BERTHING THE FERRY STEAMERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 8

BERTHING THE FERRY STEAMERS

WOOL WHARF RECOMMENDED HARBOUR MINEER'S REPORT In 'connection with the-berthing of tho' ferry steamers at this .end'of tho tun, the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. R. Fletcher) and tlie executive officers have recently had under consideration a plan to meet the'. convenience of the travelling public by fixing a' recognised berth: The engineer's report on the matter, together with a plan of tho position, was placed . before tho , board at the monthly meeting last night. In ;introducing v the matter tho chairman explained that the Wool, Wharf had been selected and if tho board saw fit to adopt the scheme -it would no doubt .'prove very convenient to the public, especially in view of the fact that the Wool Wharf was within a.few hundred yards of tho site of tho proposed central; railway station. The report of the engineer (Mr. J. Marchbanks) was _ as' follows: —"The matter of the provision of a suitable berth for the ferry'steamers hasbeen .under consideration for some time by yourself and officers, and'l have now the honour to submit for the consideration of the board a plan, which snows ■what additions 'and alterations would be necessary to convert the Wool Wharf into a suitable berth for the Welling-ton-Lyttelton;. ferry, steamers. Tho wharf is situated within 300 yards of the centro of Bunny Street, which is tho site of the proposed new central, railway station, and is some hundred yards distant from where the. tramway, when directed along Waterloo Quay .to Bunny Street, will run. The most suitable location for a berth for the ferry steamers is on.tlie west side of the wharf. The present wharf is 100 feet wide at its upper end, on which L shed stands, and 36 feet wide and 253 feet long at its outer end. To enable d vessel of 400 feet in length to berth, i it will be necessary to widen the outer portion by 34 feet, making it .70 feet wide overall, and to extend the \ whole .wharf for 100 feet.. This will make the length of the western side 472 feet from tho breastwork to.thoerfd.. A shelter, 240 feet longby. 31 feet wide, is proposed to provide cover so as -to include both gangways whether the ship is berthed either,bow on or stern on to <tlio snoro. On,trie.eastern side of the -wharf, a space of 25 feet'wide outside the shelter is left available for, a yes■sel berthing on .that, side : .for cargo, etc. The front, of the shelter is open,' ■with columns which support the roof, spaced 20 feet, apart. : -These columns' arc set b».ik 6 feet from the edge of the'.overh, iging verandah, which is 13 feet f-roD the- face of tlie • wharf.'To provide' 1 Mommo'dation for luggage and ■ tickets.£ portionof'L sued is utilised. Alternative arrangements are shown on the plan. Tho plan ' proposed, will. I think, provide adequate accommodation , jfor- the ferry .steamers, in- a situation 'which wills'/when .the proposed- altera,tions| to, the. tram system are completed ,and,-the .now railway station is built, ■be convenient to travellers/ The;, Wool Wharf is not'now. used to any large ex-1 tent;for cargo, and its conversion for the purpose proposed "tfill relieve a good berth at the Queen's Wharf.. I have ■discussed 'this 1 jnatter with Captain Johnson, arid he is of opinion that the, proposed ferry Berth will be quite satisfactory." - ■'■'. ■Mr. M. ,Cohen asked how long ,was. it since| the site of the-. railway" station, had been _ "- ' The;, chairman replied that it was ;some time'now' .sinco/it' had been announced. Recently the Town Planning' Association'representatives, had been here- arid, the'ir,' efforts might help' to hurry.oil tlie-work. If the board entertained the" "' present suggestion, he thought it,.wouJd "beup to tho Govern-, inent" toy,go A .pil with the new railway station. '.'.■' '_ Mr. Cohen-f'said'.he understood that it the;(delay in connection with rthe railway'station.that had/been hang--ing up the berthing of the ferry steamers . afr^a-fixed;ispot. 'The chairman stated that such was the case.' Tfie'ruatter had been under . consideration ~for several years. that he had mentioned the-matter because of some reference'.-'in- the Press to, the board's delay, which references he thought had been, unfair.,,,, ~ ■ .-. ;slr. ;R.,. A>7 Wright considered that •the chairman.and executive officers were to be complimented on the report. Tho •central'railway station could not .bo long;in coming now. This move on the part of-the board would not hinder and Jmisrht ■ hasten : 'the work. •. • The'chairman'agreed that; the board's action: might'give a fillip to the Govenrmout, and -if tho central railway station .materialised, the City Council would" go on,, with the tram deviation, and;there.:would be co-ordination in the work.- 'He recommended that the report to referred to Uhe Wharves and Accounts Committee with instructions j to' report at the next meotihg. Thjs recommendation was agreed to;.