HARBOUR WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 11

HARBOUR WORKS

PROJECTS DELAYED

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

Delays in the delivery-of steel from Australia are .seriously retarding much of the wharf and other construction work of the Auckland Harbour Board, states the "New ZealandjHerald" of today. With the Broken Hilli. works refusing to guarantee delivery of steel under eight months, thej board is also faced with uncertainty as to when it can start some of its work, such as the export wharf to', be built ,at Mechanics' Bay. ■ ■.. •

The actual construction of the Hobson Wharf, for coastal* craft, between Prince's Wharf and Western Wharf, is proceeding ; up to schedule, and it is expected it will be" completed by the end of May. But whether the necessary sheds will be ready by that time is uncertain, for. everything depends on the delivery of the constructional steel. Several chains ■ of wharf piles have been driven, and a big; gang of workmen i s engaged .on the decking. . Had it > not been-for, the difficulty in obtaining steel, > the roofing-over of Prince's Wharf between the sheds would have been finished by the end of last winter. But the work is still dragging on, and all the steel required has riot yet been-delivered. Steel- for the new1 export wharf has been on order for some months,' and just when deliveries will start is uncertain. But in any case, a necessary preliminary' to the construction of the wharf will be the-building of a breastwork along the present rock wall. This is also dependent on steel deliveries, which in the ■ ordinary course should have been made by now. A start on the breastwork may be possible, hdwever; before very long: Dredging at St. Mary's Bay' boat harbour is suspended while.^he dredge is having its ■ annual overhaul. The dredge -should, > be back on the job in about a fortnight, and will probably be engaged for three or four months in deepening ~the bay and filling the space behind, the breastwork with spoil. After that there will be roading and other wprk to be-done on this reclamation. '<" ' . , - JA start has been ma.de with the concrete foundations to support the piers for a 250 ft viaduct Between the shore and the widened breakwater, which will permit the tide td scour the basin. The filling of the excavations with concrete is possible: only: at low water, spring .tides, and'the work is now held up until the next spring tide in two or,three weeks' time., Progress on the construction of the viaduct will be'subject;,"like many other harbour works, to thefarrival of steel.