A MODERN MAUL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 570, 27 July 1909, Page 9

A MODERN MAUL.

FROM SEA TO DRY LAND. RECLAMATION WORK AT WATERLOO QUAY. Occasionally evidence is given of the belief by residents of Te Aro and Wellington South that tho growth of Wellington City has only oho trend, and that ono is in their favour. During the years of " boota," it was Ne-wtown, Berhampore, Island Bay, Kilbiniio,' and Miramar that wero moat affected , by the growth of population. Kolburno and Northland wore very rapidly eottlcd, too, but tho main growth was that achieved in tho old Melrosc district, to tho south and soutli-wost of the city. Wellington is now. growing, appreciably, visibly, in another direction. By tho aid of tho Harbour Board's powerful dredge, Whakariri, a largo section of tho harbour off Waterloo Quay has been converted into good dryland on a levol witi tho Quay, and day by day sees this area growing bigger and bigger as tho dredge ejects tho silt, sand, and shell that it lias bailed from those portions of tho harbour where deeper water is required. It is positively an eye-opener to note- the rapidity with which the -sea: is being reclaimed in this manner. At present tho Whakariri is working over tho Falcon Shoal in tho entranco channel, but instead of proceeding to sea with her spoil (as in tho foolish old days), sho steams into port with all tho dignity of a liner, berths alongsido tho new training wr.ll at Waterloo Quay, her pipes are , coupled to a long sinuous line, bolted up in ' sections, and by sotting her powerful pumps to work her land-creating cargo is deposited wherever, it is wanted.

In tho reclaimed land .that now stretches from tho foot of the King's Wharf nearly up to Pipitea Point proper ib about an aero of pure worm-mado shell—brittle, rotten \ shell that crunches up underfoot —said to have beon obtained off tho Falcon Shoal. In other parts is tho finest sholl gravel, shinglo, without shell, and s>« unadulterated. Tho Whakariri deposits about 2000 tons of spoil a day over tho training wall at Waterloo Qtfay, and so rapidly is the- space between tho wall and the Quay being filled in that Mr. 0. F. Pulley will havo to hurry on with his wall-extension contract to provide a further field of activity for this modern Maui.