BIRCH STREET WHARF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 4

BIRCH STREET WHARF

EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NECESSARY RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S REPORT COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION FAVOURED The condition of the Birch street wharf at the present time was under discussion at the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last evening, when a report was received from the Railways Department directing attention to the need for repairs and renewals immediately if" it was not the board's intention to rebuild the wharf. Several members spoke of the urgency of the matter and the necessity for complete reconstruction rather than temporary repairs, and it was finally decided that the engineer should be instructed to report on the matter to a meeting of the board on November 7. The district engineer, New Zealand Railways, forwarded his bridge engineer's report regarding the condition of the wharf. The report stated that, if the wharf were not going to be reconstructed at an early date, extensive improvements and renewals would be necessary in the meantime. These were enumerated in detail.

The chairman said that on receipt of the report he had endeavoured to get in touch with the department, but so' far he had not been able to arrange a discussion. It would be seen that the. need for repairs or reconstruction was an urgent one, but it would have to be decided whether they should ( execute temporary' repairs or proceed with a replacement programme at a probable total cost of £40,000. Mr Munro: We shall have to do something. Mr Sharpe: Could we not discuss the matter at the special meeting called to consider the estimates?

Mr Tyson said the board was taking a terrible risk with, the Birch street wharf in view of the adverse reports submitted by their,own engineer. . In■ the face of such reports he thought the board would be liable in'the event of" an accident. The Birch street .wharf vwas, after all, the most important of their wharves, and something should be done about it at once. He would move that the engineer should bring down a report for the special - meeting, and, further, that the matter, of Birch street wharf should take precedence over other works. Mr Preston asked whether the provision of railway connection to Victoria wharf would not have some bearing on the matter. The chairman said that it had a distinct bearing on the matter. The board had to get a . railway connection to Victoria wharf before it could go on with the reconstruction of the Birch street wharf. The work on the Victoria wharf would be completed in about a fortnight's time arid they 'could[then .go ahead with any programme decided with respect to Birch street.' { Mr Sharpe asked if the report would embrace the cost of temporary repairs.

The chairman: Yes, because even if we decide to go on with the reconstruction of the wharf we shall have to do something to keep it going as it will be at least six months before we can land the necessary material.

Mr Sharpe ?-;.We'll have to do something to'keep it froin falling down. Mr Copland said the board should not waste any more money on the Birch street wharf. Such expenditure would be wasted unless it were spent on rebuilding.. The Birch street wharf was undoubtedly the best of their wharves and it should be put into proper order. The chairman: I would like to remind the board that this wharf has only two berths. • * Mr Copland suggested that any programme of reconstruction could easily provide for an extension of the wharf. The Railways Department's report was received and Mr Tyson's motion was carried.