HARBOUR WORKS

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

HARBOUR WORKS

o CONSULTING ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. F. W. Via reliant, cci. suiting engineer to the N vy .Plymouth Har hour Board, submitted the follow') g report to the mornmiy meeting held yesterday:— Wharf Extension. -1 agree with the Harbourmaster that a 60ft extension of the wharf is desirable. Tiiis will then afford two- berths on its western side for colonial cargo steamers. The estimated cost of a 30ft. extension only would be £IBOO, and for 60ft £3500. / Light at End of Breakwater.—The standard for this should bo set on a concrete foundation placed on the lee side of the end of the breaicw.it ;r, and so tiiat the block setting crane can work without hindr.uro The i light should be elect’ic, set on an iron skelsi.m tripod 30ff the top of the Uri.-u; water so that it may not be damaged by a iieavy sea. 1 lie wires should lie of the very I cit quality of insulation, laid in galvanised iron screwed tubes, and sot in a chase cut in top .if the break*,v it ;r and fomented in. Railway Crossings on Wharf.—-The Railway Department requires certain beams to he set under the rails of crossings. These requirements are customary, and in my opinion necessary. I advise that they be set as requested. Shed on Wharf.—l estimate the cost of this at about £1(300. It should have a floor set at the levels of the waggon floors', as in the case of an ordinary railway goods shod. The committee discussed the material to lie used in covering the walls and roof From inspection of the Harbourmasters’ shed on the wharf I think that corrugated iron is quite suitable. 1 lie laps of the iron Jiould be painted before fixing, and '•■ho' who.o painted at first and’ re-painted at iom -yearly intervals, when I think it would lie found to give quite satisfactory results. It has the advantages of being quite weather-tight and proof against damage by external fire under ordinary circumstances. Moorings for Large V essels.— Screw moorings for these would lie very expensive. I advise sotting concrete blocks similar to those we . use for the dredge moorings. To bo Oft. x Oft x oft. thick, reinforced by "in. steel liars. The blocks to lie sot in dredged holes of such depths that their tops will lie 2ft. below the deepest level to which we propose to dredge. The mooring chain should lie Sin. and the block shackle 3Jin. Nothin" could disturb tlieso blocks, and they could always be dredged out for overhaul and repairs to moorjugs. Buoys should lie of large ; ire

made of gin, plating and well painted inside and out.

Reclamation.—l regard this ns being liouud up with the question ol tin; proposed now wharf eastward of the preakwater. When the development of the port’s trade requires the election of such iv wharf, as must be the case in time, then! think tins reclamation proposal should bo d-alt with. In the meantime my oirnion is that it should lie loft in abeyance. Dredge.—This plant continues to -live tiic most satisfactory results. Certain wonting i arts wll rhcitly require renewal, an 1 I a.ivise that they be obtained irom •r • inarms Mes-i.s Fleming and Ferguson, as per list prepared by the chief engineer. Outline sketches and approximate dimensions of these details should be scut with the order, so that there may be no misunderstanding. In reply to Mr. King, Mr. Marchant said tho light on the end of the breakwater would make a hole in £3OO or £4OO. Mr. King: As much as that? Mr. Marchant: Oh, yes; fully that. In reply to tho Chairman, 31 r. Marchant said lie quite agreed witii Inc suggestion of Mr. Henderson, as contained in liis report, in connection with tho use of timber. Mr. Wilkinson suggested that tho Board try Powollisod wood; it was a real good tiling; It only cost os per hundred more, but was practically everlasting. Mr. Marchant thought it would be interesting to got a quantity of this timber and make the experiment. The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman and Mr. King. Tho engineer was authorised to get out plans and prepare specifications for buoys and call for tenders*(n tho Dominion, and tho necessary chains will bo procured direct from England. Tne concrete blocks will be made. Mi. Marchant was also authorised to procure extra parts necessary for the dredge. It was also decided that when the dredge was on tho slips at Wellington tiio engineer and superintendent should be present. The report was approved.—“ Herald.”