WORK AT THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1924, Page 2

WORK AT THE PORT.

BREAKWATER EXTENSION EAST BERTH AT XEW WHARF. BARBOUR BOARD MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbour Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), Newton King, J. McCluggage, J. R. Cruickshank, E. Maxwell, G. W. Tayler, W. C. Clement, and W. T. Wells. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. S. Connett, who was absent attending a meeting of the Main Highways Board. Construction and repair work carried out during the month was reported on as follows by the board’s engineer (Mr. E. \V. B. Lowson): Moturoa Wharf: The work of overhauling- the far western berth of the Motuoa Wharf .proceeded steadily during the month in the vicinity of piers 39 to 46, where stringers, caps, decking, kerbing and chafing pieces were renewed where necessary and two bearing piles driven. Repairs were also made to the coppering of piles on the eastern side. Newton King Wharf: Pile-driving was continued to include pier 62 in the first week of the period, since when driving has had to cease until receipt of the last shipment of piles now due at New Plymouth on the schooner H. K. Hall. The head of the work was consequently advanced iGy I'2 feet to a total distance of 732 feet the piling returns .being as follows: Piles driven in pier 62, 11; piles previously driven, 663; total driven to date, 674. Piers 61 and 62 were capped, while the beams were laid for the full width of the wharf up to piers 57-s'B, and the sway bracing and sleepering fully completed as far as pier 57. As regards tidal work, full sets of lower walings were placed on the three newly driven piers (60-62), and 38 diagonal braces were bolted in position. The final batch (19 in all) of concrete piles were driven to complete the eastern end of the abutment,and the concrete coping and anchor beam with the necessary tie rods moulded in place. Coal Stages: Two sets of coal stages have been made.

Quarry: 'Die face of the quarry is being dressed down to meet the requirements of the inspector of quarries.

BOULDERS MET WITH. Dredging: The Paritutu’s returns for the period are: Bucket dredging —second cut across end of Newton King wharf, 6,300 tons; suction dredging —west side Moturoa wharf, 400 tons; third fairway, SOO tons; sandbank, 5,200 tons; total, 12,700 tons. In working the second cut across the end of the Newton King wharf, innumerable boulders of a size too large for the buckets to lift were encountered, and the delay occasioned thereby was at times rather severe, amounting to as much as 17 hours in one week. The bucket ladder received attention during the first week of the period, a large girder plate being rivet’ted on, a set of diagonal bracing replaced with a tie plate, etc., while the bottom tumbler bearings were also overhauled. Seven working days were lost through the period, two through bad weather, 4| through repairs to ladder and hopper doors, and half day coaling. Breakwater: Commencing at the close of the previous period, very heavy northerly weather was experienced, increasing in intensity to a storm of exceptional severity on the night of November 18, and subjecting .the end of the breakwater to a gruelling test throughout the following day. The last constructed section (No. 9) of the extension was partially undermined and caiited forward somewhat, although the mass concrete suffered no fracture despite the fact that it had been only placed in position just previous to the commencement of the storm. The gap behind this section was concreted in, and after delay through unsuitable tides and weather, the section has since been underpinned and is being incorporated in section No. 10, the- foundation of which is also laid awaiting conditions favourable to the placing of the masswork. Forty-five tons of stone, as well as other stone gathered from around the end were used during the period. Blockyard: Good work was .done in the blockyard during the month, 37 concrete blocks (Nos. 189 to 225) being made. Three hundred and ninety-five cubic yards of stone (316 yards of which were spawled and delivered by contract) wer e carted to the crusher, and 374 cubic yards of gravel were taken from the beaches. The 63in shingle elevator is l>eing erected in position over the bins. Breakwater Maintenance; A subsidence of the old protecting apron back of the green light was repaired by placing three old blocks on same. A crossing down towards the breakwater end is being renewed.

