DREDGING BY PARITUTU

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1935, Page 12

DREDGING BY PARITUTU

COST AT NEW PLYMOUTH BELOW ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. EXTENSIVE Work accomplished. The Cott of operating the dredge Paritutu arid the amount of work accomplished between December 10, 1934, arid JUhO 20, 1935, was the subject of a report at toe monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday. Extensive dredging at a cost less than was estimated Was reported. Commenting on the expenditure in connection With the dredging Operations; Overhaul of the dredge arid maintenance; the chairman, Mr. C. E. Bellringer, said the cott of operating was £2822 7s 5d and the cost Of overhaul £7077 5s Bd, makihg a total of £9899 13s Id, whereas provision had beeh made for ah ex-, penditUre of £ll,OOO. To this could be added tori estimated cOSt Of mairitrihaiice during the idle period (Jtily-September), £2OO, and the cost Of grab for dredging from the wharf (£130). Ibis iriade a total expenditure of £10,299 13s Id, or about £766 or £BOO less than the estimated expenditure. A feature Of the period’s working was that While the cost had been less than expected the dredging had been extensive, toe berths and tendings being done, Said Mr. Bellringer. As thefe wOUld be rip overhaul riext year the working costs wbuld be considerably reduced. Provision was made last year to the extent of £2500 towards the Overhaul Of toe dredge, and £4500 Would be charged against the current year. It WaS intended to dredge in October, November and December Of next year arid if necessary in January. The Paritutti, which commenced the period of dredging on December 16, 1934, completed dredging ori June 20, 1935, arid WaS agairi laid Up, repof-ted the foreman, Mr. J. HaWeS.. The boilers Were not blown down as it was necessary to use the dredge to draw damaged piles in the Newton King Wharf. The period of' dredging exceeded the estimated time by about three weeks. However, a great deal more work was done than was at first intended. The following was a summary of the extra material removed: fkmd bank by pump, 26,006 tons; Moturoa wharf eastern berth, 2000 tons (by bucket dredging); Newton - King wharf western berth, 5000 torts (by bucket dredging); total, 27,000 tririS. The pxtra work was done in the interest of economy; It Was found under the method adopted for dredging the ships’ berths' at the Newton Kirig whdtf the dredge cOUld work efficiently Only at certain stages of the tide; this dredging a't“ times was interrupted owing to shipping. During these periods dredging Wiis deme at the sandbank and cleaning out the berths at the Moturoa wharf, thus reducing the amount of material to be removed next year.

The dredging for toe prided under review. Was very successful; much valuable work being done especially in connection, with tori dredging rif the berths on both sides of Newton King’ wharf. These berths, with the exception of the inshore berth on the west side, which was partly dredged last year, had not been cleaned since the wharf was built and were regarded-'as a Very difficult job. However, the work was completed and tin excellent job made. . The harbourmaster, Captain O. F. McIntyre, according to toe report, expressed filmself as pleased with the result and Said he did not expect any further dredging would be requited at these berths for some years; The following Were the returns for toe June period! Inshore berth east Moturoa wharf, 1600 tons; west berth Moturoa wharf, 4600 tons; east berth Newton King wharf, 200 tons; total, 6406 tons. , The following Write the completed returns for the full-dredging period:,Outer end of Sandbank, 76,806 tons; inner end of sandbank, 112,006 tons; inner cut east side Newton King, wharf 17,600 tons; outer cut east side Newton King wharf, 24,460 tons; ships’ berth east side Newton King wharf, 4106 tons; Ships’ berth west side Newton King wharf, 8100 tons; berth east Side Moturoa wharf, 2400 tons; berth west Side Moturoa wharf,, 5000 tons; total; 243,860 tons.