TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XV, Issue 661, 27 September 1871, Page 6

TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

The Board met on the 6th September, last; Present — Messrs Luxmoore ■ (oliairmau) , JHall, Cliff, LeCren,. Perring,' Mendelson, and Dr Fisher. The minutes of last meeting were read aud confirmed. RAUGITATA BKHK3K. The following report was read from Mr Blair, CE.:— Dunedin, 2nd September, 1871. Sir, — I have the honor to forward the following report on the Rangitata Bridge : — The whole of the material required for the worka vas on the ground about two moiil-lis uso. It has all arrived m good condition. With the exception ofthe four oylinder castings coinpleteiv broken at Lyttelton, .all the damages csn be repaired at a small cost. Fortunately the four tbat aro completely broken are ordinary castings, which arc not absolutely required., Op to the 26th ult, which is tho date of the Inspector's last report, there wore six columns m their places ready to receive the superstructure. In the first four columns, the stratum for-ten or twelve feet consists of large boulders, from nine to eighteen inches diameter, firmly paoked together m a regular causeway, but. beyond this depth, the shinglo is of a light character, and boulders of the above dimensions are only met with at considerable intervals. : In lhe Inst two columns, the boulder stratum was uot half so, thick. . Thi- time occupied m sinking each column through the boulder stratum was about four days, but m the case of the lust two the whole sinking waa done m about 130 hours, i.e. 65 hours to eaoh — equal to about a pier m a week for each air lock. Assuming two air looks to be constantly going day and night, the bridge might be completed m v four montlis.' The contractors have now three air locks to work with, and by'making use of the third one when filling m the concrete, the sinking might be carried on continuously. Each air lock weighs about iive tons when . m working order: As the contractors' appliances were too weak for tbis weight, they only put one of them together, and ordered'a malleable iron one from Dunedin ;. henoe Ihe email progress that has hitherto, taken place. "However, it is found that' after getting down ten or fifteen feet, even the ' lu-avy locks arc too light, as the sand and gi-itvel come m round the column, and, along with tin;-pres-sure inside, prevent, it sinking. Another pb-. jection raised against the heavy lock is, that . when : the column is only* a short way down the extra weight forces ifcagfcinet the bouldeTS and so. m oreases the. difficulty of removing them. This is, to a certain extent, true, bur. the trouble pf propping up .the. cylinder wheu it came against a large boulder is more than counfe-r-balance'd by'thO expense of the new lock and the extra weights it will require, when the column goes further down. And should the bottom continue the same as at the last pier, the heavy lock yriU-.be an advantage from the very first. ' The total- weight required to sinlt the column to the full depth ja about 38 tons— that includes its own; weight, : The whole of the pneumatic apparatus works very well ; there are four air pumps, but one is sufficient to keep a column perfectly'dry. The ' compressed air is;stored in' large receivers at a distance .from the .Jock, and the. air is supplied cool aud free I'roiu smoke. , . ■<..-'.! I have been iri the cylinder under ilie heaviest pressure required, and felt no inconvenience whatever ; the men work m shifts of four hours. * Three men are employed m it at a time, one at the bottom excavating, and two m the air-lock hoisting up the material. The shingle is so loose that when the pressure is -withdrawn, the water instantly rises m the column to the level of the river outside ; there are syphons for emptying it, but they are not required, as the pumps are sufficiently powerful to expel the water through the shingle at the bottom. I have observed a column of water 18 feet, high forced back 111 s<- ven minutes. Considerable difficulty has been experienced m filling tbe cylinders with concrete. I originally intended to cover the bottom -with a* flexible impervious substance such as tarred canvass, then fill up eight or teu feet under pressure with rich concrete, and keep on the pressure uutil it had partly set. I find, however, that on account ofthe very loose nature of the shingle, the rush of water is so great as to come round the canvas and through the concrete to the surface, carrying part of the cement with it We have also tried to keep out the water by a false bottom of timber wedged Only tightly against the sides, so as not to bring an undue weight on the metal; this cannot be made water-tight either, so. I have resolved to fill up concrete to near thn water level, and let m the water gradually as the work progresses, so as not to wash away the cement. The only objection to this plan is that the shrinkage m such a high column of concrete might cause cracks at the horizontal flanges, but by" getting the concrete well rammed, the shrinkage will be very little, particularly as the cement is setting m water. 'The contractors have now got two air-locks m • working order, co the progress m future will bout least double what it has been. . I have, Sx., W. N. BtAip., Engineer. The Chairman Timarn and ; Gladstone JBoard of Works, Tiniaru. HARBOUR WORKS. A letter was read froiri His Honor the Superintendent acknowledgingreccipt of copy ofthe resolution' lately passed by the : Board, asking. tbe Government for tbe services of ati engineer to report on; tbe harbour works. His Honor expressed an opinion, that the subject. Was one that' should be determined as soon as possible, ahd promised, so far as rested with him to do so, to promote the wishes of the Board. The following letter from the hon. member for Timaru was read -. — .Wellington, August 30, 1871. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter dated the 2nd instant, from the Secretary pro tern. ofthe Timaru .and Gladstone Board of Works, forwarding copy of a resolution' of the Board,- requesting the General Government to secure .temporarily the • services of. ap eminent . marine engineer for the purpose df obtaining a competent opinion- on the subject of the Timaru harbour works, and offering to contribute towards such a purpose such proportion of the cost as the Government, might considerequitable. • Immediately 'after coming io Wellington for the session, 1 bad 'an interview' with the' Minister for Publio Works on the subject, apd not receiving from Mr Gisborne: as satisfactory an intimation as could wished fpr, with respect to the action which Jthe Cro'vernment would take m- the 'mattfi*, X gave nptico oii_ the order paper of the question) copy of which* I now enolose. ! Before the day arrived when the question was put and answered, Mr. Ybgel returned.f rom Englan^ .with.. bim Mr Carn*.thers; an engineer of repute, who, has been 'engaged to supervise publid wo/ks under tho General Government. When Mr Gisborue- replied , to my question, ho- stated ' that Mr Carruthers had experience m marine. , works, and that he would be instructed to examine and report at an early date on the : subject of harbour works at Timaru, and also, ' that bo charge for his services would be made I on the funds -at the disposal of the Timaru and Gladstone JBoard of Works. I trust, therefore, that, an' opinion which will be of service may soon be obtained on a, question of so much importanoe to' the district of Timaru. Ihave, Sus., „ . E. W. STAPPonp. . i The Chairman Timaru and Gladstone < Board of Works, Timarn. < The Secretary was directed to acknowledge tho receipt of Mr JRolleston's and Mr Stafford's letters.

