RECLAMATION OF THE UPPER HARBOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 33

RECLAMATION OF THE UPPER HARBOUR.

WORK TO BE PROCEEDED WITH

A special meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held on Friday, and was attended by Messrs W. Beicheir (chairman), W. Wilkinson, H. E. Mollcr, H. C. Campbell, J. Dickson, T. Fiddis, G. B. Bullock, J. Loudon, J. E. Keenan, J. H. Walker, K. C. Hazlett, W. Barclay, F. W. Platts, and J. H. F. Ilamel.

Tho Chairman stated that tho meeting, which was for the purpose of considering the engineer's report with legard to the reclamation of the. upper lharbour, had been adjourned from time to time. There had been three reports laid before members with regard to this matter, and at tho last meeting it had been suggested that the engineer should .somewhat modify or summarise tho reports he had submitted. Tlia.t had been dene, and the board had now before it tho summarised report by the engineer. Tho repoort was read and received. Mr Walker said there was a lot of dotailed matter, and a good deal of explanation necessary, and he thought tho board should resolve itself into committee. He moved accordingly. Mr Barplay seconded the motion. It seemed to him that there was a good deal in the matter that was not directly before them. The secretary had been particularly reticent as far as the immediate obje-et of this reclamation was concerned, and he thought that if they wore in committee they might get the exact reason for this elaborate work which the engineer recommended. They had certainly not got it before them now.

Mr Fiddis said ho did not know why they should go into committee. He did not like this hole and-oorner way at all. Lot the public know what they had to say. Mr Walker took exception to the expression "hole-and-corner work." The: reason for his miction was to enable members to have an opportunity of discussing the matter more freely than if they were in open board. The motion was carried, Mr Fiddis objecting, and the chairman remarking that when tho board came out of committee members would have an opportunity of expressing an opinion.

Tho following is the summarised report of tho engineer, which was discussed by the board in committee for close on two hours:—

"At tho meeting of the board hold on July 27, 1911. I submitted a. report on the question of reclamation generally in Otago Harbour, in connection with which a resolution was passed that members be supplied with copies. At the same meeting the board in committee received the following memo, of July 22, 1911, dealing with the reclamations of the southern endowment . —'Anderson's Bay Road Foreshore : In view of the early completion of the reclamation of the 60-acre block, being portion of endowment fronting Ward streot, it will he necessary to provide for disposal of dredging from tlho vicinity of the wharves and Victoria Channel by reclaiming another portion of the endowments. As the title to the tidal lands fronting Anderson's Bay road is now secured under the Vesting Act it is advised that the area as shown on plan bo reclaimed, and the works necessary and preparatory to pumping the spoil be undertaken. The area available for reclamation as already authorised amounts to 108 acres, and it is now proposed to include a remaining portion of tho area. 19 acres 2 roods, which had been reserved is a coal and timltor basin. This area was eneroadhed upon by the Government for railway purposes in 1879, rendering tho remainder useless for tho i urposo for which it wa3 reserved. It is also proposed to reclaim an additional strip on the harbour side of tho original line of reclamation, amounting to 37 acres 1 rood. These additions will make tlie area available for reclamation 165 acres. Th:> Marine Department has been furnished with the plans, and it is necessary that a special Order-in-Coun-cil bo obtained to empower the board to reclaim the additional areas. Before roclamation can commence it will be necessary to construct a rubble retaining wall, also to provide for the convcyanco of storm water from the Drainage Board's drainage area to the harl>our front. The proposed training wall would be 5920 ft (1 milo 91 chain.-.) in length, with pitched rubblo face, and formed to sft above high water. Excellent material for this wall can bo obtained at Anderson's Bay, and tentative arrangements have been made to acquire land for quarry purposes. " ' Storm Water Outlet; —The existing out lets for storm water aro as follow: Manor street drain, discharging at Wharf street; Park Terrace drain, discharging at Wharf street; Wilkie road drain, discharging feet beyond high water mark; Macandrcw l-oad. discharging high water mark; St. Kilda open drain discharges at point in Portobello road, near Anderson's Bay cliffs.

" ' The question of tho disposal of storm water from tho Drainage Board's area is ono that has been the subject of negotiations with the Drainage Board. The Harbour Board has offered the Drainage Board tlho sum of £9OOO towards the cost of the Drainage Board's scheme for dealing with the discharge from these drains. Failing the acceptance by the Drainage Board of tlie above sum the Harbour Board can refer the matter to arbitration, as provided in section 6 of the " Otago Harbour Board Lands Vesting Act. 1910." _ In submitting this statement one is not in a position to detail the estimated cost until the site of the quarry has been fixed, and some experimental work done to ascertain the probable subsidence of the apron upon whidh the wall will rest, as the foreshore is of a soft nature. It is anticipated, however, that the oo3t of the wall and quarry, including £9<Vlfl D art cost of storm water provision,

will not exceed £24,000. —J. Blair Mason, engineer.' ""The board resolved that the purchase of the sections at Sunshine for quarry site at Anderson's Bay should bo made. In order that no unnecessary delay should occur in prosecuting the work ot constructing: the wall, I communicated by letter, dated July 7, 1911, with the secretary of tho Marine Department, asking that the Governor-in-C'-uuncil grant the necessary authority for the construction of the wall. The Marine Department, by letter dated 7th August, 1911, intimated that tho work should be aulioris-ed by special order of the Governor-in-Council, under section 159 of 'The Harbours Act, 1908.' On the 30th of August I submitted, for tho consideration of tho board, proposals for dealing with tho dredging of the Upper Harbour and utilising the southern endowment for the reception of the heavier dredged spoil, while the lighter material was proposed to bo pumped to sea. Various meetings to consider the report have been held, and adjourned from time to time. On December 1 I again drew attention to the immediate necessity of dealing with the disposal of tho future dredgmgs and, inter alia, urged the necessity of providing as follows :—(1) That an Order-in-Council ba sought authorising additional lands to ba reclaimed, and the construction of a rubble

retaining wall, south endowment, as per plane already forwarded to tho Marne Department. (2) An understanding with the Drainage Board as to the necessary arrangements for storm water disposal. (3) Opening up of quarries, provision of plant, and construction of the rubble wall along the from of the area to be reclaimed. Til': estimated cost of this wall, including the sum of £9OOO, part cost of storm water provision is £24,000. It is estimated that the sum of £6OOO would be required during the current year if tho works are authorised herewith, with the addition of m contribution of £9OOO to the Drainage Board towards storm water provision. This would mean tho allocation of £15,000". for this year's expenditure and provision of revenue for an interest payment pf £675 ia this year's estimate of expenditure." It was moved in committee—'-'(1) That a special Order-in-Council bo obtained giving authority for the lands, as shown on the engineer s plans, to bo reclaimed and the construction of a rubble retaining wall. (2) That the Drainage Board be written to with respect to tho oarly necessity of providing the necessary outlets for storm water, and that the board contribute tho sum of £9OOO towards the cost of such outlet or outlets. (3) That the engineer be instructed to open out the quarry at Anderson's Bay, procure the necessary plant, and proceed with the construction of the re taining wall as soon as tho necessary authority has been obtained."

The motion was carried by 7 votes to 6, and the work d >ne in committee, was confirmed in open board, the Chairman mentioning that he was leaving for Wellington next morning, and would endeavour to b# hack in Dunedin for fcho next general mee* ig of the board.