NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1930, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

MEETING OF THE BOARD MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING ■ ' . BLOCKS FOR PROTECTIVE APRON./;, The New Plymouth Harbour Board met yesterday when there were present Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), E. Maxwell, J. -R. Cruickshank, D. J. Malone, H. C.- Taylor, J. H. H. Holm and C. H. Burgess. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. W. T. Wells and Vf. C. Clement. • ..." ■ "... - Work done during the past month was summarised as follows by the engineer (Mr. G..W. B. Lowson):— Breakwater.—Eight more concrete blocks were placed on the apron protecting the far portion of the extension, and repairs effected in concrete to th® old part of the breakwater under the parapet. ■ . Anchorage block.—A large, concrete anchorage block for the use of th® dredger was moulded in situ on th® spending beach between tha wharves?/ / Mikotahi Reclamation.—The reclamation wall at Mikotahi is being re-faced. Quarrying.—lntermittent quarrying operations were carried out at Fishing Rock for securing medium-sized and smaller stone for the above work. Gravel.—A certain amount. of gravel was. taken from the Mikotahi beach. ■>■■■. Dredging.—The Paritutu finished redredging the eastern berths of the New? ton King wharf .on July 31, and thereafter was engaged suction dredging until the anchorage block forth© new work at-the root of the wharves had set andthe swell moderated sufficiently- tp permit work on the Newton King 210-330 ft. cut being commenced. Bucket' dredging was eventually brought under way on the latter areas on the 11th -and 13th • inst. respectively, the ground at present encountered on both cuts being found unusually difficult, and progress, being consequently, slow. All the following spoil, with the exception of some of th® boulders dumped westward of the breakwater, «’i? titer to sea during; the period under consideration: Bucket dredging:- Newton King 0-100 ft. east, 10,000 .tons; Newton King 210-330 ft. •east, 800 tons; root of wharves, 1100 tons. Suction dredging, sandbank: 13,500 tons. Total, 25,200 tons. • - •/ ■■/ Pilot Launch. —An order has been placed for a Parsons (British) marine engine for the pilot launch. • The new unit will be considerably more powerful than that? now in use. Electric Crane. —Four overseas utilised the Newton King wharf electric' crane for 109| hours. - - Wharves. —Sheathing and .tendering on both wharves received attention, repairs were effected to the asphalt on the Newton King 'wharf, and' further Moturoa wharf decking was renewed. New trusses ■ ■ were completed and erected, but no other work done in connection with re-build-ing the inshore windscreen on the latter wharf. z

General.—Miscellaneous dredging gear was overhauled at the workshop, new shipping thimbles .made, annual inspection carried out to four steam cranes and further alterations made in. tho wharf electric system to comply 'with the latest regulations. The various shipping services were also maintained in a proper manner, dunnage disposied of and coal stages erected as required. THE TRADE OF THE MONTH. • ’■ \ Reporting oh the trade of the port during the month of July the harbourmaster (Captain W. Waller) stated that 39 vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 72,427 tons had worked the port, during the period. Imports .totalled 14,969 tons and exports 3710 tons, a total of 18,679 tons. Government cargo landed amounted to 2282 tons.

Six. overseas steamers had visited the port during the month. The Ferndale (9670 tons) shipped 818 tons of cargo; the Port Ririe (7316 tons) shipped 1105 tons of cargo;, the Waihemo (5027 tons Islanded 836 tons of cargo; the Port Fremantle (8072 tons) shipped 1110 tons of cargo; the Argyllshire (11,949 tons) landed 2206" tons of cargo and'shipped 277. tons of. cargo; and the Astoria (4451 tons] landed 3501 torts of cargo. • MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Mr. Holm asked the engineer .how often the dredge on an average Was put on to'the sandbank west’ of.the Moturqa wharf. Mr. Lowsom replied that no work had been done oii the bank ‘.lately. Soundings showed there had’.not been , much siltation, and the channel was very' easily cleared when required. Mr. Holm said he thought the board should be careful to see that sufficient safe clearance was allowed for . a vessel berthed . inside another vessel .on '“the; western side of the Moturoa wharf to pass the vessel outside her if required. • ’ The chairman' and Mr. Cruickshank were appointed a committee to discuss with' the < Borough Council the question .'.' of the erection of sanitary convenience's at the port. A letter was received from the Borough Council stating that the council could not proceed with the work unless it secured some security of ten- •„ lire of the site.’ The chairman explained that it was impossible for. the board to give the council a lease. . There were a great many technicalities involved apart from the fact that the board had nd site it could possibly offer with • any guarantee of permanency. ’ A letter was received from the Borough Council asking for a reply as to the position over the proposed exchange of the Fitzroy foreshore from Nobs line, which at present belongs to the harbour board, with some other pro- _ perty owned by the. council,, with .the ; object of .bringing the foreshore under the borough. The chairman said he knew he was voicing the majority of opinion on the board when he said the board was siot aiixious to give up the foreshore. It was a valuable endowment, and the board was not at all keen to lose it. However, there was no harm in taking the matter further by discussing in. de.tail any proposition the council had to make. '

It was resolved to inform the Borough Council that in the absence of concrete proposals as to what the council proposed to give in exchange for the foreshore the board was unable to express an opinion on the matter. It was suggested that a conference be arranged to discuss tho matter. '