MORE WHARF ACCOMMODATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 January 1903, Page 2

MORE WHARF ACCOMMODATION

At the Harbor Board meeting last night Mr M'Kechnie moved that the engineer be asked to prepare estimates of the cost of extending the wharf towards the cattle landing place, Mr Thompson stated that the cost would be £10,400. Mr M‘Kechnie then asked leave to amend this motion to read that plans and specifications be prepared. _ Leave was granted unanimously. Mr M‘Kechnie said that more accommodation was necessary either up or down stream. The other day there was a block and one sailing vessel outside was not brought in,in consequence. The Chairman said he desired to officially contradict tho statement in regard to a vessel being left outside in consequence of there being no room. Mr McKccnie said he had been informed t) that effect and the sailing vessel came in next day. The trade of tho port vyas going to increase and it was imperative that more accommodation should be provide 1. It would be some years before the Lagoon was sufficiently dredged to be available for wharfage accommodation. Mr Campbell seconded on condition that it applied exclusively to the extension seawatd*. Ho was aware it had been adversely reported upon on account of tho range, but he pointed out that at Timaru and elsewlrra wharfs existed whore the range"\vas twice wlrht it would be in the Grey River, It was not so much increased wharfage as improved loading and unloading appliance that was required, The Board for along time past had been endeavouring to get the Railway Department to procure a crane, but unsuccessfully. They had once made an absurd proposition involving a cost of £(5,000, which tho Board would not agree to,’ If a suitable crane was available there would have boeu no block as stated by Mr McKechnia, Mr Mathcson did jiot see much difficulty in regard to the range. He favored the motion Mr Sheedy also supported. There was no doubt in his mind that the lagoon which Sir John Coodc had said was a most important factor in the harbor improvements should be dredged as soon as possible in order to supply a constant scour on the bar, and it was here that future berthing would take place and the Board should hasten this work, but possibly the extension of the river wharf was also necessary although the dredging now going on would increase the available accomodation at the wharf a good deal. He also thought that some piles should be put in ahead of where the tug lay to protect her from snags in time of flood that might carry her paddle away. Mr Campbell said that if the paddles were ever so damaged it would be the fault of those in charge of the tug, in not seeing that the paddles were disconnected.

Mr Russell said he had always been in favor of the works and had supported it when it was last advocated by the Chairman. He did not understand why it was not then pushed on. Mr Campbell: The lagoon docks I suppose. . , Mr Russell was inclined to think it was on account of expert opinion being opposed to it. Mr Petrie said he was pleased to see the matter again opened up. The reason why it was dropped was on account of the adverse report by the Harbor Master, and the Board’s Engineer. The Harbor Master in his report said : “ I would respectfully bring under your notice the need for more wharfage accommodation. The timber trade is increasing and large vessels are coming here who take nearly a week to load, and occupy berthage formerly available. Two timber berths could be made ahead of the tug’s berth, as the water is as deep as the lower end of the wharf, and the range at the end is too heavy forsailing vessels. Thus Captain Connor reported in favor of a wharf up stream. This was submitted to Mr Thompson, the Board’s engineer, who reported as follows “ Dur ng the late visit of the Engineor-in-Chief, I took occasion to take him over the site of the proposed wharf above Tainui Street, and explained that on account of the extent of the stone apron, a wharf would have to project 30 feet into the river. “ Mr Hales does not see any great objection to this so long as there are no sheet piling, and the tlow of the water is not much interfered with. “As it is probable that ultimately sheet piling will be required, there is a chance that some deposit may take place at the berth occupied by the tug or perhaps a little lower. “ The same remarks would apply to the ni'ed protection work to shelter the tug proposed by Mr Bell in his last report.

“ The cost of the wharf would be about £9,000. * “If the wharf were extended as a continuance of the present one, from what the Harbor Master says, in certain states of the sea it would be practically useless on account of the heavy scend from the entrance. “ If additional berthage is necessary, the upper site appears to be most suitable. Mr Thompson had strongly reported against the upper site, his report being as follows “ Soundings and surveys in connection with the proposed new wharf above Tainui Street show that the toe of the stone bank projects about 30 feet into the river. It would bennadvisable at present to build a wharf on the site.” The engineer had thus gone against both proposals and only selected the one up stream as being the least objectionable. These were the reasons that induced the Board to then abandon both proposals, when he had on a previous occasion endeavoured to get the extension, and not any proposed lagoon works. Mr Campbell had put his finger on the real defect when lie stated that a powerful travelling crane was what was wanted. This and

the dredging at the wharf, which latter was estimated to take four months to complete would give nearly twice the present available accommodation and convenience, and this would go a long way towards supplying what was required. He would support the motion, in order to give the engineer another opportunity of considering the matter. Motion carried unanimous’y. Mr Campbell moved and Mr Matheson seconded that the Railway Department be informed that this Board cannot wait longer for the steam travelling crane and that the authority be cancelled as the Board intended getting one constructed in the co’ony. Carried unanimously. Mr Campbell moved and Mr Bussell seconded that Mr Thompson prepare a plan of a suitable crane and submit it to the foundries in the colony for tender. Carried unanimously.