PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1924, Page 2

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

WORK OF THE MONTH. good dredging returns. 3IEETING OF THE BOARD. The New Plymouth Hairbour Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. <C.. E. Bellringer (chairman), J. R. v/ruickghank, Newton King, E. Maxwell and W. C. Clement. Apologies for absentee were received from Messrs. J. S. Connett, J. MdChiggage, W. T-. Wells and G. W. Tayier. ° Reporting on the operations (of his department for the period August 18 to September 18, the .resident engineer (Mr. G. W. B. Lowison) said:— Dredging. —Very good weather throughout the period has enabled dredging operations to proceed almost uninterruptedly. This has been most fortunate, as the dredge moved over to more exposed waters on August 21, and commenced work on the first cut (to 25 feet at low water), across the seaward approach to the Newton King wharf. Since then, dredging activities have been practically confined to this particular cut, working it in conjunction with tidal work on the 33 feet deep berthing area at the Moturoa wharf. The Paritutu’s returns for the period are:—Bucket dredging, first end cut, Newton King wharf, 7,400 tons; overseas berth, Moturoa wharf, 3,2u0 tons; inner berth, Moturoa Wharf to 16ft, 2,000 tons; a total of 12,600 tons, all of which was dumped at sea. It will ibe noticed that all the work of the month has necessitated bucket dredging, and it is pleasing to note that good returns have been secured in opening up new ground, particularly ahead of the Newton King wharf, Where extremely good progress has been made. THE NEW WHARF.

Newton King Wharf.—Constructional work on this wharf is still delayed through lack of material, and the number of hands employed haa had to •be further reduced. The decking hab been completed as far as possible on the western side and laid the full width of the wharf to pier 35. The kerbing on

the- ivestern side also been completed, and the whole. of the wharf has now been practically completely braced transversely. The sanitary conveniences being erected are now well in hand. Fifteen more concrete piles were driven, extending the abutment wall ! further eastwards, and the acedmpanyling concrete capping, waling and anchor beam duly moulded. Twenty-one reinforced concrete piles were manufactured, thus completing the required number. The filling behind the western wing wail of the abutment has been 1 completed, together with the necessary I rubble matter on the seaward side of isame (€72 tons of stone were sent to I this work) and a concrete coping is •being nm a short distance inshore to give a finish to this end of the abutment. The western side of the wharf has been passed for railway traffic by the department. Moturoa Wharf. —'Renewals of chafing pieces and diagonals and repairs to sheathing of the piles were carried out during the period. The far eastern corner of the wharf was also opened up ready for renewing the corner piles when the travelling crane i,s. available. ’Quarry.—A small ehot ('No. 9) was fired in the soft left flank of the quarry face on August 30, and brought down and loosened probably about 4,000 tons. The stone is unsuitable for constructive purposes, but ite removal will facilitate the working of loose stone from previous shots in the face. The charge consisted of cases of monobel and 1 case of gel _nite, totalling 7001-bs. The tunnel had been driven 33 feet with two chambers of 5 feet and 3 feet respectively on its right.

Roads.—About 570 tons of stone were laid over t'he road from the tram terminus and on fhe road to the Newton King wharf, and both roads have been roughly rolled by the New Plymouth Borough Council’s roller. BREAKWATER EXTENSION. Breakwater.—As reported last meet4ng, section No. 0 of the breakwater extension was completed during the first few daye of the period, bringing the total length of the new work up to 74 feet. During the construction of this section, however, the undercarriage framing of the large crane commenced to fail so seriously as to render it impossible to carry on breakwater work until repairs were effected. The crane had to be therefore luid up for about a fo-rtnight, during which time, it might be mentioned, exceptionally fine weather for breakwater extension purposes was experienced. Towards the end of the period work was recommenced and the foundation of section No. 7, together with the concrete foundation blocks laid iby the close of the month. One hundred and fortyfive tons of stone were thus used. Blockyard.—Nine concrete blocks were made during the period; 790 cubic yards of sand were removed by the grab i*. forming the site for new block-yard, and a track laid alongside same. . Six more block moulds were made and an elevator erected leading from the crusher to the bins. iFive hundred and twenty-nine cubic yards of gravel were obtained from the beaches in the early part of the month. (Plant. —The workshop has had a heavy mouth on plant maintenance. The bieakwater crane during repairs required six new girder plants, two new bulkheads, and new bracing on front and on the seaward side. A set of driving wheels and one leading wheel had also to be fitted, and the boiler examined by the Government inspector. The travelling crane and the locomotive also carqe in for annual inspection, and each had a certain amount of repair work requiring attention. In addition, the ordinary general maintenance work had to be attended to. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT. The acting harbormaster (Captaiij A. M. Edwin) reported that during the four weeks ended on September 13, 2d vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 4-G,569 tons had made use of the port,

