THE SAND PUMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 221, 28 September 1901, Page 2

THE SAND PUMP.

DISCUSSED BY THE HARBOUR BOARD. BOMB LIVELY PASSAGES. The who'eof Friday afternoon's sitting of the Harbour Board was devoted to discussions connected with the eand pump at the breakwater. Mr. Conne t moved the resolution standing in bis name, that the sand pump be taken up, cleaned, and stored away. He pointed out that on 19th December last it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. King and Ralfe, to give the pump one month's trial and to keep a detailed account of expenditure in connection with it. He asked that Mr. Marchaut's letter in reply to this should be read. The Secretary read tbe letter, in wbich Mr. Marchant said he could not sea how a month's trial could be given satisfactorily, as the working would ' depend on the weatber. ! In a later communication, Mr. Mar ! chant stated that there was at present, jrio need for the sand pump, as the small pump on waa sufficient to cope with the sand. Continuing, Mr. Oonnett said that fiom Decemb rto September nine months—there had been bufficient time ,to give atrial ; but tbe pump had not | worked for a month. A lot of money ' had been wasted on it, and the men : had got in'o disgrace for not being iable to make it work. It was now 'time the farce was ended, and the fixed pumping-plant should be put aside. It might ba useful some day wheo the Board obtained a larger dredge. The Boird bad made a mistake, and ought to own up to it. Mr. Ward soconded. He was not on the B a; d when the resolution was carried, bun hail' thought it his duty to suppoi t h ca.rying uufc of the Bond'* resolve Th* pump' could not h"> worked for a month straight out, but only for a few hours at a time. The expen e in ke« ping seam, etc., goin? was very urea', almos', a* muoti' for these-b "k n h 4 urs as for cWt'hu< u< working. T: e pump only lifted san'i from a circumscribed area, and then had to w.iittill the a>nd came in again. The experiment had failed, and for the £4OOO or £SOOO spent on it he doubted if 500 pence worth of good had been recaiverl. Ic was in the interest of the public that the expanditure should be stopped.

Mr. Sarten said that at the time the i pump was vo! Ed for he had advocated an opening in the wall, which would ( not bave coat more than £500; but Mr. (now Colonel) Davies, who was then on the Board, bad urged him to vote for the pump, much against his will. Mr. Davies had said they should give the pump a trial, and if that proved successful it would demonstrate nhe truth of his (Mr. Sirten'a) contention ab.ut the "hole-in-the-wall," That was, that by giving the Band free passage near the root of the breakwater, it would be carried naturally along the shore. It would not, as many p ople fiared, go out into the harbour. The sand would be prevented from so!ng round the end of tbo mole as it did at present, and there would be no baukoutside the wharves, thus preventing the'" wave-break" which was responsible for steamers rolling and breakling their warps at the wharves, He was sorry the motion had be ;n brought forward, as he would like to see a fair month's trial given to the pump, Mr. Marchant' also, had told him (the speaker) that the fact of the black sand from the pump going along the beach showed that an opening in the wall wo'ild havo baen effective. Mr. Price asked if the pump had worked since December. The Chairman slid he would answer , that when he spoke.

Mr. Price then said it was time the expenditure on this matter should cease, and he would vote for the motion.

The Obairman said the puiap had been id'e for want of steam, a fact of which Mr. Oonnett bad informed him, and he agreed to a cessation of work till the arrival of the engineer. He (the speaker) had faith in the engineer, and when Mr. Marchant came along the ,pump had worked alright. This was seen by members of the Bo\rd and the Press. The firomen had admitted that the boilers were not being forced. j Mr. Oonnett was proceeding to ask a question, whqn ] Mr, Higne't raised a point of order. | No member, he contended, should interrupt another so often. Mr. Oonnett: I have a right to simply ask a question. The Chairman poured oil on the troubled waters, being understood to answer Mr. Conneit's question, and in the morrenta<y lull which followed he proceeded. The pump; worked while' Mr, Marchant was present', but as soon as he was gone an "accideat" occurred to the vacuum tube; then to the engine, and ag >in to the ball-and-socket joint. M". Marchant stated, that'the accident to the engine was inexplicable. He (the cha rman) said be was convinced that either the peoplu working the plant were utterly incompetent, or else tbey did ■ not intend that the pump should work He bad therefore thought it. best to put on fresh men, and gave instructions accordingly. The pump worked then, without any hitch whatever, for two weeks (hebe'ieved it *as three, but was certain of two), doing splendid work on one-half the previous consumption of coal. Thus it ■•■ as proved that previous failure'was due to incompetent ■ men. Then an accideat occurred which was directly duo to the Degl'gence of the former workers, who hud not at'ended to Mr Ma'chant'sstrict instructions for working the pump, He (Mr. Maxwell) therefore contended that the pump was quite efficient, and coqld be worked continuously. The foreman had told liim that. No want Of sand had occurred, as the suction pipe had only to bo moved from side to side. It would b» inadvisable, after spending such a large sum on the plant, to stop its working. He instanced the outcry that was raised at first against the small sand pump being fitted to the dredge Thonm King. It had t.ljen twelve months to get that in working ord' r; but no ore could danv ts efficiency now. After the last accident t> the fixed pump the break was prepared and the plant wna only a few days at work when a Government Inspector came along and ordered work to ba stopped til) a certificate e gineer was appointed. Applications hid b en invited for this position. He toik it that when, the the engineer having combatt-d the possibility of securing a fair tri il in one month, the bad made no special recommendation, he, as chairman, was right in having the piant worked as well as possible He agreed with some members that the dredge might be used to test the amount; of sind shifted I by the pump. The pump was of much j greater oapacity than the dredge, and | could work in weather that was im- .

