TRIAL OF THE DREDGE ERSKINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2615, 11 August 1876, Page 2

TRIAL OF THE DREDGE ERSKINE.

- The trial of thia dredge took plaoe yesterday, in the presenoe of the Hon J, T. Peacock, Sir Gmorotb Wilson, Atessra Thornton (Provincial Kuiffneer), Mr Bull (Assistant Engineer), Captain F/JD, Gibson. and Mr S, Dorbidgo. Work was commenced at 11.5 a.m., and by 12.18 the hopper barge Sumnor was loaded. Tho machinery, vhieh had boon fitted up by Mr H. Turpin.ttae tfontleraan who came oufc with ,the vessel, worked admirably. The Suvnnor, on being lo ided, started for old Uiunp Bay, whore she arrivod at 12.55, Here tho mud whs cußchstrKod, of whicli there was about 250 tons in tho six ditinront hoppers, and all was olem- of., tho vgbbul in two uvlnutos, la fact, it was got rid of while the vcssol was turning. The floors of the hoppers woro olosed while , the bargo was on her way back under full utoam, thus ijo timo whatever ncod be lost while in fall workin?, and tho bnrfro returned to hor mooring at 1,80 p.m. Captain Muooy Ins been appointed to t,he command of tho dredgei Captain John Wood to tho barge Buranor, and (Juptain W, Anderson ti) the Hoatheoto, Mr H. Tnrpin being tho englnoor in charge of the whole fleet. The work of dredging in enrneab will be commenood on Monday, when a channel will bo cut from tho sovow-pile wharf to tho transporting buoy, ao as to allow all stoamors to got alongside that whnrf at any state of tho tide. Tho other wharves uloiifr the sen-wall will th<m bo dredged, when a uniform depth of watev at enoh wharf will be obtained. The wnolo baßm is intondort to be deepened six font, and it is considered, that this work will be finished in two years as tho drodgd will worlc from 6 a,m. to 6piu m atiimner, and from daylight th darkliu wintor. Tho mud at present will bo dumped in Camp Bay, and rw tha two hoppers will heuuablo to keep the dredge kolh£, f;ho Government havo do<orrainod to proctiro two wore punts, In either wood or iron, whioh will bo towed by tho hoppers. Mr Thornton baa boon instructed to propnre the neoogBury desifciw for them in either wood or iron, and tenders will be called for tho work to bo performed in the Colony.