A NEW SCHEME

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10320, 1 February 1927, Page 3

A NEW SCHEME

BREAKWATER AT WHAREONGAONGA. LOSS OF THE MONOWAC The loss Of the hulk Mbrowai, which was sunk at Whareongaonga quarry to form an integral part or tne breakwater there, and was then smashed up by the storm at Christmas and the, changed plans for the construction of the protective w il > > provoked a lively debate at the Harbor Board meeting yesterday. A .“ e scheme now proposed to proceed with is to construct the breakwater over the site of the Monowai and an independent wharf on the quarry side of the bay. The breakwater is to be extended sufficiently to furnish protection to the scows loading stone there for transport to Gisborne The engineer’s report contained the following reference to the loss of the Monowai: — ~ Quarry : Quarrying operations have proceeded during the month, the work concentrating on the extension of the local breakwater. Hulk Monowai: During the month as the result of heavy north-east winds, a heavy sea was running into Whareongaonga Bay lasting oxer two weeks, the result of which was to *ct up a motion of the vessel which mately resulted in her breaking m two through her boiler room, the after part subsequently opening out, and the forward part remaining on level keel, but settling into the bed of the bay. The destruction of this vessel makes it necessary to altei our programme of works there, and the new proposal referred to m separate report brings «s Jj> ack £ practically the. original idea of a rub ble breakwater and wharf. The e silt of this will be that no stone will be available from Whareongaonga fo* several months and to enable thein oik of the breakwater extension to pro g* && KS’ftSr VSJSdattai of this breakwater with special concrete blocks to form the apron to tins foundat.oiiy immediately after the vessel' was foamdered indicated that the bow' rested on the sea.bed, into which it had sett ed but little the stern, however had settled to tne extent of three feet. , Duly reemds taken subsequently disclosed a further settlement’ idong the whole length of the ship, tie ft - tlemenf being more pronounced aft th 'The io vessel‘ had a slight swinging movement apparently pivotal about a point a little forward ot amidships IT a result of the seas under hei counter tending to force the altei po tion shore wardsj tins movement nas accompanied by a slight jolting and was more or less regular with the action of the waves and varied m intensity with this force. v -j„ This was the situation on J’l day, 21th December, when the works closed down for the Xmas holidays. On Saturday afternoon (2oth December) I was advised by the signal station that a Rig sea was running outside from the North-East; i atonce proceeded to the quarry and found a heavy sea running, th.e \twsel ni-viug .r: describe! n cie, ther settlement by the stern being noticeable. About 5 p.m. on Sunday, 2th December, I was informed bv telephone from the quarry 7 that the Monowai had opened up about amidships. the opening appearing from the shore to be about 2 feet- And®, and that the stern was then below water level. It Avas also reported that Heavy seas had been breaking over the vessel during the night and all that day. . 1 again visited the site on the morning of 27th Doconibor, and found the vessel Avas in two parts; the forward half being still on a level keel, hut had settled further and ivas rocking slightly to the sea-. The after half had sunk below water level, but the upper portion c-ould be seen awash. About 11 a.m. the after mast carried away. On December 28th, reports indicated conditions as being much the same and a considerable sea running. Bad weather continued throughout the week and prevented any close inspection. On Tuesday. 4th January, 1927, a survey party, including a diver, Avas despatched to carry' out a careful inspection. However, the sea was too rough to permit of more than a cursory examination, which did not disclose more than was already knoAvn. During the week ending 25th Jan. the sea moderated and the survey was commenced, soundings around die site being taken. As'soon as the weather permitted the diver made’ an examination. He reported that- the after half of the vessel had broken up, the deck beams were badly tavisd and thf* sides of the vessel collapsed ; the whole structure being simply a mass of tAvisted metal on the sea-bed. The forward half lias not collapsed yet, but while remaining upright, is still settling. It is probable that the vessel setfed into the sea-bed to a, certain extent ; but it is not possible to say AA’liat brought about the ultimate destruction .

The position remains that the condition of the vessel now renders her useless for the purposes intended and 1 it becomes necssary to provide the requisite sea protection by other means. I recommend that the breakwater bo constructed over the site'" of the Monowai and that an independent wharf be constructed on the* two fathom contour and on the quarry side of the bay; the breakwater to bo continued as far a,s may be necessary to furnish protection for the scows loading at the wharf. a lie 20-ton loading crane would he erected at a suitable position on the wharf.

The method of constructing the breakwater at Whareongaonga attracted some criticism from Mr C. E. Armstrong who, m turn, was crossexamined by the Harbor Engineer, Mr R. Campbell, an acrimonious debate following. “W as Capt. Carson in accord with the sinking of the Monowai in position at the time she was sunk ” was the "first question put bv Mr Mirfielcl. '- •' ' '

“Ves,” replied Mr Campbell. The - Chairman: Capt. Carson was very anxious that the Monowai should be sunk that day. “All right; I was only asking a question,” retorted Mr Mirfield. Mr Holdsworth : How much of the breakwater at Whareongaonga has been constructed in the last month?

The Engineer: About 150 feet or less. It is now extended up to where the stern of the Monowai was.

Here Mr Broadhurst interposed a question as to whether there was a danger of a washout at the end of the diversion wall on the western side, and why bigger stones were not dumped there. “£ s„ d.” was the engineer’s answer. “We had to take risks all along the line.”

