regarding an application by the Devon port Borough Council for authority to reclaim an additional area of 16$ acres in Ngataringa Bay for the purpose of enlarging its recreation reserve, the board in committee recommended that a 50 years' lease at a nominal rental be granted, subject to a number of conditions, the board reserving the right to resume any portion of tho area at time for harbour purposes 011 reimbursing any expenditure upon it by the council The recommendation was adopted. An application having been made by the Northcoto Borough Council for the vesMntr in it of tho two tidal areas in Shoal "Bay, known as the Tuff Craters, the board' in committee recommended that the council be offered a 50 years' lease of one an?a at a nominal rental, hut that the application respecting the other be declined. This was agreed to.

It was agreed to lease a new site for dinghy skids near tho Pacific Cable Board's depot, to the Devonport Borough Council at a nominal rental for 14 years. A letter was received from the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association, stating that it had no objection to a harbour engineer as a member of tho proposed bridgo commission in addition _to a representative of the Public Works Department. It was decided to reply that the board adhered to its resolutions regarding the personnel of tho commission.