RESISTANCE OF STORM

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1934, Page 2

RESISTANCE OF STORM

MAINTENANCE WORK AT PORT.

MONTHS SHIPPING TONNAGE. ■ Reporting to yesterday’s meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, at which Mr. C. E. Bellringer presided, the foreman in charge of work at the port, Mr. J. E. Hawes, stated that at the Newton King wharf a considerable number of chafing pieces were removed and repaired, and a fair amount of sheathing beneath them also repaired. The diver was at present inspecting the piles along the shipping berths and repairing damaged sheathing. At the Moturoa wharf underwater timber and pile sheathing had been repaired, and work done on the decking. Two coastal and two overseas vessels had used the crane for handling cargo at the Newton King wharf, working 1081 hours exclusive of standing time. The diver when not working cargo had been constantly employed cleaning and painting the crane, which was now in very good order. In the workshop and electrical department, in addition to attending shipping requirements in the way of lights, water and telephones, a considerable amount of maintenance work in connection with the electric wiring system had been dene, and a quantity of bolts and ironwork made for wharf maintenance. On June 27 a very heavy storm occurred which lasted for four days. The mole and apron were subjected to a very severe test, being lashed by heavy seas from almost every angle. As soon as weather permitted a careful inspection of the apron and mole was made, and. the only damage was that a fair amount of the older portion of the railway track had been washed away. Tire rails lost were old and badly corroded and there were still a number in the track in a similar condition. The track leading to fishing rock quarry, the sleepers of which were in a bad state of. decay, was being removed. The rails would be used to recondition the breakwater track. On the dredge scaling of the floors apd frames and lower - part of the shell plating had been finished, and they had been painted with one coat. Tire sand pump casing had also been scaled and red-leaded, and the condensers cleaned out and the sand removed. The harbourmaster, Captain O. F. McIntyre, reported the following details of shipping handled at the port during June: Number of vessels entering port, 24: aggregate tonnage, 41,152; imports, 7755 tons; exports, 3534 tons; total, 11,289 tons; Government coal landed,. 490 tons. Three overseas vessels had visited the port, the Mataroa, 12,333 tons (draught 25ft. 9in.); Zealandic, 8281 tons (25ft. Oin.); Filefjell, 7616 tons (20ft. Gin).