THE GRAYING DOCK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 9

THE GRAYING DOCK

! WORK GOING ONI SLOWLY. AN. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. J ■ In reference to the contract lot in r January, 1007, to Messrs J. McLean, and s Son for the construction of a graving > dock at Wellington and for reclaiming * about eigbt acres of land adjoining for ' tlie sum of .£196,261, the Harbour Board’s engineer (Mr Marchbanks) makes tlie following statement in. his annual report:— ; “The contractors completed their stagl ing, and erected storage bins, mixing • plant, tramways and craneways during ’ the year, and commenced depositing concrete in November, 1908. Up to date, 8291 cubic yards have been deposited. The work done includes the face wall, portion of the first cast concrete in the | floor slab extending for about 60 feet, and part of the side walls. The rate 1 of progress has been, so slow that the > date of completion must be considerably ' over the contract time. The plant pro- ’ vided is inadequate to enable the- construction to proceed as rapidly as it ought to. The contractor has experienced a good deal of difficulty in dealing with the silt and laitance, .which has to be removed from-the bottom before concrete can be deposited: The pumps ; originally provided were too small, but large pumps have been procured, > and ' bettor progress is now being made. ' _ “Some of the concrete in-the first cast . of, the floor slab has been found not to be setting satisfactorily, and is unsound. Ib is essential that this portion.of the work be thoroughly solid. It is dimcult to deposit large quantities of concrete in mass in deeji water " and obtain sound work. . Experiments are being made to find out, if possible, what is the cause of the trouble. Portions of ■ the face wall have had to be cut out and replaced with fine , concrete. ' ‘‘Payments made during- the year ■ amount to £11, 957 8s 2d; additions to contract J!63 12s; leaving a liability ; of , JO 181,367 9s 2d. “The dock contract has been progressing so slowly that it is not necessary to ! place an order for the I dock pumping plant. Alternative prices! for steam, ; electric, and gas-driven pumps, have been procured from selected British makers. It will be necessary to obtain confirmatory quotations before an offer is accepted. The motive power for driving i the pumping machinery is now under consideration. "The .Wellington Corporation has agreed, under : certain : oondi- . tions, to; supplyr.the necessary current if it is eventually decided to install elec- ■ trjcal!y-driven pumps.” THE FINANCIAL POSITION. Mr H. B. Nioholls, the Board’s secre- ■ tary, in his report states that of the borrowing jiowers of .1350,000 authorised in regard to the dock, the sum of ,£30,549 had been spent up to 'September 30th last, leaving .£219,451 earmarked for the 1 dock. ■ f The following statement shows the annual payments made since the expendi- ; ture of .£250,000 was authorised : —, " . X e. d. 1002-3 ... ... 14 18 8 1903-4, ... ... ... ■ 105 18 2 1901-5 ... ... ... 219 18 4 1905-6 ... 16.577 1 9 : 1906-7. ... 294 15 5 . 1907-8 ... ... ... 186 3 5 1908-9 ... ... ••• 13,149 14 1 ’ Total ... ... ... 30,548 910