discharging 8383 tons of cargo and load- I ing 2121 tons.. Government coal landed during the period totalled 146 tons. The report added that since the previous report four overseas vessels had visited the port, the total overseas cargo handled being 2770 tons. This comparatively small amount of overseas cargo was due to the fact blurt two of the largest vessels had no inward tonnage to land, and came to New Plymouth to. load only. Another ship, having landed her cargo here, proceeded to Australia in ballast. It was worthy of note that the aggregate tonnage of 'the vessels working the .port during thp four _weeka mentioned was greater thah that bf the previous five weeks covered in the last report. i The weather during the month had been mostly fine with fairly smooth seas. Advantage had been of the absence of overseas vessels to dean out the deep water (berth at-:.:the Moturoa wharf, and also partly between there and the Newton King wharf. This cleaning out process should have been taken in hand before, but owing to the practically continuous occupancy of tins deep-‘water berth and the consequent inability to get the dredge in, the work had to‘be delayed until the present time. It was now being steadily pushed on, but on account- of the depth to be dredged to, it was possible to work only during certain 'stages of the tide, approximately from about half ebb to half flood tide. The work should not take much longer and should be finished before the arrival of the next •overseas steamer. The dredge was also working in the out- off the end of the Newton King -wharf. The Newton King wharf had been inspected and passed by the Railway Department. and could now be put into commission when required. Since the last report another section had been completed on the breakwater extension and was standing well. Given a few favourable days another section should be completed shortly. All the gear and plant was in good order.

BREAKWIND FOR NEW WHARF. The engineer was instructed •to proceed with the erection of a breakwind on the. .Newton King wharf in accordance with plans submitted by him. The board decided that the minimum height of the breakwind should be 20 feet in-

stead of 17 feet as previously agreed upon, t'he extra height being obtained by allowing a widened base to encroach on the sphee allowed for an electrio crane which ft was thought would not be required for some years. The estimate for a breakwind of heart rinuu was 44s fid plus 5 per cent, contingencies per lineal foot. The exact length of the breakwind was left to the engineer, it being understood that it should be between 500 and 600 feet. Two or three apertures are to be made in the screen to give motor lorries and other traffic access to the wharf on either side of the breakwind. The decision to increase the height of the* breakwind met with the cordial support of Captain Edwin and the members of the board. OFFICES AT PORT.

A plan of the ground floor.of the suggested offices for the resident engineer and staff at the port, was submitted by Mr. Lowson, showing provision for offices for the engineer, clerics and a board room whiteh would also be used

as a drawing office. Provision was also made for a coipibined porch and waiting room And conveniences. In a letter to the board Mr. ‘Lowson said that such offices would meet the requirements of 'his department for many years to come- The whole building would measure only 30 feet by 20 feet, and would be constructed of timber on timber piles 'so that it might be shifted easily in the event of the site being required for other purposes.

Mr. 'Lowson added that he was unwilling to cause the board any unnecessary expense in the matter of providing suitable office accommodation, but t’he present office was far from convenient and was most uncomfortable during the hot summer months. Furthermore, the continual dampness under t'he floor, which was now collapsing in places in consequence, must be very unhealthy for the occupants of the office. Soundings taken through holes in tlje floor during the heavy rainstorm on the night of September 16 revealed the fact that the joints were immersed in almost an inch of water. Mr. Lowson also mentioned that at present he had really no private office of his own. and he was separated from his clerical staff. The position was rather an unusual one for a head of a department to be in, and he had no doubt that the board would at once see this 1 aspect of the matter. The board were agreed that the new offices were necessary and that they •would be built, but final decision was deferred until the next meeting, When the requirements of the harbourmaster would be obtained. Mr. Lowson said the Offices as designed would coat about £460.