NEW FERRY WHARF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2773, 17 May 1916, Page 6

NEW FERRY WHARF

A STYLE NEW TO WELLINGTON

The new wharf for the Wellington-Lyt-telton ferry boats was finished yesterday, and as far as the contractors (Messrs. M'Lean and Co.) are concerned, the structure could be used this week. The wharf is not altogether a new wharf. It is the old Wool Wharf, widened and extended just sufficiently to fit it for the purpose intended. The Wool Wharf had a narrow approach originally. This has been widened so as to give a breadth of 70ft., and the wharf has bean extended another 100 feet into the harbour, au even breadth of 70 feet being maintained. This provides a wharf 472 feet in length on the western 6ide and 353 feet on the eastern side (not including the projection that flanks the old shed on the eastern side). It is the inner or western berth that is to he occupied by the Wellinglon-Lyttelton ferry steamers, and by dredging a low water depth of 23ft. has been obtained all along the berth. It is interesting to know that whilst the berth is 472 feet in length the Walune—now on duty somewhere in European waters-is 375 feet in length, so that the ferry fliers will be able to lie very snug, nose, in towards the quay. A feature of the new wharf is the rounded onds, which are of great assistance to shipmasters iu manoeuvring their boats both out from and into the berth With such corners-well ■ padded with fenders—a steamer may be levered round considerably by the deft use of her propellers. It is an accepted improvement in wharf construction throughout the world, and we now have it on the Miramar and Ferry Wharves. In the construction of the wharf extension 4000 feet of ironbark piles were u?ed, the piles being from 40 to 48 feet in length. Tho wharf is decked with brush-box—an Australian hardwood now much in favour The Ferry Wharf can always be picked nut from the battery nf wharves along Waterloo Quay by the fact that it is the only one with an open shed provided exclusively for the use of passengers and their luggage. The shod is 2M feet long by .11 feet wide, and is entirely open on the western side (the side facing ■ the steamer. Otherwise, the shed is closed in, but has sliding doors at intervals on the outer for eastern) side for the convenience of c«bs and motor-cars. The asbestos-tiled roof is supported on the open side of the shed by steel principals, resting on cast-iron pillars placed 20 feet aonrt. In one corner of the shed provision is made for luggage which is to be taken in charge by the City Tramway authorities and delivered to this or that depot. After all the luggage is off the boat the Tramway Department's motnrwaeon will transfer the luggage to the freight car, and all the passenger will !ave to do will be to claim it at the depot to which it lias been directed—a wonderful convenience for Wellington residents at all events. The Harbour Board will also have a left luggage office in the shed.

In order to avert any possible confusion or accident tlio ITaronur Board is to erect iron uates between the old shed on the wharf and the edge of the wharf on the Western side, whilst, in order to be able to close off the wharf altc-rether. wooden gates are already in nosition on the other side of the old shed. The idea is that the near (western) entrance is to be reserved exclusivelv for passengers and others on foot, whilst all vehicular traffic will have to lake the other side. • In connection with the wharf the Tramway Department of the City Corporation is about to extend the Customhouse Quay tracks as far north as Bunny Street winch will bring the cars within easy walking disfanco nf the steamer. The ferry berth isonly MO yards away, from the centre of the proposed new railway station, so that passengers arriving from, or leaving for the north will be able to cover the distance batween the wharf and the tram in less than five minutes. The new wharf will .probably be used by _ the ferry Reamers towards tho end of the month.