HARBOUR BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 27, 16 September 1911, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. J. B. Connett* (chair), Newton King, E. Dockrill, J. McCluggage, C. E. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson, IV. >’wadling, and E. Maxwell. Leave of Absence. Mr. D. Hughes telegraphed his apology for absence as follows: — ‘‘Apologise unavoidable absence. Anything reasonable cropping up re harmour’s further development, towards hastening entrance liners, has my support. —Leave of absence was granted. Transhipment Shed. Mr. T. Ronayne, general manager of railways, wrote: “With reference to the recent’representations made by your Board respecting tiic provision of a shed on the wharf at New Plymouth, and alterations to the sidings thereon, I have the honour to inform you that your proposals as submitted to the District Engineer, Wanganui, are approved, and that officer has been instructed to communicate with you accordingly.’ Harbourmaster's Report.' The Harbourmaster, Captain Newton, reported, for the four weeks ending 9th inst., that there had been 31 steamer berthings of the aggregate tonnage of 21,171 tons. The total imports wore. 6921 tons, of which 2212 wore coal, 1879 lor the railway and 363 tons for private use. The exports of produce and sundries for this period amounted to 425 ions. Harbour Works. Mr.' F. Henderson, superintendent of works, reported for the four weeks ending 9th inst.: — Dredge “Paritntu.”—The “Paritntu” dredged with the buckets on 22 days (net time 197 hours), and removed 36 loads, cqaul tef 14,400 tons. Eleven days of tins lime wore occupied at the 33ft. cut, from which 42 loads and 70 boulders were lifted. This cut has been carried in 30ft., and completed at pile 151. giving a wharf frontage of 610 ft, with a deptli of 33ft. and 280 ft. in a depth of 16ft at low water. The remaining eleven days were occupied in dredging a cut 120 ft wide by 25ft deep, across the end of the wharf towards the breakwater. Twenty-four- loads have been taken from this part, and the. cut has been carried in J 20ft. past the western side of the wharf. It. is intended to continue for another 40ft., which will take about fourdajs to complete. No stones have been encountered at the end of the wharf. The dredging is very muddy on top, with five foot of sand beneath, and terminates in soft clay at about 25ft. Dredge “Thomas King”—The “Thomas King” dredged on 21 days (net time 210 hours), and removed 136 loads, equal to i. 0,880 tons, from the various parts of tho harbour.

Wharf Widening.—At the wharf widening two. extra piles hare been driven at the approach, and extra beams fitted to meet the requirements of the Railway Department, The whole of the lower wallings and nearly all the braces arc fitted, and the decking is being put down. This section of the widening will be completed in about two weeks, and piledriving can then be resumed if the middle berth can be spared. I have received from the District Raihv 17 Engineer plans of wharf sidings with strengthening beams. I find that a large portion of the existing rimu deck will have to ‘ e taken up to place those beams, and it is doubtful whether the timber will be fit to put down again. It would be well, xlure'foro,' to procure" 200 extra deck planks as soon as possible. Re I in cb would 1 bo a suitable timber for tills purpose, being more durable and cheaper than rimu. The oil rimu docking could perhaps I c used again in shorter lengths in re-decking the original approach to the wharf liefore building the shed upon it. Gravel.—Two hundred and five yards of gravel have been lifted from the Mikotahi .inlet and disposed of as follows: —Deliverd to faddy, US yards; place on upper and nr’xingliouse siding, 57 yards; placed in lower yard for freezing works. / 0 yards. • The suggestion regarding timber was approved by the hoard’s consulting engineer, and the report was adopted.