WELLINGTON'S NEW DOCK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 66, 11 December 1907, Page 7

WELLINGTON'S NEW DOCK.

THE "WORK UNDER WAY. Mr. Noil M'Lean, contractor for tho Haroour Board's big dry dock, has mado a start with tlie work on,the site at Clyde Quay. Already there floats on the surface of tho dock waters ono largo punt, burdened with a huge pile-driver, and two others are being caulked and tarred prior to being pushed into their futuro sphere of activity. On the wostern bank has been erected a strong staging, bearing a great boarded box, not altogether unlike a Maori fighting platform of old. This uf a receptacle for 1000 yards of gravel, which,will be lifted from tho railway trucks t9 the box mechanically, in ordor that the desired olevation may, bo obtained permitting tho gravel to run down into tho two mixers that aro about to be erected The box-work necessary for the construction of the massive concrete walls of the dock will necessitate the driving of no less than 549 sixty-feet piles—a groat work in itself. A good deal of oxtra driving is mado necessary on account of thcro still being nearly an ncro left to reclaim. This has to be bridged to onable the work proper to proceed at tho point required. Offices, storerooms, and a blacksmith's shop hnvo been erected, and the now year should see a good deal of activity, on the harbour sido of the Te Aro Railway Station.