HARBOUR POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19578, 26 August 1933, Page 5

HARBOUR POLICY

EASTERN EXTENSION FURTHER COMMISSION SUGGESTED The Timaru Harbour Board, at its monthly meeting yesterday, discussed a motion concerning the building up of the remaining section of the Eastern Extension, but the mover subsequently asked for • and was granted permission to withdraw the motion. He then gave notice of a further motion for the next meeting of the Board. , . .. The motion which gave rise to the discussion at yesterday’s meeting, and which was moved by Mr R. S. Goodman, read as follows: — "That for the safety of the harbour, the following works be arranged for:— (a) "Employ men engaged through the Unemployment Board removing the quarry railway on to its proper alignment on’ the Board’s property, and putting same into good running order from the corner of Collins Street to Fraser Street. (b) "Obtain estimate for completing the Eastern Extension to its full height from the point where operations ceased up to the staging. (c) "Obtain estimate of cost of repairing the staging so as to carry stone trains. (d) “Obtain estimate of cost of supplying tipping stone on to that portion of the work where the staging now stands.” Supply of Stone. Concerning stone for the extension, the Standing Committee reported that the Board had about 10,000 tons of stone in its own quarry, also about 40,000 tons which could be obtained b” taking the land under the Public Works Act, unless negotiations were successful with the property owners. Also if necessary, the Board’s plant could probably be prepared in readiness for a start in a month. The Board could undertake the tipping of stone while other investigations were being made if necessary. There was other stone adjacent. The chairman (Mr G, T. Dawson) said that the report was all the Standing Committee had to say in the matter in the meantime. It had no definite resolution to bring before the Board. The 10,000 tons referred to in the report was located at the top of the Board’s line, which had since been lifted, and it would require a fair length of line to get to it. Ten thousand tons might seem a big amount, but when it was remembered that 60,000 had been used in raising the extension to its present height, the 10,000 was only a scrap. No stone had been taken out of this particular part of the quarry since 1906. The line to where the 40,000 tons of stone was located had also been lifted, but it could be put down again. Dashing Rocks Scheme. Mr Goodman said that he did not agree with the Committee’s report, especially as to the quantity of stone. If they inspected the place they would not find a great deal, and what there was would be difficult to work. He consider&d that it would be most expensive to relay the line, especially when they considered the amount of material to be got at. He thought the Board should go further afield and obtain a new quarry, over which they would have full control. At present, they did not possess such a quarry. Not only would they then be in a position to deal with this question, but two other great problems, silting in the Bay, and the scend in the harbour. If they could get a new quarry, he had in mind then they should go on with the Dashing Rocks scheme. They would have a quarry which could be worked, and they could arrange with the Railway Department to carry the stone over the Department’s lines. If they were to undertake this work, matters would be greatly improved. To reopen the present quarry he did not consider would be beneficial to the Board.

The chairman: I hardly think that. Mr Goodman: I do not think the stone is there. The chairman: Mr Clark has surveyed it all, and I have the figures from him.

Mr I. J. Bradley said that when he had seconded Mr Goodman's motion, he had been under the impression that the Board had a quarry containing plenty of stone. He had been round all the quarries, and he could now endorse all that Mr Goodman had said about the working of the one quarry, which would be most expensive. He thought the time had come when the Board should own a quarry, and no harm could be done by investigating the position. Mr A. F. Campbell: Can Mr Goodman say where we can get a quarry which can be easily got at? Mr W. H. Orbell said that he was disposed towards accepting the engineer’s figures. Thpse the engineer had given them before the start ef work on the Extension had proved co be very accurate. The Line Problem. Mr A. R. Guild said that stripping in the quarry would cost the Board nothing directly, because the work could be done by unemployed labour, The line problem was a very big one. With the present day competition between motors and the railways, they might find that they could transport the stone more cheaply by lorries. He estimated that they could transport the stone by lorries for less than the cost of a new line. The chairman said that 60.000 tons of stone had been used in raising the Extension to its present height of 22 feet, and they now had available 50,000 tons of stone. This was almost the same amount as had already been put into the Extension. Mr Orbell: The whole of this idea is to ensure that if anything happens we will be able to carry out the work right away. By the report from Mr Clark, we will be able to do that, so why worry? In the meantime we can look round for another quarry. Mr Goodman: There may be no stone there. Mr J. H. Smillie said that he did not think it was right to wait until they needed the stone. It would net cost much to look round. Motion Withdrawn. Mr Goodman said that it seemed to him that the whole front had been changed, and he asked permission to withdrawn his motion. He would then give notice of a further motion for next meeting. The meeting agreed to the withdrawal of the motion. Mr Goodman then gave notice to move at the next meeting as follow's: "That so as to minimise the siltting of the Bay. and the scend in the harbour, steps be taken to:— (1) "Obtain a commission to consider the absolute necessity of proceeding with the construction of at least 2000 feet of the Dashing Rocks Mole, as designed and submitted to the Commission of 1913, or a modified design. ( ) “Obtain a report from an expert as to the quality and quantity of stone available and in easy reach of the proposed Dashing Rocks mole,

also the method of transport to this new work and to the Eastern Extension mole.” The chairman said that he *need hardly point out that this meant another Royal Commission. The plan of the scheme had already been dealt with, but under the report of the last commission their hands were more or less tied until 1937. The last Commission advised the Board to wait until then, unless something unfavourable was recorded. Mr Orbell: Have not we to put money away? The chairman: Yes. About £BO.OOO for capital expenditure. Discussion was not proceeded with further.