OTAGO HARBOUR WORKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 8

OTAGO HARBOUR WORKS.

( THE CHAIRMAN’S NORTHERN VISIT. Before the ordinary business of the Harbour Board was taken up on April £5, Mr Loudon, on behalf of the members of the board, expressed their pleasure at seeing Mr Belcher back among them again. They trusted he was in good l trim after his holiday in the north. The Chairman, in thanking the rnorm hers for their welcome, said ho was very pleased to be back 1 with the board again. He was extremely thankful to the board for the indulgence it had extended to him in granting him leave of absence. While in the north he had obtained some information about harbour matters. He was indebted to the courtesy of Mr Fletcher (chairman of the Wellington Board), Mr Nicholls (secretary), and Mr Marchant (engineer) for much information given to him with regard to their harbour arrangements. He was also indebted to Mr Gunson (chairman of the Auckland Board) and Mr Burnett (secretary) for courtesy shown to "him there. He had closely inquired into the ■methods of harbour work, including dredging plants, and he came back now with a little information which might possibly bo of value to the Otago Board in tho future.ile had discovered in his travels that as far as Auckland and Wellington were concerned, they had found it necessary recently to acquire plant to deal with their dredging operations, which he had had the pleasure of examining. He could say without hesitation that that plant was miles ahead of anything in Otago, and if ho remained a member of the board he would suggest before long that the Otago Board should reorganise its whole method of dredging. The plant in Auckland was something magnificent. He stood on th© reclaimed ground there along with Mr Gunsoii, and saw three of their sections sold at fabulous prices. It was well known that Auckland was going ahead much faster than any other place in New Zealand, and he was sorry to think that the same activity and energy were nob noticeable in Dunedin. Of course, Otago laboured under a disadvantage, as it was a divided port, part of its work being carried on at Port Chalmers and part at Dunedin. In that way one did not see the same amount of life and activity exhibited as was to be seen in the other cities, whore the wharf work was carried on on the one shore. While in Auckland he went to the expense of getting a number of views of some of the improvements. A building was being erected that would cost about £BO,OOO for the convenience of the ferry services which crossed the harbour to North Shore. The manner in which the board was building its wharves appealed to him. It had altogether abandoned tho building of its wharves with wood, and in everything that was being) done ferro concrete was used. It had not to depend on Australia for a wood supply, because it had any amount of material out of which it could make its piles and tho necessary adjuncts to its wharves. Ho walked with Mr Gunson over 400 piles which had been made for the construction of tho row Queen street wharf. There was a treating crane tested to lift 80 tons. Some of the piles were 86ft long, and weighed 12 tons. They were picked up by thus enormous crane and placed in position, and tho pile-driver did the rest of the business. lie also inspected the Auckland Boar da offices, and after seeing them he hoped the Otago Board would soon have 1 better quarters for the transaction of its business. He was sorry that the present offices were to be given to th© waterside workers for their accommodation. In all tho places ho had been he had found a very large amount of convenience and accommodation given to the ferry services, but here in Dunedin there was practically none. The present offices should be ■ demolished, and something in the shape of decent comfort provided for the con- j venience of the people, who, ho was sure, I wore going to settle about Portobello and other parts on that side of the harbour. It was a disgrace to the city tliat there was not a single convenience on the wharves, when there were often 1000 or 1200 people waiting to use the ferry service during the holiday time. The sooner the board came to the conclusion to do something with regard to the removal of the present offices the better. If the building was to be handed over to the waterside workers it might bo I very convenient for them, but what the board had to consider was this: there were i women and children constantly passing along the miserable approach to the wharf. Ho would say nothing derogatory to tho waterside workers, but there were times when some of them were rather rough in their speech and action, and if the present offices were to be handed over to the waterside workers tho men would often be gathered together in that narrow passageway that was intended for the ferry people. That should not be allowed. He would suggest that the area of ground which was finally intended. for tho waterside

workers should be utilised and a building erected on it for their use. The building at the far end of the cross wharf had cost about double the amount it was originally intended to cost. The alterations now being made had run the board into further expense, and if the present offices were handed over to the waterside workers they would have to’ be altered for their convenience. Before they were finished the board would find that this work of shreds and patches, the altering »>f this and the other, would run into a great deal more expense than if a proper building had been erected in the first instance. Ho wanted to see the present “ box ” removed from the main approach to the wharf, and something in the shape of decent conveniences erected on the wharf for the ferry service. He had been informed by the Hon. Mr Laureneon that the dredge recently acquired in Lyttelton for dredging purposes was one of the finest machines of its kind'in the world. Almost every board in New Zealand was going in for new machinery, and it would be the duty of the Otago Board to take the same course before long. The chairman also mentioned that ho had to go to Wellington next Saturday to receive a rather distinguished individual from Great Britain and conduct him through the' South Island. He would, therefore, not bo able to attend the annual meeting on the 7th prox. for the election of chairman, but he would be a candidate for the position.