THE EASTERN MOLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 October 1926, Page 8

THE EASTERN MOLE.

MORE Ill'll.DlNG UP TO BE DONE ACTION BY HARBOUR BOARD. At yesterday’s meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board it was decided to build up about 500 ft. of the shore end of the Eastern Extension Mole, tho work to be started in May next. The subject was introduced by a report from the resident engineer. L he resident engineer reported that in March last he had recommended that it would be advisable, in a year or so, to open up the quarry and build up 500 ft. of the shore end of the mole to its full height, and make good, displacements elsewhere in the mole. An examination of the mole after the recent heavy sea showed that,about 200 ft. at the shore end had been drawn down on the south side. At pier 83 at the outer end of the bend tlie stone was displayed for about 25ft. to high water level, and at five other hays there was some stone drawn out on the south slope. One pile at the middle of the bend On the north road'had been broken oft and for about a length of I^oft. the beams had been disturbed. With these exceptions the mole was satisfactory. Hitherto they had had sufficient stone lying about to make good any minor displacements in the wall, but now that this supply was exhausted he thought it advisable, sometime next year, to consider the question of opening the quarry to obtain stone to build up to the full height of say 300 ft. at the shore end, and stiffen the wall in. several places on the south side with large stone, and also bring down a supply for maintenance purposes. It .was difficult to.estimate how much stone was required, hut he had allowed for 18,000 tons for the above work. It it were found that more was required. the estimated cost would b increased accordingly. It was eleven years since the quarry had been worked and there would be a fair amount to do to the tram line, locomotives, and trucks. It would also be necessary to open up a new quarry face. (An estimate of the cost of the work was given.) In reply to the chairman Mr Wallace said the Borough Council hoped to see Otipua Road (down which the Board’s quarry tram-line runs) regraded next winter. The chairman said there , was_ no j immediate hurry for the- building up of the mole. ' . Air Garrick said that seething should be done at once; they put it off too long. Mr Bitchener said he would prefer to see the job left over to provide work for the unemployed in winter. There was no immediate hurry for it. , The engineer was called in, ana in reply to questions he said there ■was.no immediate hurry for .* the work, though he would like to see it started within twelve months. The chairman said it seemed that they would be quite safe in leaving the work over until after Otipua Road had been re-graded by the i>ocough Council. ! Mr Bitchener said they were up a serious difficulty every winter in having to find work for the unemployed, and he quite tailed to see why they should start a work of this kind in the summer when there was plenty of casual work, to be found. Let them hold it until next winter; the engineer assured them that there would be no danger to the harbour, by the delay. Mr Garrick was emphatic that the work should he done at once, and he moved to this effect. He said that the engineer had been telling them for the past two years that it was necessary, yet they did nothing. There had been quite enough procrastinaTlie engineer said that if the Board o- a ve general approval that day he would be able to get on with the preliminaries, and get in readiness to make a start in earnest about May ext • .--«****>'■ Mr Kennedy seconded Mr Garrick’s motion, and said , he thought they should be getting ready to make a start with the work. It was decided that the engineer should make preliminary arrangemerits, ready to start the work proper in May next. It was agreed that the question of financing the work should be gone in 'lt" was said that £17,000 worth of debentures of the 1905 loan were still unsold, and that the Board could obtain the necessary money by selling these. But the secretary said that this £17,000 was earmarked for repayment into the reseme fund. Mr Garrick said they had put more than £6OOO aivay on deposit last month, and they could use that with the addition of a little more. The chairman said the overhaul of the dredge would cost some few thousands, and they would have to send £SOOO to London in December for interest; still they would be able to finance the projected u'ork all right.