OTAGO HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 17

OTAGO HARBOUR

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting last evening of the Otago Harbour Board was attended by Messrs W. Begg (chairman), J. B. Waters, R. Duncan, D. Copland. F. E. Tyson, D. F. H. Sharpe, T. Scollay, J. H. Duncan, R. Harrison, A. Smith, J. Preston, and R. S. Thompson. NEW CUSTOMS BUILDING Letters were received from the Collector of Customs, asking that the work of providing central accommodation for the Customs wharf staff be expedited, and the town clerk advising that the Works Committee of the City Council had agreed to the proposed building being placed on the site originally proposed by the board (at the corner of Wharf and Rattray streets). It was decided to advise the Customs Department of the position in regard to the site and that plans and specifications were being prepared and that a test pile was being driven at an early date. WATERSIDE WORKERS' ACCOMMODATION The Standing Committee reported having received a communication from the district railway engineer advising that difficulty was being experienced in finding another suitable site for waterside workers' accommodation and asking if the board had considered the possibility of making the present building two-storeyed The Port Chalmers branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union had written drawing attention to the urgent leed for improved accommodation. The committee recommended that the question be referred to a sub-commit-tee comprising the chairman, Messrs Waters and Scollay. It was decided to defer further discussion until f he committee presented its report. The secretary was instructed to negotiate with the Railways Department for the hire or purchase of an old railway carriage for use as a shelter for waterside workers and tally clerks on Port Chalmers wharves. BIRCH STREET WHARF In connection with the offer of the Minister of Railways with respect to the expense of renewing the rails on Birch street wharf, together with the communication from Mr A. Campbell, M.P., forwarding a copy of a letter received from the Minister advising that he could not authorise any greater contribution that the • £ 1500 already offered, the Standing Committee recommended that the board agree to make a contribution of half cost up to a maximum of £ISOO on the understanding that the future maintenance of the railway tracks was the responsibility of the Railways DepartmentApproved. MOTOR CAR DUES A request from the Ford Motor Company for a reduction in the inward dues on motor cars was deferred for consideration in connection , with the estimates for the present year. LOAN -.RRANGED A report from a sub-committee advised that it had been successful in placing the loan of £IO,OOO required in connection with the loans maturing on January 1, 1938. The terms are:—Currency, 11 years at 3J per cent.; £IOOO to be repaid annually during the last 10 years of the term, the first payment to be made on December 31, 1939. LIFTING OF HULK On the recommendation of the Standing Committee it was decided to defer consideration of the proposal to raise the hulk Mokoia for six months. SORTING OF CARGO The report of the harbour master with respect to the sorting and stacking of cargo in sheds, as requested by the importers and shippers and the Master Carriers' Association, was referred to a sub-committee consisting of the chairman. Messrs Waters. Duncan, and Sharpe. TENDERS On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, the following tenders were accepted in connection with a contract for the supply and delivery of cables and boxes:—Four-core cable and boxes, Tolley and Sons, Ltd., £97 12s 6d; two-core cable and boxes, Vickery Electrical 'Company, £57 6s 4d. The committee also reported that advantage was taken of the opportunity to order the material required to clear the overhead lines from the site of the new Ta shed at Victoria wharf, and the contract of the Vickery Electrical Company was accordingly increased by £33.—Approved. RECEIPTS FOR TWELVE MONTHS It was reported that the receipts for the 12 months ended September 30 amounted to £193,120. For 1935-36 the total was £178,131; 1934-35, £160,210; 1931-32. £136,538; 1929-30, £185,129. FINANCE The secretary reported that the debit balance at the bank was £4870 15s lid. ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES It was reported that a total of 40 vessels (58,596 tons) had arrived at Dunedin during September, and 11 vessels (10,071 tons) at Port Chalmers. Forty-one vessels (51.581 tons) had departed from Dunedin. and eight vessels (11,795 tons) from Port Chalmers. ENGINEER'S REPORT The engineer (Mr McG. Wilkie) reported as follows: Dredging.—During the month of September the dredge Otakou dredged a total of 37 loads, 46,640 cubic yards. Of this material one load, or 1480 cubic yards, was deposited at the dredge Vulcan, and 36 loads, or 45,160 cubic yards, at sea. During the month the dredge steamed 321 miles, and consumed 130.7 tons of fuel oil. No pumping operations were carried out by the dredge Vulcan during the month. Docks.—During the month a total of four vessels were docked. Leith Canal. —During the period of five weeks ended October 15 the following work was carried out:—A total of 36 feet of floor slab was fabricated and concreted. Twenty-five sheet piles were driven, and 15 anchorage rods placed and cased in concrete. A length of 184 feet of belting along the front of the sheet pile wall was moulded on. A commencement was made to draw the concrete piles forming the original north wall below the cantilever bridge. These piles will be redriven on the new alignment. Eightyfour piles were drawn. During the period of four weeks ended October 5, considerable progress was made with the demolition of the cantilever bridge. The concrete is being drilled and shot down with small charges of explosive, the heavy steel reinforcement making the work somewhat slow. The broken concrete is being used to build up the toe of the Boat Harbour walls. Nine new sheet piles were fabricated and concreted. Birch Street Wharf.—The construction of 280 feet of the new wharf has now been completed. During the month, the laying and fastening down of the decking was completed the railway sidings and one scissors crossing were installed by the Railways Department, mooring bollards were shaped and the deck treated with a coat of tai and sand A commencement was made with the construction of a further section of the wharf. The cutting back of the G. H, I, J shed was proceeded with, the front walls being shifted back in three sections to their new alignment, doors fitted up and new sills placed under the walls where required. The work will be completed in about a week's time, when a commencement will be made to drive the two back rows of piles from the shore George Street Pier, Port Chalmers The strengthening of this wharf was continued during the month and to date the progress is as follows: —Fifteen bays of decking were opened up the length being 187 feet: 14 piles were driven and fastened up and short cap? fitted: seven old deck beams were removed: 13 new crane beams were scarfed and fastened in position and nine bays of old decking were replaced and the railway tracks relaid A seven-ton crane on loan from the Railwnvs r>er>s"-trnent arrived on October 13. and will be of great assistance in the carrying out of this work Channel Piles.—No. 4 black pile which was knocked over, was replaced with a new pile fitted with ladder and light. Railway Deviation, Blanket BayThree short piles were driven for the Railways Department on the line of the new deviation at Blanket Bay.

New Storage Shed.—The construction of the foundation for the new shed between sheds "T" and "U" was suspended temporarily until further supplies of old deck beams are available from the old Birch street wharf. To date, 13 rows of foundation piles have been placed and 13 rows of floor beams fitted and fastened. Seven concrete foundation piles were concreted and fitted with brackets to carry the storey oosts of the new structure. Aramoana Road-Minor repairs were effected to 15 chains of the Spit road approaching the township. This portion will shirtlv be metalled in continuation of the work carried out by the Waikouaiti Council. Harbour Survey.—The Heads entrance channels and bar were sounded and a plan prepared. Probings were carried out on the bottom in the vicinity of the Broxton and a plan nrpnafed showing the result Mr Scollay complained that the work on the George street pier had slowed down to such an extent that it had practically stopped. The wool-export-ing season, he said, was due to start in two months' time. Mr Sharpe: We have to open the front door before we can go ahead. The report was adopted-