THE WHAKARIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 3

THE WHAKARIRE.

• 9 • A GOOD RECORD. The dredge Whakarire has been, when possible, working two shifts dredging on the Falcon Shoal, in the Wellington harbour. Extremely good work has been done, reports the Harbour Board's engineer, Mr. Marchbanks, the amount of spoil lifted, viz., 512,550 tons, having been the highest yet recorded. Unfortunately a large proportion of this material lias had to lie deposited at sea because of the delay in the construction of an extension of the Waterloo Quay wall. The dredge has worked very satisfactorily. Working expenses for the year amounted to ;£9901 15s. Id., or 1.38 d. per ton lifted, as against 6.32 d. per ton for 180S-9, G.39d. per ton in 1907-8, 7.47 d. per ton in 190G-7. Thero wero pumped ashore 163,600 tons of spoil, at the nominal rate of Gd. per ton. Additions to the dredge plant were <£301 13s. 7d., so that the value of the dredge Whakariro with accessories now stands in the board's books at ,C 25,102 ss. 10d., or 56.4 per cent, of .£45,018 Bs. Id., the total capital expeudituro up to September 30, 1910. Good progress, says tho engineer, has been made at the removal of the-Falcon Shoal. The dredge has been employed on the work throughout the year. A channel IGOO feet wide to a depth of 7 fathoms at low water springs had been completed by the end of tho financial year. The bottom was now more irregular and the progress made would be slower than hitherto. The dredge is at present working on the western side of the white sector of the Somes's Island leading light. As soon as the first cut is completed m the red sector of the light the channel may l;<> used for all classes of vessels. When the Falcon Shoal is removed, the engineer intends to recommend that some dredging be done between the Steeple Rock and Dorset Point,, along the western edge of tho white scctor of the lendi'ii" light.