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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2702, 16 November 1881, Page 2

Messrs Jones and Peters, the successful tenderers for the next section of the Breakwater, took charge of the crane and commenced operations this morning. The contract is for the construction of 300 ft, or 400 ft if required by the Board, in line with the present work. The method of construction is to be that applied in carrying out the last contract. One hundred feet of mole will be built up of loose blocks to the rail level, before any monoliths are put on ; this portion will then be finished, if it is considered the foundations have fully subsided, and a further length similarly treated. “ Apron blocks ” will be laid along the seaward foot of the mole, and when the monoliths are put down the blocks taken up to make room for them will be tumbled over on that side, as was done in the last section. The Priestman dredge will be brought into use in this contract, to remove any loose material lying on the solid bottom, so that there will be little subsidence after the blocks are laid. The depth of water at low spring tides at the present termination of the works is 21ft, and 28ft at high tide. The bottom slopes gradually but slowly seawards, so that at the end of the new 300 ft section an additional depth of 2ft will be gained. The time allowed for the completion of the 300 ft is twelve months. Messrs Jones and Peters carried out their last contract in a most creditable manner as far as workmanship is concerned—there is some little dispute between them and the Board “regarding time—and we sincerely hope they will be able to carry out this contract without mishap.