PORT OF WHANGAREI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 13

PORT OF WHANGAREI

DREDGING THE BASIN BOARD ADOPTS SCHEME [from oitr own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Friday The Whangarei Harbour Board, at its meeting to-day, received the estimate from the engineer, Mr. W. M. Fraser, for the proposed dredging of the Whangarei Basin. His report stated that to dredge the whole basin to a depth of 6ft. at low water spring tides, with 14ft. at the main berth, 50,000 cubic yards of mud would require to be shifted. The suction dredge averaged 830 yds. a day on the Kioreroa-Onerahi channel, where stiff digging was experienced, so that with soft mud such as the basin contained, 1000 cubic yards a day should be done. At this rate, the job would occupy ten weeks, plus the time occupied in assembling the plant and shifting material. On account of the regular shipping at the Town Wharf, and also of the shortage of dredge delivery pipes, the work presented certain difficulties, chief of which was the question of disposal of spoil to bo lifted by the dredge. Mr. Fraser submitted three areas on which spoil could be deposited.- The estimated cost of the work would be £565, the principal cost of which would bo the hiring of a suction dredge for ten weeks. The estimate did not include the cost of drain pipes, which would piobably be required on one of the three areas. Mr. J. E. Holmes said the whole question was one of finance. The board would have to exceed its estimates for the year. The chairman, Mr. J. A. Finlayson, said he had gone carefully into the matter, and the board could manage to scrape through for the year if the \voik was done. It must be done eventually. The board adopted the report and tho work will be proceeded with. The engineer said tlie new railway wharf at Kioreroa would be available on July 1. .. . , Mr. P. R- Gardiner said that now was the time to press for a road to Kioreroa. The work could be done by unemployed labour. He considered the Borough Council and County Council should be met in conference on tho question. He moved that the chairman and Messrs. L. A. Johnson and E. LWhimp bo a committee to deal with the matter. The motion was carried.