iti letter iinslreftaiikmll-the Unde^S-Stfrtttrfy •" forthe .Colony, .^nOjWletJMn^seceiiJl; j»y. thfi: . Government. of letter enclosing copy of the j Board's resolution "ne h'«jboiii? wbrks. "■■ .*'■■'■*• '-' \ ... '. . -i.l *< ii .. oriei BBmaiß. '*..*'•■ ...-.- .*-•-.•• * ..JL. letter waa received from rthe Provirtcial . Secretory informing the Board, that out of. : the Provincial Council's vote of £500 for . works at the Opihi bridge, a sum of £450 " 14s ltkl hud been placed to the credit of the , Board ou account of works entered' into by • tho Board. The Engineer, Mr Badisoton, had nn m- J terview with tlie Board, asking the Board to allow him to have the posts at the Opihi 1 bridge driven instead of suuk with a 'spade. , He also recomiuended that the planting * should be done at once- A few now planks ; were wanted for the bridge, lie asked fora , vote for these purposes. The Govornmont j bad only sent down tho bare amount of tlie contract; had they sent the whole amount of ' the vote it. would about have dono tho oxtra ■■ work. ... ' ■ ... Mr JH. J. LsOukn proposed, Mr Mendelson seconded, and it was resolved— "That appli- , cation be made tv the Provincial Government : for the sum of £49 us 2d, balance, due on Opihi Bridge voto, ahd that the amount bo ' spent by tho Engineer m makiug good sundry repairs required, also planting willows as recommended for improving the protective works. The JBngisbke certified for a progress payment of £120 to Mr Derby, the contractor for works at the bridge. THB GOVERXMESri LANDING SERVICE. The following lotter accorapariyipg plan's and model for a new surf-boat, was read : — Tiriiarii, 'September 6, 187 i. Sra,— l have tho honor to ask the considertion of the Board na to whether, m the event of ray building. a new surf-boat for the Lauding Service, thoy would, at the expiration of the present lease, take it over at' a fair valuation. I might suggest that a clause could be embodied iv the conditions of the lease, that, m the event of a change, Of lessee thc succes : sor should pay value, of uew. boat. 'I would mention to the Board that under any circumstances more boats are required for the service. ; " ' Tlie boat. I should build would be of wood, aud built m the very best, raunuer. If the .Board will authorise one, as above requested, I ' could have the boat finished by Ist Deeember-^-the commencement of the busy season,' arid when every facility is wa-jted for shipping* •'•".'''. Requesting your favorable consideration, I have, ; ctoJ HB-NRr Greex, Lessee Government Landing Service. The Chairman Timaru ahd Gladstone J : Board of Works, Timaru. ■ JMr Mtwdtosox moved, and JMr C. Perring seconded, the following* resolution—-'' That the Board is npt , hi a position to entertain Mr Green's proposal with regard to a new surf-boat." v Mr Hall moved, nnd Mr LeCren seconded; the following amendment — " That the Board agree to Mr Green's requisition so far as they legally can." . Jl discussion ensued ; m favor of tho: motion, it was argued that as the present leas? would 'not expire iintii after the present Board was out of oifioe. they would not he justified m doing anything to bind their successors. Mr PEKBUfG said that if the boat became the property of the .Board,, the money would, havo . tii como : o.tit of that . apportioned I'ov harbour works, lie did not know if that would be ■ agreeable to the members for Timaru? Mr Cliff also supported the resolution. Messrs Hall, LeCivn, aiid Fisher spoke m favor ofthe amendment ; arguing that if the plant was insutJßcient/il was the duty of the Board to increase it. I The amendment was put and lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. The motion was theu put, and carried. MISCELLANEOUS. The fallowing letters were read: — From the JProvincial Secretary, m reference to extra work at the Temuka Courthouse. From the Chairman to the Mount Peel ■Road Bourd, asking explanation m referenoe to the grant to his Board on account of sales of land m the district. ' A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, enclosing a return of land sold in' the district, under the operation of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of .Wprks Act. Mr Mendelson intimated his .intention, at next meeting, of inviting an expression of opinion from the ; Board on thie subject of the diversion of the railway from Temuka, which was talked of as probable. . . ACCOUNTS, ■'■ • The following accounts were passed for paeiiient, and the Chairman was authorised to sign, .(with another member), cheques on account of the, Opihi Bridge; Smith and Bush (on account of JRnngitata Bridge works) jGouO; Inspector's salary, £49 10a ; repairs to pneumatic apparatus, £6 18* ; 'Engineer, £75: Secretary, £25; Opihi Bridge, £120 ; stationery, 14s. , The Board then adjourned.