Plant: All the board’s plant is run--11 ng satisfactorily. The boilers of the two pile-driving machines and the steam shovel came in for government inspection during the month. NECESSITY FOR ANOTHER BERTH. Commenting briefly on the report, the chairman remarked that the dredging returns had not been quite as good as anticipated ’ during the past month, owing to the large number of big boulders met with. They must, however, be regarded as satisfactory. It was imperative stateci the chairman, that a berth should be provided on the eastern side of the Newton Kin" wharf at the very earliest opportunity, and for that reason he would ask Captain Waller what was tlie minimum width to which the approach cut need be made so that the dredge could start on the excavation of the eastern berth at the earliest opportunity. Apart from the necessity for more accommodation, it was desirable to have a berth for coastal vessels on that side of the wharf as soon as possible as the rails on that side were near the edge. On the western side the rails had been laid for the convenience of handling cargo from overseas boats and were not suitable for the derricks of the smaller vesselsReferring to the end section of the breakwater which had been undermined by the storm in November and had tilted over, the chairman said it was most pleasing to learn from the engineer that it had been saved and was to be included in the next section now in course of construction. The cost of the section was in the vicinity of £lOOO, and as far as he knew it was the first time in the histofy of the port that a section once tilted had been saved, caved.

TRADE OF THE MONTH. During the period of four weeks ending December 13, 31 vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 37,450 tons had entered the port, reported the harbourmaster (Captain W. Waller). Imports had amounted to 12,104 tons and exports 4,142 tons, making, a total of 16,246 tons of cargo handled. Government coal landed had amounted to 2,775 tons. Since the last meeting of the board, the following overseas vessels had entered the port:—-S.S. Port Chalmers (6,534 tons) had loaded 1082 tons of frozen meat and produce; draught, 17 feet. S.S. Omana (4,1’33 tons) had landed 1489 tons of Newcastle coal; draught 17 feet. S.S. Waikawa (5677 tons) was at present, landing 3,869 tons of cargo from Canadian and American ports; draught 17 feet. THE LOAN POLL. Discussing the result of the recent loan poll, the chairman expressed entire satisfaction at the emphatic manner in which the proposed loan had been supported. The board's sincerest thanks were due to the Post and,. Telegraph Department for the careful attention its Taranaki officers had given to providing the returning officer with the returns quickly and accurately, to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, to the Press, and to all those who had contributed to the success of the poll by lending motor-cars and in any other ways. Thanks were also due to Mr. R. Ellis, the returning officer, for his capable and efficient services. On the motion of Mr. Bellringer the board passed a hearty vote of thanks to the post and telegraph officers for their courtesy, to Mr. R. Ellis, and to the other bodies and persons referred to above. GENERAL MATTERS. The secretary of the Fitzroy Seaside Committee (Mr. Leo. C. Richards) wrote, with reference to negotiations regarding the board’s reserve on the Fitzroy beach, that the committee had , been unable to get the Borough Council to move in the matter, and the committee therefore asked the board’s indulgence in re-opening the matter. He also asked the board’s permission to take up a collection on the beach at any concerts, the receipts to go towards providing better facilities for bathers and the general public.—lt was decided to grant the committee permission to take up collections for the purpose indicated, and the w'orks and finance committee of the board were appointed a committee to go into the whole question with the Seaside Committee and to report to the next meeting.

The general manager of the Taranaki Oil Fields, Ltd. (Mr. A. H. P. Moline) wrote with reference to the agreement made between the board and his company regarding boring on the foreshore, stating that the site -for the first bore had been selected, and he would be glad to have the formal approval of the board, in accordance with agreement referred to. The position selected was about 500 feet in a south-eststerly direction from the shore end of the breakwater, and was known to, and he understood approved' by, the board’s enppneer.—Approval was granted as renuested.

Mr. Lowson (engineer to the board) explained that word had been received that the Railway Department had agreed to a modification o‘f the plans for the wind-screens on the Newton King wharf, and they would now be built to a height of 21 feet. Before the meeting dispersed the chairman extended the compliments of the season to his fellow members of the board and to the Harbour Board staff. Mr. Newton King reciprocated by proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Bellringer for his efficient service to the board during the past year, especially for his work in connection with the recent poll. The work of organisation and multifarious duties incumbent upon one in his position at such a time, said Mr. King, had rendered Mr. Bellringer’s task a particularly arduous one, but the chairman had met every demand made upon him. The resolution was heartily supported by every other member of the board in turn and carried unanimously.