SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1928, Page 7

SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE

XK\V DOCKYARD

LONDON FIRM »KCUKES CONTRACT.

LOXDOX, October 2

The Admiralty anmuinee.s that it lias now accepted the tender of Sir John Jackson, Ltd., of 33 Victoria street, Westminister, for tho construction of the new dockyard at Singapore, the contract time for completion being seven years.

The works are situated on the old strait which separated the island of Singapore from the main.]and of Malaya. Until recently the traffic of the Federated Malay States Railway had to be ferried across this strait, but as the result of the construction of a stone causeway linaing up the town of Singapore and the Tanjong Papar docks with the general railway system, the eastern end of the old strait has been converted into an ideal harbour. The entrance to the harbour will Ik? from tho east, and a few miles up will be the large floating dock, and abreast

of it a small basin in which ships, such as merchanfilc auxiliaries, store cairers, tramp steamers, etc. can he berthed alongside a wharf and unload their cargoes into godowns, in which ihe stores will remain until they are required for use in the dockyard or hy the fleet.

'Die site of the works has been specially chosen with regard to naval requirements and Lo the engineering necessities of the ease so as to obtain at a moderate depth suitable foundations for the dock and heavy walls which form t he backbone of the scheme.

£7,77)0,000 SOU KMF

The naval part of the whole Singapore scheme is estimated to cost. £7,77,0.000. This estimate is for flic naval base, with its equipment of workshops, buildings, ia it wavs, roads, wafer .supply. and other necessaries. It does not include the cost of the site, which was presented as a gift to the navy by the (lovernment of the Straits Settlements. Lu addition to this gift of land, the following contributions towards the cost of the works at Singapore have been made or promised:—Hongkong, £2.50,000; New Zealand, £1.000,000; F.M.S., c 2.000.000.

Tin; design of the works now Ireing eon traded for has been supervised hy Mr L. 11. Savile. C.B..’civil engineer-in-chief at the Admiralty. Tn deciding on the engineering features of the scheme he has consulted the firms of Messrs Condo, Fitzmaurico, "Wilson, and Mitchell, and Sir Alexander Clibb and Partners. Full advantage is being taken of the natural features of the site, both with regard to securing an economical layout and providing for any future development which may become necessary.

A NEW ZEALAND ENGINEER

Ti is intersling to record that tho chief assistant engineer and assistant works manager of Sir John Jackson, Ltd., is a New Zealander—-Mr ,T. Collett Dickinson, who is well known all through the Dominion. He is an “old boy” of Auckland Grammar School, gaining there a scholarship for Auckland University College. Then he went to Canterbury College (1917-20), and .VK)k his B.E. (Civil) degree. For n year he was with the Auckland Harbour Board in the design and construction of work's section. From 192325 he was with Messrs Kirk and Randall on the construction of sea works, piers, walls and docks. Tn 19213, in the design department of Messrs Dorman, Long, and Co., he was engaged in connection with the .Sydney bridge and the erection scheme for Nowcastle-Gates-hend bridge, which lias the largest arch in England. Since he has been with Sir J. Jackson, Ltd., tho firm has had the contract for the Nag Hammude barrage (£2,000,00), an interesting point being the spanning of the Nile with five cableways 3100 foot long, or nearly 50 per cent, longer than previously built. At the end of 1927 Mr Dickinson visited the site of tho Singapore. naval base in company with the works manager for the purpose of examining local conditions.