NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1925, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

MEETING OF THE BOARD. TRADE AND CONSTRUCTION. MAY A VERY BUSY TIME. The New Plymouth Harbour Board mot yesterday. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), E. Maxwell, J. McCluggage, J. R. Cruickshank, J. S. Connett, G. W. Tayler, W. C. Clement and W. T. Wells. The resident engineer (Mr. G. W. B. Lowson) reported as follows on the work done during the past month:— Breakwater extension.—Weather on the whole has been suitable for this work, and the progress made has been excellent. Three new sections (Nos. 10. I'7 and 18) have been added to the extension, advancing it a further 37 feet to a total distance of 223 feet. Incorporated with the blocks in the foundation were 5-98 tons of stone. Breakwater Protection.—The protecting aprons (both old and new) received a good deal of attention in view of the approaching winter months. Eleven new concrete blocks and 135 tons of larger-sized .stone used on this and other maintenance work have rendered the structure still more secure against heavy seas.

Block-Yard. —’Twenty-nine concrete blocks (Nos. 401 to 42'9) were moulded in the yard during the period. The shortage of gravel on the beaches has latterly been rather acute, although 413 cubic yards were secured. Tn addition to the usual stone required as “plums” in the blocks and masswork, 370 cubic yards of stone were passed through the crusher for concrete work. Wharf Street, etc. —Wharf Street is being rolled and finished off by the borough council, who are at the same time extending the 6 inch water main towards the root of the Moturoa Wharf and installing the necessary connections. Fishing Rock Quarry.—This quarry is being worked satisfactorily, and is turning out stone suitable for breakwater extension and block-making purposes.

Moturoa Wharf.—The far eastern corner of the Moturoa Wharf was stiffened up early in the period, while later the inner end of the western side was opened up, five new piles driven, stringers renewed, and general repairs effected. The sheds on this wharf are at present being painted. Dredging.— The “Paritutu” came Into commission again on the 11th, ultimo, relaying the dredging anchors, making necessary adjustments to the ladder hoist gear, and commencing actual work on the 13th. The vessel has been almost steadily engaged on the second cut to the eastward of the Newton King Wharf, and despite hard ground with boulder patches has brought the cut in from the seaward approach to well be hind the end of the Newton King Wharf. The basin between the inner end of the Moturoa Wharf and the Moturoa Wharf and the coal bunkers has also been re-deepened by bucket dredging for coastal vessels, this work being carried out during a lull in shipping. One day’s dredging was lost through coaling operations, while about five days were lost through other causes (bad weather, etc). Tlw starboard quarter mooring chain is now well worn and giving a good deal of trouble through frequent breakages. It is being in consequence replaced with one hundred fathoms of new cable.

The Paritutu’s returns for the period were: Bucket dredging-: second east cut, 8600 tons; west of Moturoa wharf, 2200 tons. Suction dredging: sandbank I'loo tons. Total, 1(1,900 tons, all of which was dumped at sea. General Work.—The past period has been a busy one, and a good deal of general work has been accomplished, such as turning out two new ship trucks, two further sets of coal stages, one concrete tip-bucket and one large steel block wagon; while the construction of additional windscreens (delayed through non-deliverv of timber) is now being pushed ahead. Maintenance of the wharves, etc. has also received close attention.

Plans.—The outer harbour has been closely sounded and the dredging contract charts are in hand. The general plans of the proposed new reinforced concrete Moturoa Wharf with shed, cranes and overhead travellers are submitted under separate cover for the board’s approval.