practicable for the dredge. The only point was as to tbe final disposal of the sand, and he had no doubt about that in his own mind.

Mr. King felt aggrieved that the dredge bad not received a proper month's trial, as he understood it was to be given. The members of the Board were in the dark as to the cost', etc., of the pumping operations. The plant was said t > have worked well for a time. Why, then, bad not the chairman ascertained the cost? That was the business-like manner in which to view tbe matter. He asked what the cost of coal was, as he said the boilers only used half the amount consumed formerly. The Chairman said the consumption was only 3| cwt. now, as against 7 cwt. per day under the former staff. Mr. Hignett, after referring to the origin of the sand pump scheme, said he considered it wrong that statements should ba continually made blaming the chairman for the stoppage of the plant's working. He was sure the pump had never had fair play. The Board's engineer had stated distinctly that the accidents bad been " unnecessary and preventible." The Board should either have confidenca in its men or else sack them

At this stage Mr Oonnett received a printed paper containing statements by Mr March mt relative to the harbour, and remarked: " This is a nice state of things. Here is a report which has not been put before members " Mr Hignett: Are you in charge of the meeting, or is the chairman ? Continuing, Mr Hignett siid that certain members of the Board deliberately set themselves against the pump scheme Messrs Oonnett and Ward: Who are they ? Mr Signet'*: I'll tell you after the 1 meeting.

Mr Connett: Oh, yea; down on the beach if you like.

The Ciia'rman, referring to the report mentionod by Mr Connett, eaid >he Board had nfus d to accept it officially. If a member possessed a copy privately, there was no reason why h 9 should not refer to it, as well as a newspaper report.

Mr Connett said the report had been on the Boord's table, and should be referred to. Mr McLean said he favoured a floating dredgo. Howev r, a fair trial should be given the pump. It was a pity so much money bad bam wasted, and no record kept of the pump's working costs and capabilities. It would, however, be unwise to take up the pump, in cass of an accident to the dredge. He opposed the resolution, Mr Italfe agreed with Mr McLean.

Mr Connett, replying, said he was prepared to stand to the charges he bad made. In a recent Parliamentary debate the word "sneak" had been used. He hoped there were no sneaks on the Board, Continuing, he said as to the chairman's reference to an "apparent accident" it was unfair to try to shift blame on to the unfortunate employees, who had been told to go to work and gay nothing. The pump was siid to have worked satisfactory for three weeks. Why had no report been presented? He believed it had not worked more than three days. When the scheme was first disoussed, it was agreed that the dredge should be used to test the amount of sand lifted. Why did tte chairman not act up to the engineer's reoommendations ? Mr. Connett then quoted jrorn Mr. Marohant's report of the 13 th May last: —" Practically the whole harbour, area has baencomptetelyl cleared of the by the . sand pump of tbe ' Thomas King.' There to now very little left for .the fixed sand pump to do. I cannot advise the Board that Hhe fixed plant has now any particular office to fill. ... A. really seaworthy and ' efficient floating plant should he secured ai> the eirliest possible date." The pump, Mr. Connett said, had worked right enough at first, but only for an hour or two. At low v?ater the work was heavier and the engines had to be stopped to make stream. A fair estimate of the cost was £5 6a per day. As to having the plant properly tested, ihe reminded Mr. King that members | oould never get the sand pump question brought up for disoussion, and it was only managed now by holding a special meeting of the Board. The chairman should have seen that the trial was carried out. The engineer hid, Mr. Connett considered, damned the project from start to fiaish,&3 his report showed," If sot used the plant should be stored away from the weather. ~ L

Mh Sarten rose to apeak, but was ruled out of order. He then sat down, saying: "AH right, if you won't let me speak I'll vote against the motion." i The resolution w.is then put, and lost on division; ayes: Connett, King, Price, and Ward; noes: MoLein, Sarten, Higne't, Balfe, and Maxwell.