HARBOUR MOLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 208, 5 September 1935, Page 6

HARBOUR MOLES

SHELL-ROCK OR CONCRETE? OLD question revived MR. J. PATTERSON SAYS CONCRETE (11 AMBER OF COMMERCE ADDRESSED Al a meeting of the "Wanganui I iiamber of (Commerce last night, Mr. James Patterson (chairman of the Works Committee of the Harbour Board} advocated the use of concrete blocks instead of shell-rock for the reconstruction work at present being carried out to the harbour moles. Mr. Patteifcon said that he had brought t.iis matter under the notice of the Wanganui Harbour Board at a recent meeting, but his motions were d*cicated. He considered it his duty, as a, representative of the Wanganui ratepayers, to submit to the Chamber of Commerce his observations and opinions with regard to harbour matters. Prior to Mr. Patterson submitting a comprehensive statement on the subject. the chairman, Mr. E. M. bilk, asked if the matter was not one which should be taken in committee. Mr. Patterson replied that he desired to give it publicity and the matter was taken in open meeting. The chamber empowered a small committee, which is to wait on the Harbour Board at its next meeting in connection with, other questions, to go into the points raised by Mr. Patterson and, if necessary, consult with the harbour authorities. Mr. bilk remarked that as the matter was one for the Harbour Bond to deal with, he did not consider the chamber competent io dictate a policy to tne board. •‘ln November, 1923, 1 placed before the Harbour Board my observations in regard to the staging aud the moles. ’ said Mr. Patterson. “1 said that there were not many seven to ten ton blocks, the largest percentage being from two to four tone and that the action of the sea levelled these 1»1<» down to Jew tide and that at that level chafing takes place between the stone and the piles, borne members of the board thought at the time that old age and fair wear and tear was the reason of the staging being carried away by tae sea. 1 warned the board that if the r.ame procedure was to be followed we would still have heavy maintenance at the extreme ends of the molis owing to there being no certainly of obtaining stone large than had been used to date. To obviate this, I suggested the using of concrete blocks, built on the c assiun principle, aud filling same-with concrete bedded down on to the lop of the rouble foundation. J also advocated that near the extreme ends of the moles the concrete should be raised say, up to the rail level and large enough to carry the lights with, safely i say, JSi t. x 2uft. wide) and to be supplied with a heavy ring bolt or a bollard for emergency purposes. “At a recent meeting J again warned riie board that the lite of the existing decking which carries the rails is only a few years. The piles are being attacked by borer (limnoria borer} ami with the chafing by the stone the whole structure is liable to be severely damaged c-r destroyed by heavy seas at any time. The lights at the ends aie oi’fen extinguished owing to the vibration in rough weather- this is a danger to shipping. “1 have repeatedly advocated the use of large stone, or, failing the supply of same, the use of concrete bl'.vks of ten tons weight or more. My reason for taking this stand is based upon ihe remarks of the board’s engineer, Mr. J. Blair Mason. Ju the rejn.it submitted to the board dated April 8, 1919, Mr. Mason states: ‘Fur any extension of U’e moles using seven ton stones as heretofore the cross section should be greater or else heavier stone should be used, with 10 ton blocks in ihe sea exposed faces. In building up the parts of tie moles which have sunk 10 ton blocks are recommended io be used in place of seven ton. ’!<> epitomise, iae '.X)ard might: (a) Build une existing wall where sunk from m. depth of four feet below low water using not less than three ton stones «nd 19 ton stones from low water to high water mark; (b) for the first 20U feet extension of the North Mole continue tlm present construction, but use the bcfoic-meutioned larger stone up to 10 Luns in lieu of sc\ e« tons.’

