TWO BARGES IN TOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21759, 26 March 1934, Page 11

TWO BARGES IN TOW

GISBORNE TO AUCKLAND USE IN DREDGING WORK Two steel hopper barges are being towed from Gisbornc to Auckland by the Union Company's steamer Waimea and tlie Richardson motor-vessel Pukeko. The Waimea left Gisborne at seven o'clock on Saturday morning and the Pukeko about an hour later, each with a barge in tow. It was expected that the vessels would arrive about eight o'clock last evening, but their progress was delayed yesterday by northerly winds and seas. The Waimea reported by wireless that she expects to arrive about eleven o'clock this morning, and the Pukeko expects to arrive at 6.30 a.m. They will be met. outside liangitoto Channel by the tug Te Awhina, which will take over the barges and tow them into port. The barges were recently purchased by the Auckland Harbour Board from the Gisborne Harbour Board, and they are to be used to carry spoil dredged from the harbour bottom by the dredge Hapai, which is undergoing an extensive overhaul and refitting preparatory to resuming dredging between the wharves. The Hapai is a bucket dredge, and her hold can contain.' about 500 tons of spoil. The hopper barges each have a carrying capacity of 500 tons. When full of mud they will be towed to sea and emptied in deep water outside Rangitoto Channel. This process will reduce the cost of the board's dredging work and will lessen the trips from port of the Hapai, which previously went to sea to dump the spoil with only about 500 tons on board each trip.