PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 13

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD REVIEW OF ITS OPERATIONS. Thirty-four vessels, of which seven were overseas ships, had entered the port of New Plymouth during the month of October, reported the harbourmaster, Captain W. Waller, to the monthly meeting , of the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday. The aggregate tonnage of the vessels was 69,733 tons. Imports totalled 11,051 tons and exports 4009 tons, making a total of 15,060 tone. Government coal landed amounted to 1481 tons. Oversea vessels at the port had been: Port Victor (7280 tons), loaded 322 tons of cargo;. Kaponga (2343 tons), discharged 411 tons;. Oakbank (5154 tons), discharged 1045 tons; Port Melbourne (9152 tons), loaded 1249 tons; Raranga (7956 tons), loaded 731 tone; Remucra (11,158 tons), loaded 318 tons; Papanui (8046 tons), discharged 1643 tons. The engineer, Mr. G. W. B. Lowson, submitted the following report for the month ending November 16: — The dredge Paritutu concentrated exclusively on bucket dredging 100-21011. eastward of the Newton King wharf, advancing that cut’ to a total distance of 543 ft. in from the end of the wharf at a depth of. 27 feet below low water. Although more readily workable for a while, the ground , soon ..hardened again and became heavily interspersed with boulders, a few of which were deposited westward of the breakwater. The dredger’s returns are: Bucket dredging, Newton King wharf 100-210 ft. east cut, 9400 tons; eastward of new Moturoa wharf, 400 tons; suction dredging, sandbank, 3800 tons; total, 13,600 tons. Five ladder buckets were repaired in the workshop and. three new ones assembled, minor repairs being effected to the vessel during the quarterly boiler cleaning at the beginning of the period. Electric crane No. 1 was in operation 101 J hours, working cargo on five overseas vessels. The diver and crew were engaged on harbour blasting and wharf work. Several diagonals and lower walings were renewed on the Moturoa wharf and sundry repairs effected to the decking, while piles were prepared, the wharf opened up and a commencement made by the dredger in drawing old fender piles towards the far end of the overseas berth. The sheds on the Moturoa wharf, the latrines on both wharves, the harbourmaster’s rope shed, the electric crane, the ironwork on the Newton King wharf wind-screens, the transformer shed, the front of the workshop, and the leading beacons at Pioneer Road have been or are being painted. The triangulation of the KawaroaMikotahi section of the special harbour survey was completed and the coastal traverse advanced. A partial borough street plan was prepared by the Lands and Survey Department for inclusion in the chart. Section. A (part width) of Paritutu Crescent was completed. Eight more large concrete blocks were placed on the apron protecting the end of the breakwater. A certain amount of resurfacing was effected to the wall, itself. I Mikotahi beach was drawn upon fori

gravel for concrete aggregate, crusherstone for road metal, and “plums” for blocks. Thirty-two concrete breakwater blocks (Noe. 2517 to 2548) were moulded in the yard, this number being greater than that generally recorded by the limited staff. The recommendation of a committee that the services of Mr. J. Hawes, foreman, and three men to be eelected by him be retained was adopted. A list of plant to the approximate value of £5OOO that the board had no further use for and could dispose of was submitted by the engineer, and it was decided to endeavour to effect a sale. It was decided to call for tenders for steam coal for the year ending September 30, 1930, in accordance with the engineer’s specifications.. The date of the next monthly meeting of the board ’ wag changed to DeThose present were Messrs. C. E. Bellringer, E. Maxwell, J. R. Cruickshank, H. C. Taylor, W. C. Clement and J. H. H. Holm. Leave of absence was granted Messrs. C. H. Burgees, W. T. Wells and D. J. Malone.