TAKING OUT SCREW MOORINGS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2180, 19 February 1881, Page 3

TAKING OUT SCREW MOORINGS.

Reference was made a day or two ago to the work the Lyttelton Harbor Board had in hand namely, that of removing one of the (crew moorioga by washing it oat of the bottom of the harbor by means of the steam tng Lyttelton’s fire engine hose. The screw, weighing half a ton, was hurried 18ft in the slate clay or mud, as it is commonly termed, and attached to it was a cable, connected with which was a large iron buoy, exactly similar in all respects to the buoys off the wharves. With the several extensions of the wharves which have been made from time to time, to meet the demands of shipping, the buoys immediately used for berthing vessels have, in many instances, been brought within such proximity to the outer ends of the wharves us to be of no use, indeed, they became obstructions in the way of shipping moving either in or out. The removal of the buoys themselves was, of course, a very simple matter, as was also the work of cutting o iff the chain at its entrance into the solid bottom, but it was imperative that either the scre'w itself should be got at, and either removed or destroyed, or that the chain attached to it should be cut off and removed at such a depth as would leave it beyond the reach of any dredging operations that might bo found necessary to be undertaken. The idea of taking out and thus absolutely saving for future use the screws which were down, was seldom expressed—extracting such property from ilg known situation being little counted upon. This was however done yesterday with the first of tho moorings experimented upon, and the washing out process by means of the fire engine hose has proved itself an unqualified success. It is reported that Mr Martindale, of Messrs Hawkins and Martindale, was the first to suggest tho means used, so that admitting such to bo so he will bo especially pleased to find that the screw, which is fully 4ft in diameter and as much in height, and which was originally buried at a depth of 24tt, has been recovered, and is now lying on the wharf apparently little the worse for the service it has done.