“in reputing on the quarry. Mr. Mason says: ‘The execution of the mole extension works, basin wall, and river training walls all in conjunction with one another would advantage quarrying operations, in that rock of all sizes can be used. Thus the quarry can be kept clear of accumulated broken reek, for which there is not tuo much space on the quarry Hour without resort to the expense of stacking. The smaller stone would be placed in the training wall, the medium in the basin wall, while- the larger would go to the moles. It is essential that the atones placed in the moles must be of a size that the seas cannot wash away as it is being tipped. It has happened in. similar works that in order to get rid of the smaller stones in the quarry and save cost of stacking, the stones have been dumped into breakwaters and walls, only to be washed away before they can be buried under the heavier stones required for Ihe exposed portions of the work. The concurrent execution of the works in question would help to avoid any necessity of this sort.’ ‘‘ln perusing the Dock and Harbour Authority' I notice tihat the sea walls at the Port or -Marseilles are built with large pieces of rock and concrete blocks (year 1928). The main breakwater at the Port of Const anza, Rumania, is built of stone finished oil with concrete blocks. Two large ports on Lake {Superior, Fort William and Port Arthur (August, 1927) the moles are covered with no less than six tou blocks on the sea side and four ton blocks on the river side. These arc rouble mound breakwaters and not exposed as Wanganui is. I have visited most of the principal ports in Australia and New Zealand and in Great Britain and there is not one that has attempted to build moles or breakwaters like we arc attempting in Wanganui. “We had the opinions of Air. J. Blair Masc-n, Mr. Haszard, Air. Furkett and the late Mr. Deem. These men gave of their best, and the board has accepted a tender to carry out the work. Now, in the contract, for the supplying of stone on the moles the board specified the following: Htone 21 to 5 ton (20 per cent.). 4000 tons; 5 to 7 ton (20 per cent.), 4000 tons; 7 ! to 9 tons (30 per cent.}, 6000 tons; 9 to 11 tons (30 per cent.}. 6000 tons. “The beard received and accepted the fullowing: 2| tu 5 tons, 4064 tons; sto 7 tons, 2050 tons Jewt; 7to 9 tons, 1579 tong llcwt.; 9 to 11 tons, 822 tons 19cwt.—a total c-f 8516 tons 14cwt, and, in addition, accepted 9023 tons 14cwt. of small stone, bringing the grand total of stone up to .17,540 tons “I wish to emphasise the fact that the board has accepted over half of the total tonnage in small stone contrary tu the advice of its engineers. Mr. Deem was strongly' of the opinion that big stone must be used and to guard against the use of small stone he installed a weighing machine to check the weights of the blocks and to cn sure that ihe beard got -what was j tendered for. From time to lime 1 have stresseed the necessity of tine contractor supplying large blocks m accordance with the specification. “When the contractors were tipping the stone J. have seenthe blocks being washed away by the heavy seas. 1 have seen large blocks breaking up when dumped off the trucks o-n Lu tne existing stun.. L also have noticed that the stone has been built uji approximately five feet above tide level. Io save expense our lat< engineer allowed in his estimate for the walls to be built up 18 inches above high water spring tides and the lender was accepted for that purjn.se. Mr. Patterson concluded by saying 1 bat to go on as the board was doing at present was wasting money, lie believed I Tut concrete blocks should be used for heightening the remaining portions of the moles, that the shell ruck in hand be used lor completion of the inner portions of the moles only, and that the ends of the moles be built up to rail level, Ihe chamber did not discuss Mr. Patterson's suggestions, preferring to leave them to a small committee which is to meet the Harbour Board at its n« xt meeting relative to other matters •f vital interest to thv city and dis*ii t. Che chairman remarked that the harbour was of great value tu- the

New post Office. The Postmaster-General, in answer to :t letter from the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, has advised that the sum of £5OOO is to he placed on the Estimates for the erection of a new Chief J’ost Office at Wanganui. The Minister stated that the work will be commenced as soon as possible. A Cement Cargo. A cargo of cement is expected to arrive at Wanganui to-morrow. The Anchor Company’s coastal motor-shiji Taupata loaded at Tarakohe, Golden Bay. earlier in the week, and is scheduled to discharge a portion of her cargo at New Plymouth today. The vessel is to leave New Plymouth to night and is expected at the Town Wharf to morrow morning. The Taupata is a vessel of 268 tons gross. She will return io Tarakohe after unloading the remainder of her cargo at Wan ganiii. It is not infrequent for coastal boats to <-oiiie to Wanganui from Tarakohe direct and to discharge a full cargo at Wanganui. 'l'he two motorships. Alexander and ’l’aupata. are usu alh engaged in this trade.

Bell Birds in City. Two bell birds were noticed, in Moutoa Gardens yesterday morning. Their call, very similar to that of a tui, interested a passer-by, who investigated very carefully. He expected to sec tnis. but found bell birds instead. I’he birds were very shy t he raid, and flew .away at the first sight of a human being at close range. Itinerant Traders. The question of itinerant traders was discussed by the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce at its meeting- last night. It was pointed out that such traders were the cause of business being slaughtered in a. town or city. The chamber received a letter from the Employers’ Association, requesting co Operation in the matter of asking the Government to all er the legislat ion concerning itinerant traders, and in so doing raise the licence, fee to £25, instead of £5 as at present. A member of the chamber pointed out that in some cases these traders came into a town for a short while, enjoyed cheap rents, and were not faced with the ex jienses which confronted the axerage business man. The chamber decided to support Ihe Employers’ Association,