THE EASTERN MOLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13655, 25 July 1908, Page 6

THE EASTERN MOLE.

.SLIGHT DAMAGE BY STORM.. REPAIRS TO BE EFFECTED. The resident engineer reported to the Harbour Board yesterday: —■ " I have examined the Eastern Extension Mole after the heavy seas on the 7th, Bth, 9th .instant, and find that the work stood the ttest very well. A little damage is noticeable at the curve where some of the stone on the north face has been displaced. From pier 70 to about 93 a considerable quantity of small stones appear to have been tipped on this north slope, and these are easily displaced by the seas that overtop the wall. These email stones should not/ have been allowed in the mole, as they act as rollers for the large stones, and when the latter are subjected to heavy pressure from the seas they are thus more easily disturbed when resting on the small stones referred to. The central length ,or crest of the moie, and the southern or ocean face has not suffered at all. "I think it would bo advisable at an early date to make good the low places in this mole and to fill in the gap on the north face made by the recent heavy seas. The first steps necessary before this work is commenced will be to repair the broken struts on the staging, and the line generally to the quarry would need some repairs before starting to run on it. J-he gang of men just finishing in Eraser street will see to a few places in Hayes Street that need attention, and will finish about Wednesday next, and if the Board approves they might then start on the quarry ' road. This would take about a month or five weeks for a gang of eight men to put the road in fair running older. The Standing Committee recommended the adoption of the resident engineer's suggestion to put the quarry line m running order, also that the resident engineer report to the next meeting the probable quantities and cost of topping-up the mole, and doing necessary repairs to staging. The chairman said the Board decided, a year a<*o, to add some stone to the mole, the idea then being to put big stones in the mole when they were getting small stone for a backing for a wharf on the North Mole, but tine idea, of putting a wharf there had been given up. Mr Young wished the Board to go further and raise the mole throughout. They had been waiting for a storm tio test the mole, and now it had had a test and weaknesses had shown themselves, especially where the late engineer had contracted the width. The safety of this work was the most important thing in tlte rds . charge. 2 more importance than additional wharfage. His opinion was that the mole should be raised to the beams. There was said to be a want of employment just now, and that made it a good time to do the work. . Mr Chisholm dissented from the committee's recommendation and expressed surprise that the quarry line had been allowed to fall into such bad order. It ought to have been kept in Teadiness for an emergency that might crop up at any moment. * He was of opinion that a good deal of damage had been done, and seeing the importance of the mole to the harbour he moved that the engineer's recommendation be carried out at the earliest possible moment. . Mr Besley seconded ,and suggested that by increasing the number of men the line could be got ready in less than a month. Other members said it required men acustomed tio the work, and for the quarry work they needed skilled men. Mr Skinner reminded the Board that only laymen had recommended the raising of the mole; Mr Maxwell and Mr Bayncs said it was not necessary. Mr Chisholm's motion was rejected, only mover and seconder voting for it(, and the Standing Committee's recommendation was adopted. ______^__^____.