DOCK IN HIGH WIND

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1932, Page 9

DOCK IN HIGH WIND

LESSON FOR THE FUTURE

During the heavy northerly wind yesterday morning, in which, on© of .the gusts reached nearly sixty miles an hour, one of the big .'bollards or moor-ing-posts carrying a chain cable from th& Aotea Quay berth to the Jubilee Dock cracked under the great strain, but held until the cable was removed and attached to a heavy baulk of timber placed in a deep ditch some distance in from the breastwork. Additional moorings of 12in manila rope were made fast between the dock and" the wharf, and no further trouble was experienced.

In one respect it is fortunate that some of the highest winds likely to occur: in Wellington have been, experienced during the first week after the dock's arrival. The work of mooring the dock permanently will probably take a, full month, and although this has been somewhat delayed by the boister.ous ; weather a lesson has been learnt which "will 'result in "-extra- precaution's being taken, to ensure a, -minimum of trouble ■in tho future. >'■ ■' - -■-

The specifications made out by the contractors have all been complied with by thi> Harbour Board, and what has occurred so far has been, no affair of tho board's, which will not be responsible for the dock until it ds formally handed over. The contractor's' agent is in Wellingtons-arid 'baa- supervised all the work that has beenearried out, and ho will continue to act in that capacity until delivery, is made.

On New Year's Day Captain t'Hart, of the tug Zwarte Zee, Chief Engineer van Wyke, Captain J. de Buar, of the dock, and Mr. A. M. Howitt, of Sydney, were- the guests of. Mr. van Rooyen, a native of Holland; who is now residing in-Wellington.' The visitors were talcen for a motor tour, of the city and suburbs, and in tho evening they were entertained at tho residence of Mrs. A, Roberts, 130 a, Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay. They expressed their appreciation of the hospitality and their admiration of the beauties of the ■city and. environs. . . •

: To-morrow the Dutchmen, will /Be taken for a ruii iiito the country as far: as Waikanae by members of the Harbour Board, and in the evening they will bo entertained by the master mariners of Wellington at a smoke.concert.