“You took a risk of £6OOO with the Monowai,’ interjected Mr Mirfield. “You also took the risk with her” retorted the engineer warmly. Mr C. E. Armstrong announced that he did not desire to say anything concerning the loss of the Monowai, but in regard .to the construction of the breakwater at Whareongaonga he desired to point;-out that it was facing the open sea. and running practically parallel with the run of the waves. “I consider the Board is-very foolish in constructing a breakwater of "rubble at the ouavfy,” he. said.: “We.nll know that for breakwaters built out in the open, sea, blocks’from T2 lo 20 tons weight are required to withstand the. force of. the waves.!. Why because, the breakwater there is to he for a tern-, porary. purpose, is small, light rubble used in its construction? Tt appears to me that we are courting disaster.

"Have you seen the breakwater built of small rubble?” demanded the Engineer Avarmly. "Excuse me; AA'ould you mind my finishing?" replied Mr Armstrong. Proceeding, lie said that the fact of the breakwater being built out in the open seas av.ch rubble avus absurd. xt'had already been seen t.iat the MonoAvai, a stoutly lmilt sn.p, had gone to pieces in bad weather so tbat : it Avas obvious the rubble must be flattened out Avith the first severe storm. He ielt very dubious about the construction of the breakwater in rubole, he said; and contended it Avas necessary to face the Avail Avith 10 to 15 ton blocks. "You are using big blocks here in our harbor, which is -more jyrotectfed is Whareongaonga. ’ ’ Pointing at Mr Armstrong, the Engineer said: “You’A r e stated avc are building the breakwater of rubble. Do you know that for a fact?” "Partly so,” replied Mr Armstrong.

"I didn’t ask you if it Avas partly so. Do- you know it? retorted the engineer hotly. "You -stated we should face the breakwater Avith 10 to 15 ton blocks, and that’s what we’re doing. I’ve Avorked on breakwaters before and if Air Armstrong kneAV anything about it he Avould know that the permanent level could not he obtained in building from the top. The sea has to spread the stone and that’s Avhat we want it to do.,

Mr Armstrong: I am merely expressing my opinion and 1 wish the Engineer Avould be a little less rude in addressing me. "I beg your pardon, Mr Armstrong,!’ replied the-Engineer, "but I had no intention of being rude.’’ Mr Campbell pointed out that the heart of the breakwater. Avas of small stone and the outside Avas of bigger stone.

Mr Armstrong: I have been down there and I knoAV that only small stone is being used. "There is no necessity of iviainding me of the necessity of protecting the outside of the wall, 7 ’ i etui led Mr Campbell shortly. Mr Armstrong: Mr Campbell evidently doesn’t realise that it is the Board’s responsibility in allowing these Avorks to proceed. I don’t mind a bit- what I’m called, but I insist on putting my views before the Board first.’’ It mistakes occurred, he said, then he, in common Avith the rest of the Board, ivould bear the responsibility. Air Tr Corson: Why did you not make provision for the seaward protection for the filling of the AlonoA\ai, before the Xmas holidays?. "‘lt was not possible,” rejoined tho Engineer. Mr Tombleson pointed out that when, six months ago, he had raised the question of the construction of the breakwater, Air Armstrong had made all sorts of excuses, but uoav he was taking a different view. After the special report on the !<;:.s of the AlonoAvai and the changed plans for the construction of the Whareongaonga breakwater had been read, Mr T. Todd said that, on \usiting Whareongaonga he found the Monowai still lying in position, but at that time scouring from beneath the vessel had apparently taken effect and the vessel jumped sharply intermittently. It uas evident, ne said, that the stern was not resting on anything solid, and as there Avas no means of getting the stone out to fill the ship up, the loss of the vessel was to be expected in view of the storm. Considering the good weather usually experienced at that time of the year the sinking of the vessel was worth the risk, and had there been a couple of months of fine iveather the breakwater could hai T e been connected with the hulk and thus quickly filled with stone. The Board had to take the risk and had lost.

Air HoldsAA-orth: Was the breakwater extended as far as avis o- guially intended when the Monowai was suck ?

‘Yes,” replied the Engineer Mr Holdsworth: Then a gap of a fortnight between the sinking of the hulk and filling her with stone was inevitable ? “Yes.” The Chairman: It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. We lost her and no blame is attachable to anyone. There was a risk; we took every precautions!, and lost in circumstances over which we had no control. Mr. Quirk inquired what the original estimate was for the work at Whareongaonga and what was the estimate for the new scheme. The estimate for the construction of the quarry floor and breakwater wall was £15,000, replied the engineer, and assuming that the Monowai was a dead loss, he estimated that the cost of the work under the altered scheme would be £IO,OOO. ‘‘ln view of what lias taken place I think it necessary that the Hoard should visit Whareongaonga,” suggested Mr. Smith, ‘‘and members could then judge for themselves whether there is anything in the statements made. As far as the breakwater is concerned it is not possible to work to a permanent level, working from the top, the big stone being tipped into the water and the effect is not seen until the apron is sufficiently far advanced.” At the end of the tip, said the engineer there was always a spreading of the stone by the sea action, ancf although at times they had lost portions of the slope they had never lost any of the sides. Mr. Smith emphasised that all the Board’s work up to the present had been done in protected water, but now they were embarking on work in the ocean the Board was likely t° meet with more reverses and had to be prepared for them, hut they need not be unduly discouraged by such happenings, as the Board had to take risks to get results. The reports were then adopted.