THE HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 4

THE HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS

THE BEETHAGE OP THE SONOMA. THE NEED FOR BIGGER SHEDS. T-he delay In providing berthage for the Sonoma on her unexpected arrival from America was the subject of an explanation from the Harboarmaster to the Harbour Board yesterday. The report was as follows: "Yesterday was a very busy day on the wharves, all the berths being occupied by two large cargo eteamers, six Union boats, flve Intercolonial, and one foreign sailer; also an unusually large number of coasters. The berths suitable for the mailboats are B I J and S. These were all busily engaged liy the Mokoia, Star of Ireland, Manuka, and Somerset. The Manuka left her berth at tweaty minutes to six p.m., having quite fldled the sheds during the day with her inward cargo The Sonoma could not, therefore, work there. The ■berth allotted to her was I, outside western tee, occupied for some days by the Star of Ireland, whteh was expected to get away about six p.m., but owing to delay in dumping her cargo, she did not leave the wharf until five minutes past ten p.m. The mailboat, on arrival, was advised that her berth would be clear about a quarter-past ten p.m. Tie health and Customs officials cleared the ship at a-quarter to nine; the vessel was thus detained about one hour and a-half. She, however, lost another 20 minutes by not being quite ready to berth when the Star of Ireland dropped out. The Sonoma having l«ft Honolulu 17 hours late, was, under average conditions, not due here until daybreak this morning. I had, however, arranged with the master of the Star of Ireland to gat up steam during the day. and be ready to leave the berth as soon as his loading was completed, should it be necessary to do so. This was cheerfully done, and the steamer removed to the stream a few minutes after the completion of her loading. The absence of ample shed-room on the wharves is what the shipping so often suffers from, and causes the Board's officers much anxiety. Every tee has two berths, but we have only one shed that is spacious enough and berthage around it suitable for two Urge steamers and their cargoes. Thus It often happens that we have a berth for a vessel, but no shed space for her cargo, as was the ease last eveningc." Mr W. J. Napier commented on the inconvenience entailed on passengers who, after a long journey, naturally wanted to get ashore. A berth should be available immediately the ship came In.

The report was referred to the Works and Tariff Committee for report.

THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS.

Mr Ferguson, the engineer of the Wellington Harbour Board, wrote to the Harbour Board yesterday accepting the posit:on of consultant on the new harbour scheme, and suggesting that the fees should be fixed before the work began. This matter was referred to the Le-al and Finance Committee.

Mr Philson asked whether the committee was to have power to define the scope of the report to be made.

tha^h^°?;f E -T, Mite , hGl3on (chairman) said ££gS3£BE trammelled by any instructions, -n m ? S a f me Pointed cn»t that it would be difficult to assess the fee if the work to be done were not known

E?J?^ in flxlng th« fee. as there were the i ™F*} t rS* other enslneers In the past as a spide. There was a great deal of work to be done, but though the fee would be already done ana need M be repeated.