PILES COLLAPSE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18216, 29 October 1924, Page 8

PILES COLLAPSE.

WATERFRONT SENSATION. SECTION OF WHARF DAMAGED. (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, October 28. Damage to the extent of several thousand pounds was caused to the Western Wharf when same of the concrete foundation piles collfljpsed shortly after 2 o'clock this afternoon. Tho steamer Trelissick was working at another portion of the wharf, and. the first indication to the men engaged at her that anything was ami6B was the loud cracking of the concrete. They were amazed to see a large surface area of the wharf near the sea end gradually subside till a portion on the western side was almost at the water level. Large fissures appeared on the surface revealing the steel reinforcing girders. The stout wopden fenders on the eastern fciiio splintered and snapped in two. The driver of a motor lorry was about to tip a load of soil over the side of the wharf. There was a sudden tremor beneath him, and although he did not grflsp the situation immediately he had a foreboding of danger. Without delay he tipped tho soil on the wharf, cranked the lorry, and sped away to safer ground. At the point where the wharf had most of the reinforced concrete piles had almost disappeared in the mud, and the side wall of large boulders cemented together, had fallen to pieces. Seven piles on the other side snapped (is if made of chalk. On the eastern side the steamer Trelissick was berthed, but she was not affected. An electric crane was unloading cargo from the forward hold, but fortunately it was some distance away.

The engineer explained that the disaster was due to the stone wall built to support the wharf collapsing and carrying away some piles, tlius throwing an extra, strain on the others, which gave way. The area that subsided ia about 160 ft long, but about three hundred feet will have to be rebuilt at a cost of about £20,000. The part that collapsed was built in 1921. The whole wharf is 1000 f- long and cost £95,000.