A FINE STRUCTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1925, Page 8

A FINE STRUCTURE.

NEW MOTUROA WHARF. EVERY MODERN APPLIANCE. GENERAL PLANS APPROVED. The general plans for the new Moturoa wharf to be erected in ferro concrete at the port of New Plymouth were yesterday approved by the Harbour Board. Plans in detail will now be drawn up and tenders for the work called with all possible expedition. A glance at the plans is sufficient to convince one that the new wharf will be a magnificent structure and almost without rival in the Dominion. Sprouting out at an angle from the root of the breakwater, the wharf will be 1300 feet long on the eastern side, and 180 feet in breadth. The immense area covered by such a structure can hardly be realised unless it is translated into familiar distances, and the size of the wharf impresses itself more forcibly when it is stated that it would extend further than from the Post Office in New Plymouth to Liardet Street. Ou the west aide it is 850 feet in length. The concrete piers, which play such an important part in the stability of the wharf, will be placed 20 feet apart, and in addition to the vertical piers there will 'be diagonal or raking piles, to strengthen the wharf laterally. TRUCKS AND MOTOR-LORRIES. Apart from the substantial nature of its foundation, however, tbe structure’s chief claim to recognition lies in the appliances above deck. The feature is the commodious shed 860 feet long and 85 feet wide that occupies the centre oi the wharf. It will be a steel skeleton framework building, thoroughly fireproof, with reinforced concrete walls and supports and asbestos roofing. From the shore end this building will present a very attractive appearance owing to the nature and architecture of its construction. Access from the end will fl)e gained through three roller doors, one on each side to admit road traffic, and a wider one in the centre for rail traffic. Double sets of railway lines dip gradually from the mainland through this doorway into a groovelike recess running the length of the shed, so that" truck floor and shed floor will -be on the same level. Inside, the shed cargo will be handled most expeditiously by means of several overhead travellers (electrically operated), which will run easily and quickly either along the shed from end to end or across it from side to side, as desired. One of these travellers will be capable of lifting five tons at a time, while the others will be of 30cwt. capacity. Lastly, the /building will contain various offices for the use of the Customs Department, tally clerks, etc. MONSTER ELECTRIC CRANES. On either side of the shed a wide space is to be provided, running the entire length of the wharf, for the use of motor lorries. Ample room is allowed for these lorries to turn and back through any one of the 38 side rolling dcors of the shed for a load of produce. So efficacious is the inside travelling crane service that should a lorry be unable, in a busy time, to reach, say, the north-east corner of the shed where its cargo is waiting, it may “berth” at a doorway on the south-west corner and still be loaded quickly. Outside the traffic tracks two sets of railway lines are again laid on each side of the wharf, the outer rail being close to. the edge of the wharf. Thus it may -<be seen that in addition to its motor-lorry tracks, the wharf will carry six sets of railway tracks. At the outer end of the wharf electric traversers will, at a moment’s notice, transfer trucks from one set of rails to another when required. Perhaps the most inspiring of all the wharf equipment, however, are the massive electrically operated, semi-portable cranes for unloading cargo from the ships’ hold's. On the east side of the wharf one five-£on mammoth and several three-ton cranes will ’be accommodated, and on the west side probably two or three three-ton cranes. These appliances have a maximum, reach beyond the wharf e&ge of 43 feet, and the maximum height to which the crane hook can be raised above the wharf is 65 feet. (Springing fender piles will be provided on either side of the wharf to prevent severe knocking to wharf or vessel. Add to these the usual complement of bollards, ropes, lights, etc., and 35 feet at low water all round the wharf, arid what more could -a ship desire ?