NEW DOCK IN DANGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 8

NEW DOCK IN DANGER.

MOORING WIRES PART. effect of fierce squall. DRIFT PROMPTLY CHECKED. ANXIOUS TIME IN WELLINGTON. [bt telegraph-—Press /ssc-ciation.] " WELLINGTON,-Tuesday. In an exceptionally strong squall at 7 o'clock this evening the mooring wires at the forward end of the jubilee floating dock parted and the end of the dockswung away from the wharf. Aftpr strenuous efforts additional mooring lines were run out and the dock was made fast for the night. A heavy northerly wind had been blowing all day, but the tugs and Harbour Board officials had finished in the middle of the afternoon the job of mooring the dock to the special wharf at the Thorndon end of the harbour. The vast surface of the dock wall was exposed almost at right angles to the gale, and the strain proved too much during a squall in the evening for the, forward mooring wires to the wharf to hold. They parted and the end of the dock began to move slowly awav from the wharf. 'J"he men on the clock and the tugs rose to the emergency and an anchor "was !»t go almost immediately from tho forward end of the dock to hold (.he position and stop a. further swing from the. wharf. A considerable length of anchor chain was let out and the dock was finally brought up still broadside to the wind. Meanwhile at the after end of the dock additional mooring wires were run between Ihe dock and the wharf and fastened. Darkness had set in and there, was considerable anxiety. Harbour Board officials, including the harbourmaster, Captain J. Spence, were hurriedly summoned. Immense manila hawsers" were rushed along the waterfront to the remote Jubilee Dock Wharf, but they were not required. The tug masters had already taken the principal steps to make the dock safe, and as the evening wore on the wind slackened. When the harbourmaster arrived lie remarked, "\Yc will be here all night."' but fie left two hours later satisfied that the,dock would be all right. The present intention is to move tha dock early to-morrow morning and moor it along the Thorndon breastwork while certain readjustments arc being made to the moorings. ■ The accident just before dusk was seen from the northern suburbs and the news spread rapidly. At present the dock is holding against a light- northerly wind with reinforced mooring wires at the after end and an anchor at the forward end. FINANCES OF ENTERPRISE. PROVISION FOR EXTENSION. [BT TELEGRAPH FRES;S ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Interviewed on the dock wharf while the new floating dock was beingimoored this morning, the acting-chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, 'Mr. H. D. Bennett, said the board never contemplated that the dock would be selfsupporting. By the time it was safely tied up it might truly be said that ths investment represented a capital expenditure of £250.000. The board regarded this investment as a national one, valuable alike to the other big ports as well .as to Wellington itself. The dock as it now was could accommodate ships in excess of 387 ft. long and drawing 26ft. Its lifting capacity was 17,000 tons. Provision had been made so that another section could be added, which would give do-ck capacity for s vessel of 20,000 tons. One of the greatest and most costly matters for concern had been tile risk of delivery of the clock, towing and insurance, which nearlyequalled the construction cost. To Captain Hart, and his fellow-country-men Mr. Bennett said the board extended its heartiest congratulations on the successful termination of an undertaking classed by Lloyd's and the seafaring fraternity as being difficult and dangerous. Reciprocal greetings were exchanged between the Harbour Board and the Dutch owners of the. tugs by cablegram in connection with the completion of the tow.