NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1929, Page 13

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD REPORTS ON STAFF ACTIVITIES. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), E. Maxwell, J. R. Cruickshank, D. J. Malone, H. 0. Taylor, W. C. Clements, J. H. 11. Holm and C. H. Burgess Leave of absence was granted Mr. W. T. Wells.

Shipping activities at the port during June were reported on as follow by the harbourmaster (Captain W. Waller) :—Number of vessels, 28; aggregate tonnage, 80.440 tons; imports, 14,002 tons; exports, 4502 tons. Overseas and intercolonial ships: Matakana (8048 tons), loaded 718 tons,, draught ISft Gin forward and 22ft 4m aft; Ruapehu (901 S tons), landed 2422 tons, loaded 915 tons, draft 16ft oin and 23ft Sin; Port Nicholson (8402 tons), loaded 914 Lons, draught 22ft and 24ft; Baron Matlay (6317 tons), landed 1072 tons, draught 13 ft Gin and 18ft Oin; Wairuna (5832 tons),'landed 1645 tons, draught 13ft Gin and 18ft Oin; Kent (8660 tons), landed 1388 tons, loaded 734 tons, draught 13ft 3in and 21ft 3in; Mahia (7914 tons), loaded 885 tons, draught 19ft and 21 it 6in; Tasmanian Transport (4491 tons), landed 1486 tons, draught 15ft and 16ft; Surrey (8564 tons), landed 1640 tons, draught 12ft and 21ft 3in; Poolta (1575 tonsß landed 557 tons, draught 16ft and 17ft 6in. In a supplementary report, the harbourmaster said the weather during the month had been very boisterous, with rough seas and heavy rain, and cargo handling had been hampered considerably. On June 11 the Avatersiders’ shed was demolished by the seas and the breakwater was completely submerged for several hours at high water. No damage was done to it, however. Reporting on the work from Juno 17 to July 13, the engineer (Mr, G. W. B. Lowson) said: — Dredging activities were confined solely to bringing the Newton King whari 100-210 ft east out shorewards at a depth of 27ft below low water. The Paritutu lifted and deposited 7800 tons of spoil by bucket dredge. Continued bad weather resulted in seven working days being lost, while the ground encountered proved erratic and heavily interspersed with boulders. The cut is, however, now in to 335 ft back from the far end of the wharf. New dredge buckets were completed, others repaired, links bushed and mooring chains overhauled at the workshop. Two bearing piles were driven m the weak portion of the Moturoa wharf towards the far end of the overseas berth. White pine loading boards were made for use on the Newton King wliaif. The now concrete building on .Wharf Street was completed and the main hall and locker room brought into commission by the waterside workers on July 12. Plans and specifications were drawn up and tenders called for laying a 6-inch sewer, complete with manhole, e^c ’’ down Wharf Street. J. C. M. Russell was the successful tenderer. The fencing of that portion of the Paritutu reserves recently leased was completed by H. Kaspar and sundry repairs effected to old fences by the staff. The formation of the part width of Moturoa Street giving access io the Texas Company’s section off Nganiotu Road is being steadily prosecuted. Sixteen more large concrete blocks were placed on the apron protecting the extension of the breakwater. The few men on the general staff being otherwise engaged, only eight more breakwater blocks were manufactured during the period. Mikotahi beach gravel aggregating 192 cubic yards was landed at the mixer bins, having been secured mostly by crane and skips. The board's electrical system has of late months been undergoing overhaul in order to bring it up to the requirements of the new regulations now in force. Other miscellaneous work around the port has received attention,- and water, ships’ lighting and other services have been maintained in a proper man ner.

Tho Waterside Workers’ Union wrote asking the board to meet it to discuss the question of a caretaker for the new waiting-room. It was pointed out that the union had always paid to have the old room cleaned, but the new building was bigger and involved more woik At Wellington and Auckland the boards paid the whole of the cost of cleaning and at the smaller ports the boards paid 50 per cent. It was decided to defer consideration of the letter till the next meet-

ing. The Texas Oil Company submitted a plan for the installation of bulk storage on the board’s property, on Moturoa Street. It was decided that the board was not concerned with the lay-out of the plant, so long as it complied with Government and local regulations and was not below the value of the improvements stipulated by the board.