HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1920, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY "MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. Newton King (chairman), C. H. Burgess, O. A. Wilkinson, C. I E. McGuinness, D. J. Hughes and E. Harwell. Apologies were tendered for the absence of Messrs J. S. Connett and J. McCluggage. HARBOR MASTER'S REPORT. For the four-weekly period ending 10th July, the Harbor Master (Captain Waller) reported that fifteen vessels had entered the port, the aggregate tonnage being 12,941 tons. The imports totalled U212 tons, and exports 1329 tons. ENGINEER'S MONTHLY REPORT. The engineers (Messrs. Mason and Lee) submitted their monthly report upon the Board's works for the period 12th June to 10th July, 1920. Dredging.—The Paritutu lias, whenever possible, been working at the inshore berth on the east side of the wharf. When this berth was not available, she has been deepening the rocky patch aF the outer fairway, also the sandbank on the west side of the fairway. The dredging is very hard in places, requiring the constant use of the diver and explosives. Work was delayed for three days owing to rough weather. The dredging returns for the month ending 30th June, were: Dredged by buckets 6010 tons, by pumps 14,000 tons'; total, 20,010 tons. Of this 15,000 tons was maintenance work and the balance, 4,410, tons, was new dredging. Hours worked totalled 227. The Thomas King deposited 3500 tdns on the line of the breakwater out to a distance of 600 feet. Owing.to the unsettled weather recent soundings have not been oblainecT. At low water the wall can be seen for some distance from the end of the breakwater. Quarries. —The work is progressing as usual in the quarries. Extra trucks are being prepared and will be in commission this month. General. —The first shelter shed on tlie wharf is still unfinished, owing to scxr'£ity of materials. The doors are made but cannot be hung until the .ironwork comes to hand. • The framework for the No. 2 shed is on the job- and is prepared ready for erection, which will be proceeded with as soon as the weather boards are delivered. Provision is being made in the No. 2 shed for a Customs office. The workshop is proving of great assistance in carrying out repairs and renewals to the Board's plant. The balance of the pulleys and shafting lias come to hand and it is hoped to have all the machines working by the end of the week. Skilled labor is difficult to obtain and at present the workshop is unable to overtake all the work in hand. A quantity of machinery and sleepers have arrived from Westport, also 601b rails from Australia, which will be used to renew the breakwater track. An accident occurred on the 28th ultimo, when blasting the boulders in the dredge cut. The charge exploded before the boat containing two men, got clear, with fortunately, no serious result". The charge had been fired with fu3e and it is surmised that it had been retailed too long before letting it go. Since the accident, all charges are being fired electrically, and the charge placed in position by the diver.