HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 305, 22 December 1900, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thr Harbour Board met on Wednesday. Present: Messrs. Maxwell (chairman), Connett, King, Cliff, Ward, Barton, Higaett, McLean and Ralfo,

A letter was read from the Public Work* Department intimating that the question of tho Breakwator road wat one that belonged to the Lands Department. Mr. Connett said he had seen Mr. Hall-Jones on the matter and had received a similar reply. The Solicitor(Mr. Samuel) advised ae j ! ) the Board's position relative to tho widening of Currie-street. Premising I t hat the Beatd were desirous of facilita-1 ting the improvement, bo was of opinion j thiit the best course wonld be for the | Council to take the land required under the Public Works Aet, the Board making no claim for damages but the Council to pay all expense) and arrange with the sub-tenants for acquiring their interests. He submitted a form of resolution to carry out this proposal. After a short discussion tho resolution was passed.

The Engineer (Mr. Merchant) re- > ported or tbe fixed Band-pumping plant and its performance* m lately tested by him. Since the tests were made it had been discovered that the bill and socket-joint on the suction pipe had been broken—the result ef the pipe | being unwisely left slung over the, side of the breakwater some weeks previous to his visit—and required required repair. A duplicated joint I could be obtained for about £lO, and the broken one could be repaired for a fow pounds, Whilst in New Plymouth he regretted to notice a considerable degree of hostility on the part of 'several perrons whose opinions he valued highly, towards the fixed pumping plant. He therefor* desired to state the case as it presented itself to him. In his report dated 7th November, 1898, on harbour maintenance, he stated that in his opinion the true solution of the question was to be found in the establishment of oneefiVo- j tive floating plant and no other as a permanent system of working. That opinion lie still retained. Financial difficulties he believed prevented thatrocommendation being carried into effect. He warned the Board that there were many diflicultiea in the way of satisfactorily establishing the plant. It worked well undor favourable oondi I tions, and when the men engaged ou it had settled down into a proper system of handling it he looked for good and economical results. The only factor in the erne about which he entertained doubt was the amount of sand whioli it was dosirable to remove from the weather side of the break- j water. If too muoh was removed settlements in the rubble breakwater I must be expected, whioli would require more stone to make good. Also it was problematical how muoh of tht total sand drift wuuld gravitate to tbi working point. Then again the ques tion of dopoaiting a large quantity of li.ind on the beach was another poi. t to ke considered. Experience showed that by tipping sand on thobeaeh it all drifted north-eastwards from the breakwater. In two days' pnmping with 'lio fixed plant it was fonnd that the ironsind discharged from the pipe on tha beach had bean diiftod 150 ft northeast waids from tho pipe end, and that in calm weather too, so that probablv no difficulty will bo oxporienoed o that score. If the horbair works ar« to be extonded and an increased depth of water required greatly in excess of the original depth, the dredging plant to effect that must be cf a more complicated and expensive character than plant which is required only lor the maintenance of the harbour to its original depth. He was also of opinion that instead of spending money in extensive repairs it should be devoted obtaining tbe proper doatiesr dredgo plant.

The working testa of the sand pump were as followsßoilor Power: This is amply sufficient for driving at full speed without forcing firas, At first there were faults in fire ban, whereby an insufficiency of air was admitted to the furnaces. Orane Jib; No alteration was required. With a. strong run of sea the waves feed the present auction pipe pei feotly. It was proposed to put a sleeve at the bottom of the pipe to enable a deeper hole to be dredged. Discharge; The quantity of sand discharged varied according to the speed with which the wavea fed the euctioß pipe. Shortly after starting work the pumping would throw sand at the rate of 90 oubic yards an hour, but this ratr was reduced if the wavea did not drift, tbo Baud sufficient ly fast into the working hole. From tests made about CO cubic yards of sand per hour, wis a fair average rate. The sued was almoM entirely pure iron Band, weighing U 4H much per equal volume aa the annd removed by thu dredge, and in considering the cost the fact must bo borne in mind, aa the hoivior tho sand the leas the plant could remove. Working Cost;: Coal, wages, stores and repairs oost about £5 5i a day, equal to 2$ per cubie yard.

Mr. Sarton exprflMed his surprise at tho liuKinoor submitting such a report. Mr. (Joimett was in favour of laying up ilie pumps and u&iug the dredge, ns tho pump was 4 most costly way of clearing the sand. Tlio Chairman explained that the dredge would have to be laid up for repairs, which would tako fcur or Ave vruckfl.

Mr. King pointed out that the Engineer, in his report, scemod to have the greatest objection to the pump, on the ground that it could only he worked * :./w hours. Ho suggested that it would lie a mucli mtiro husinosslijte way if the iioard memt to utilise the sand pump, •is he supposed it must, for a fair trial tolis nmdc, and the output of gaud ;carafully measured to ascertain the .capacity of the pump. I The Chairman aaid that there was no | doubt sand pumps did work well ai

long u the pump wsa dr*»it>g upaanJ. [ Members: Ah! Ah! thatta whet* ft is!] Their difficult/ bid bias abaft, new of «te\m and having got ever tint, there wu nothing else to fear. At to gauging the Mad, a few minutes teal should suffice, but to hare a prolonged toit of a w«k or a month would not only be Tory costly but almost japes* sible, M-. Coanett aaid tliat if the K«giooer's report meant anything it metat the Board must get * nnw dntdge aed «'** ha(the Kagiaettl' did not think very highly of tbo dub Tha Beard >WUaadW<mr to fiad i aeaaa to acquire a proper dnd| thought there alymld be an w. return made of tha total teat pump, bow long it bad time, ard what work it i The Chairman and together to speak. The Chairman: Pa speaking again. Mr, Cliff: I waited to remark*, but yon aa show but yourself. J 'he Chairman urged Uiat _ !• should be made of th* pamp!l if, after the third trial, it w*i fc not to be what it wu represented, 1 give it up and get a dredge. T bad been fiithorto nothing but a at of mishap*, aud it was only fair to I the course ha mentioned. ' Mr, Oliff; You say "give it a trill" It is always the earn* ery, but the trial 1 nevoroomes off. ' Mr, Hignett concurred in tha auggestion to give the pamp a fair tmL say for a month. It oaght net to b* decried till a proper tort bad ban made. The discussion haw baenme so informal tbat it elicited the inquiry " Are we in Committee f Eventutllv. on the motion of Mr. KW ai 1 by Mr. Ralfe, it waa deokM the pump a month's fair trial, continuously, and that a data—count be kept af the expenses and! suits. , ItWMfurthsr dfcidad, an the i of Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. I that a return be prepared sbowii total ooit of tho mm pamp to d| eluding engineers expentea,' labour, ate. The Chairman iatimatod that* m no difficulty in furnishing tha turn, as tha bsoka wanaonpt timk any deUils eou'd be mdilr obtained [The remainder of oar wport k crowded out of thia tan.] ■A i