NORTH SIDE WHARF.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13532, 29 February 1908, Page 7

NORTH SIDE WHARF.

LETTER FROM MR. MAXWELL. At the last, meeting of the Harbour Board a, resolution was passed that theproposed north side wharf be placed 100 ft nearer to the Moody Wharf than was recommended by Mr J. P. Maxwell, as consulting engineer, subject to Mr Maxwell's opinion. The secretary had written to Mr Maxwell to this effect, and asking for his opinion. The following reply was received from him : Sir,—l have received the reports of the Hoard's meeting of .January 24th and your secretary's letter of the 25th. I have the pleasure to comply with the rcqutiil- to express an opinion on the Hoard's proposal for a. wharf site. Doing thio involves going over Home of the ground previously touched on. A haw carefully read the report. Some comparisons were made by members of the Board witli the Wellington Harbour. Conditions differ essentially between a land-locked harbour of lCu square miles in extent and a small basin of 50 acres communicating directly with the open tea. The problems which are preying at Timaru are absent at Wellington: the conditions of berthage and approach are aLso essentially different. It there were a suitable still-water basin at Timaru berths might be closer. If the problem were confined to berthage in the tine weatlier, which usually prevails at Timaru, the berths might be c!:.. .. than proposed, but the problem should be to provide convenient and safe facilities for handling, berthing, and holding ocean steamers during the routh-east seas. The Board might improve conditions at Timaru if it wished, but apparently it doe? not desire to do so.

In to locate the new wharf 400 feet clear of the Moody Wharf in connection with a scheme for harbour extension I considered —

Ist. That the extensive; deepening of the harbour in progress will, by somewhat increasing the wave oscillation, make the berthage more difficult than at present, both at the Moody Wharf and tiie new wharf site. This condition would eventually be ameliorated by the works I proposed.

2nd. The berthage for ocean steamers should be available both north of the Moody Wharf and south of the new wharf]

3rd. That not more than one wharf could safely be worked between the Moodv Wharf and the Xorth Mole.

4th. Owing to the perturbed condition of the berthage during south-east seas, which must somewhat increase with the deepening of the harbour, very liberal room should be given between these wharves for the berthing, holding or handling of ocean steamers, as contingencies sometimes occur difficult to foresee, and room being available, it would be foolish to neglect to take advantage of it. sth. That as long as the North Mole remains it would not, as a rule, be found convenient to berth more than one coastal boat north of the new wharf of a draft say, not exceeding 18 feet.

These, then, were some of the reasons for placing the new wharf as I advised, and as far as these particular points were concerned they would not be affected by making the new wharf parallel to the Moody Wharf, as the Board advised. There was nothing inconsistent in the Harbourmaster's opinions, both sites are workable; but- at the previous meeting he expressed the opinion that the site I selected was the l>est. Xow we may consider what result will be obtained from the change which the Board advises in placing the new wharf only 300 feet clear of the Moody AVharf, instead of 400 feet, as I proposed. The. very ample space which is desirable and available for rough weather conditions is curtailed thereby, and no other advantage is gained. Members of the Board who are not intimate with constructive details have not realised that- considerable room w needed for the rock slope of the Xorth Mole below water, and for the base on which it stands; and as a rule it would not be fr.tind convenient to work more than one coastal boat north of the new wharf, even if the new wharf is placed only 300 feet clear of the Moody Wharf, as long as the Xorth Mole remains. I failed to lind in the report any sufficient reason advanced by members for not taking advantage of "the space available, and giving plenty of room between the two wharves as I advised. Underlying the Board's proposal there is apparent the unaccountable desire to place a. wharf against the Xorth Mole, which would tend to accentuate the wave oscillation in the harbour and make a bad berth. Xo commercial advantage would be gained by it, and such berthage properly constructed, as required by the Marino Department, would cost more than an equal length of independent berthage. Some thousands of pounds were wasted by reclaiming contrary to my advice; and if the Board were to revert to the plan of making a wharf against the moleit. would make a more serious error still. It is advisable in fixing the site for the new wharf to put cut of consideration entirely the foolish project of making a wharf of the Xorth Mole. I understand from the secretary's letter that my opinion has been asked merely a.s a matter of courtesy to me. I am obliged to the Board for this act of courtesy, and have the honour to be—

The chairman said the essence of the letter was that while Mr Maxwell did not condemn the position approved by the Board, ho would prefer to see it put nearer the rubble wall, being still of opinion that the rubble wall would be removed some day. He (Mr Craigie) be lieved so too. but not U r many years to come.

Mr H.ivmaii. as the mover of the rei-olu

tiou to change the sit*-, .saw nothing in th.' letter to require the resolution to he ie.-cinded. Mr Eraser >aid (ho Xorth Molt- would never In- shifted. He suggest er that, the wharf nieil not lie so long ax the extended Moody Wharf: and tliar, the erection of thiM "shorlei- wharf would not. prevent the construction of nm- alongside the Xorth Mole later on. In the meantime the two additional berths would he sttflieieiil.

Mr Rolkslou spoke in favour of adopting Mr Maxwell's site, as giving more room between the Moody Wharf and the new one.

Mr Besley reminded ihe 'Board that the Harbourmaster had said 300 ft. would he ample room. Tli-? secretary asked whether the Hoard would decide now whether the new wharf should be of timber or ferro-concrete, and he read a, report by Mr Williams, engineer at Lyttelton, recommending timber as only half the cost of concrete.

Mr Fraser recalled the fact, that two yearn ago Mr Maxwell was against ferroconcrete, hut. now hu recommended it. Mr Manchester suggested alternative U-nders. and the chairman said that would require two sets of plans and specifications and both must be submitted to the Marine Department for approval. That, bowever, would not. cost much. It. was agreed to defer the selection of a, material until the resident engineer arrives.