The engineer's report was very satisfactory, said the ehairman. The length of breakwater extension completed during the month, three sections, was a record. The apron work carried out had also been very satisfactory. It was disappointing to see that gravel supplies were short. Shortage of gravel naturally reduced the rate at which the blocks were being manufactured, and it seemed probable that the next tide would be missed through shortage of blocks. Fishing-rock quarry was yielding plenty of food foundation stone but not very much stone suitable for apron work. TRADE OF THE MONTH. Thirty-one vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 40,008 tons had visited the port during the month, stated the harbourmaster (Captain W. Waller) in his report. Imports had totalled 10,503 tons, and exports 3,840 tons, a total of 14,343 tons. Government coal landed totalled 1482 tons. One intercolonial and three overseas steamships had worked the port during the month. They were the s.s. City of Madras (4684 tons), which landed 829 tons of general cargo and benzine, her draught being 16ft lOin; the s.s. Suffolk (7309 tons), which landed 1211 tons of cargo and loaded 916 tons of frozen meat, etc., her draught being 19ft loin; the s.s. Piako (8883 tons), which loaded 86'4 tons of frozen meat and produce, her draught being 20ft Bin; and the ss Kairanga (2840 tons), which landed Australian hardwood timber. her draught being 20ft 7in. Commenting on the harbourmaster’s report, the chairman stated that the trade during the past month had been exceptionally high and must have been nearly a record. SHORT DELIVERED GOODS. In a special report the resident engineer (Mr. G. W. B. Lowson) stated that on several occasions the board had had goods short-delivered from the Railway Department, and had been unable to obtain any redress from the department whatever. In August last, for example,

a shipment of 50 tons of cement ex Corinna had been eleven bags short, while in January of this year there had been a shortage of 24 bags of cement in a small shipment ox Orepuki. In both eases the cement had been at least double tallied when being taken into the sheds, and records of the quantities used upon the works had confirmed these tallies in each case. There was therefore very little likelihood of any mistake in tallying having been made by the board, yet there was apparently no method by which the board could successfully claim on the department for the cement not received unless legal action was taken. Whether the quantities in dispute were large or small, the position was extremely unsatisfactory from the board’s point of view, and lie would be pleased to know whether the board wished to press the claims in question.

The difficulty was that the cargo in question was taken direct from the wharves to the board’s private siding, said the chairman, and for that reason the Railway Department would accept no responsibility in the matter. It seemed that the expense of having an extra man to tally on wharves—and he would have to tally probably the whole ship’s cargo as it could not be anticipated exactly when the board’s property was being unloaded —would be more expensive than the loss sustained at present. Where the missing goods went nobody seemed to know. Tile only solution was to take delivery of the cargo at the New Plymouth station, said Mr. Cruickshank, and the cost of that was prohibitive, as they would have to be railed out to the port again. It was decided to take no action. IMPROVING WORKSHOP PLANT. The question of increasing the board’s workshop accommodation was referred to the w-orks committee to report. The chairman considered that in view of the big expense contemplated with regard to wharf construction, the board should not enter upon the big expense of the suggested workshop extensions (estimated by the engineer to cost about £700) without very serioqs consideration. The foreman of the workshop applied for a new lathe, estimated to cost about £3OO, in place of the present one which was badly out of date. This year repairs to the Paritutu which involved turning had been very light, he said, but there was certain to be heavier work in the future, and if a new lathe were not obtained, some of the work would have to be done elsewhere. It was resolved that the works committee call tenders for a new lathe and report to next meeting. , DANGER OF GAS BLOW-OUTS. The engineer reported on the recent blow-out of gas at the oil bore at Moturoa, and. the scattering of stones in the vicinity of the hadbour by the outburst of gas. A letter was also received from tlie watersiders on the subject. The chairman stated that the board’s legal advisers had said that though the board had granted a license to the company to bore, the liability of damage incurred was on the company. As regards the shipping, lie did not think it was in any great danger at present. It was quite possible, however, that some measures might be taken by the company. In reference to the residents of the beach cottages, their tenure was only temporary. In fact they had been served with notices to vacate when the scheme of reclamation was to be put in hand recently, but owing to a change in the plans of the Railway Department they had not been compelled to leave. However, they were still there at the pleasure of the board. The board decided to forward copies of the report and the watersiders’ letter to the oil company, and the chairman and the engineer were appointed a deputation to wait on the manager of the company with a request that any possible precautionary measures be taken to protect neighbouring people and premises.