THAMES HARBOUR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5137, 10 June 1927, Page 4

THAMES HARBOUR.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. REPORTS TO THE BOARD. The Thames Harbour Board met on Tuesday evening, the following being present: Messrs J. W. Dauby, S. J. Laughlin, W. J. Brown. A. A. Wagstaff, H. Lowe, and the engineer (Mr E. F. Adams) and the secretary (Mr J. M. Fox). ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Prior to the ordinary meeting the annual meeting for the appointment of a chairman for the year was held. Tiie secretary took the chair and called for nominations. Mr Lowe moved that Mr J. W. Da.nby be reappointed. During the past year lie had given a great deal of time to the position, and had carried out his duties well and thoroughly. Mr A. A. Wagstaff seconded, and spoke of the excellent qualifications of Mr Danby for the position. The other members present also spoke of the excellent qualifications of- the retiring chairman, and therebeing no further nominations Mr Danby was re-elected chairman. FINANCE. The report of the Finance Committee that accounts totalling £1506 12s 7d on the general account and £9OO 8s Id on the loan account be passed for payment was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer, Mr E. F. Adams, reported that during the month 504 7 cubic yards were dredged at a cost of 9%d per cubic yard. In addition to this the steamer berthage had been cleaned and the spoil dredged and deposited in the area under reclamation. Dredging methods were being adopted to the peculiar local conditions and materials with improving results.

The strip of foreshore some 12ft. .to 15ft. wide, immediately adjoining the wharf piles and not amenable to dredging in the ordinary way, will be dealt with by a special sluicing outfit now nearly ready for use-. There was also an outfit in hand to improve the density of the mixture and regularity of supply to the suction pipe. In a fortnight or so of seaward progress dredging would clash with the steamer in its extreme seaward berthage point, and it wijs proposed to shift up a portion of the present shed preparatory to berthing the boat at the new portion of the wharf, leaving the old structure in the meantime for future dredge moorings. When t-he boat was berthed at the new part of the wharf the dredge could come shoreward and have some three months’ work in cleaning up the channel and deep berthage to the extreme shoreward limits. The recent progressively improved duty of the dredge outfit has entirely done away with the necessity of a dragline for the shoreward work. Under the present working facilities and costs of the dredger, the expense of a dragline would not be justified. The .metalling of the shed road and turning area was completed. For this and the main wharf approach 260 cubic yards were received and spread. Mr Christiansen had poved himself energetic, capable, and competent, and the engineer strongly recommended that his monthly payment be increased to £35.

The chairman said that he wished to congratulate the engineer on the success of the dredging during the month. Ho (the engineer) had never had any doubt as to the efficiency of the machine. As indicated in the report, over '5OOO yards had been removed, and this was over 26% cubic yards an hour. It was probable that the yardage would increase considerably and the cost decrease rapidly as the dredge crew,became more used to their work. Th position was very satisfactory, and tiie engineer was entitled to the congratulations of the board. The hole dredged was now 15ft seaward of the bow of the steamer.

Mr A. A. Wagstaff congratulated the engineer on the success of the’ work, and predicted that it would not be long before the steamer could berth at any state of the tide.

Explaining the rapid progress, Mr E. F. Adams said that it had been difficult to understand why the dredge, equipped with the best engines and pumps procurable, had not been giving satisfaction up to the present. At last a dredge engineer had been found who was enthusiastic and capable, and who had brought the plant into an efficient state, so that it would actually do the work-expected of it. As time went on, and further improvements in hand were effected, he was confident that the yardage would be greatly increased and the cost reduced to below Gd per yard.

The report was adopted, and the wages of the- dredge engineer were increased as recommended.

DREDGMASTER’S REPORT

Tiie dredgemaster, Mr N. Christiansen, reported that the plant was work-

Ing well, and was mechanically sound and effective. Tire re-designing of the cutter by the addition of steel tines Iliad made a marked improvement in the efficiency of this part of the plant. The new design of running dolphin had been the means of great economy in time and money in shifting the boom-pipes with the progress of the work. The total running time under load during the month wa.s 201 hours, including 8 hours 50 minutes in stoppages and delays due to blockages of pipes, etc. Heavy timber was encountered by the dredge cutter on four occasions during the month. The progress during the month resulted in a channel averaging 80ft wide and 156 ft long being made. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman, Mr H. O. Stone, reported on the loan works'qs follows: “Have nearly finished painting shed, filled in and rolled roadway and yards, built heavy sled for dredge, driven line pile-, and made pipe mast. Supplied dredge with sand ballast, carted up and stored 14 piles, removed wire from magazine for use 011

dredge, and put off all labourers on May 14.”