THE FREMANTLE DOCK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12814, 13 July 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE FREMANTLE DOCK.

'■'■.".''7'* PERTH, June 27. The causes of the Fremantle dock fiasco, as announced m Parliament, were specified m a .long report by Mr Ramsbotham, resident dock engineer, who was engaged m November, , 1010, on the recommendation of Sir Whatley. Elliot,' by, whose advice the Rous Head 'site was selected.

Mr Ramsbotham states that the extra expenditure on his estimate of February, 1911, clearly m view, totals £263,289, with further ' expenses probable. He now estimates it wjll take eight years, and cost £725,300' to - <|ry the first dam section to 33ft. at' lW water. Of this £175,150^ (exclusive of departmental charges) hafe been already spent, and £124,536 of the, new estimate is for pumping, at £15,567 per, year. He finally advises the Government to abandon the construction. The work already done can be turned to some account and a dock be built at less cost" if a. favorable site be obtained,., and if not a floating dock should be purchased. Mr Thompson, engineer-in-chief, m a minute on Mr. Ramsbotham's report, states that the foundation cannot be re- 1 lied on, and he asks if the' Government is prepared, to 1 face an; expenditure of half a million to complete the first section of. that dock. He points out that m February of last year he- suggested that, tailTng a good foundation, the north wall should be converted into a 1 quay, vnstly improving the entrance to lu-emaptle harbor, while the approach to the channel and berthage could be deepened" to 36ft. „ A floating dock would serve Fremantle for years. As announced m Parliament the Government .has decided to abandon the construction, and utilise the space for harbor accommodation, and propose a fresh dock scheme. J i