AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 7

AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

'ITEMS FROM THE AXXUAL REPORT. - The annual report of Mr W. H. Hamer, engineer to the Harbour Board, for last year, contains a number of interesting items. It states that the Queen-street wharf and tees cost £1220 for mainten-'-'ahce during the year. The Mechanics' Bay reclamation had been completed, and, notwithstanding the difficulties incidental to the site, involving tidal work .from start to finish, and the continuous employment of a, tug and barges over shallow flats, excellent work was done very rapidly. The net result showed that the annual rentals formed on about half the reclamation produce-i £468 per annum, a return of about 22 per cent upon the cost of the whole work. The Bailway Department filled into their re"Sianiation 19.000 cubic yards, with an average of 25 men, in 10*_ months. The suction dredger filled in 22,000 cubic yards, with an average of 22 men, in one 'month. The Railway Department accepted the Board's offer to complete its area at 6d per cubic yard. The Board had good reason to be satisfied with its 'investment in this machine. The report also mentioned that the best of the piles, timber, bolts, and ironwork from old jetties had been utilised in strengthening •other structures. Considerable saving hadbeen effected by buying against competition, and tendering for annual sup- : "plies. Mr Hamer also reported that the 'Board taking over and administering the .water supply on the wharves on this side of the harbour had, after actual test, shown highly satisfactory results. The total cost of work in hand during 1906 *as over £300,000.

■ The harbourmaster and dockmaster's report stated the year had been a busy oife in harbour work, the tonnage show-••jng.-.a. .satisfactory increase in all ■ The Calliope Dock was occupied less days than during the previous year, and the Auckland. Dock showed a decrease of 32 days as compared with tie previous year. In conclusion, Cap tain Duder states: "Now that the Board •has means of charging gas buoys I would again direct its attention to the great improvement •**X> of these buoys would be to the -navigation of Rangitoto Channel, one near Rough Rock, another on the . opposite shore in four fathoms. Although the light on Rangitoto Reef bea*jon is a great boon to navigators, it ,*ioes not sufficiently assist the masters '"w large steamers to work the channel ?y night, and but few of them do so -Tnaess in charge of a pilot.