EXPORT WHARF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22776, 9 July 1937, Page 13

EXPORT WHARF

PREPARATIONS IN HAND TENDERS FOR MATERIAL PLANS FOR DAIRY STORE SIX-STOREY BUILDING The construction of the new export wharf is to form' the first work in the extensive programme of harbour extension and improvements recently decided upon by the Auckland Harbour Board. Already much preliminary work has been done and the board has made a start toward procuring tho necessary materials. From now on there will bo a series of invitations for tenders for .the supply of materials. Preparations are also in hand for the construction of a six-storey dairy store near the wharf site. While 110 estimate is possible of tho time it will take to construct tho wharf, tho provision of which will make a radical difference in tho handling of cargoes, operations may cover two years. Much depends on tho rato at which steel work may be obtained from overseas, for the time of deliveries for this type of material, under present conditions in England, is problematical. A fair amount of dredging will bo necessary to give the required depth of water for overseas steamers, but this work will be done while the construction of the wharf is in progress. Tests for Foundations of Store Tests are now being conducted by tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Limited, on tho reclamation area near the site of tho proposed wharf to ascertain the length of foundation piles necessary for the big store the company intends to construct. Tho store is to be of six storeys and it will have a capacity for storage of 500,000 boxes of butter. The company's problem of storage is acute —it handles the whole of the export of dairy produce in the province—and it is hoped that before the end of the year a start will be made with the erection of the store. Three Thousand Piles Necessary That means the store will be ready long before the wharf • is completed, but it will be brought into immediate operation for storage. It will bo necessary therefore to extend railway tracks to King's Wharf to deal with the produce from the now store until it can be handled from the new export wharf. 111 the meantime the company is still engaged 011 drawing the plans for the building. The .preparation of the piles is a major operation for no less than 3000 will be required to carry the structure. It is proposed to drive them in nests of nine.

HARBOUR WORKS TRAINING PIER FINISHED ST. MARY'S BAY OPERATIONS The new training pier from the Calliope dock has now been completed, and work is in progress in the pulling up of the old training pier which is on a different alignment from the dock. This work is being done by the Auckland Harbour Board for the naval authorities. The board's workmen aro extending the present wharf westward and this operation is about half finished. When it is completed the board will turn its attention to the construction of a jetty west of the Princes Wharf for coastal craft. Probably it will be two months before a start can be made. In the meantime the board has obtained the necessary steel and other material to face the breastwork from the viaduct to the market landing with steel piling. This piling will replace one of timber. A start is to be made on this work immediately.

Steady progress is being made with the improvements at St. Mary's Bay. Tho stone hank is well advanced, and quite a good deal of the area to be used for boatslicds has been reclaimed to the high-water mark. The suction dredge engaged in the work is encountering hard sand and shingle which, while excellent for filling in the reclamation area, represents hard pumping. The work should be well advanced by the end of the year and it is expected that boats will be able to use a good deal of the portion to be deepened toward the latter part of the season. -

While there is not much work visible in the job of covering the Princes Wharf, actually progress has been fairly good and tho steel necessary is coining to hand hv consignments. No estimate is possible, however, of the time it will take to get tho last clcliverv of steel.