Breakwater and Wharf Extension.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7879, 22 July 1905, Page 2

Breakwater and Wharf Extension.

lU'jJiji'l.ing l'" tho Now l'lyinouth Harbour Board on Fri«d a y, the foreman of works (Mr I'\ IKmleraon); gtaUd that during the pasrt. month two now section •, each .12fi, had beeu completed on ll.c breakwater extension, making 21ft of. new work for that period. Th.- total 01 the new extension is now 71)';.. Alter well protecting thu I U\>nt with stones, another lot of bloe.vs would haw to be made, the quarry crajie shifted, and some repairs dai'e to tile railway lines. Hegarding the wharf extension work, sixteen piles had been driven, compnk ng three mo*, T'tt'y set*- of heatlstocks unU longitudinal stringers had been put in, and 20ft in length of wharf had been decked. The total nutMDfj' of piles now -driven was 7u, leaving to be put down. The driwng hud been \ery hard, through* out. but. was likely to l»e much easier as they advanced. ♦Severai new chafing pieces ii\d been put. on the old wluii'i'. and the work of planking up the noi'tli-tast corner «as now-toeing I proce. :lod wfrth.

Air Marehant, consulting engineer, wrote stating there was no object-ion to setting one block le,ngi;i at a time instead ol' two as heretofore ii the working experiqice was that the shorter length at one operation wus preferable to the two block length. *1 n)n very glad." he continue*!, "that the Hoard intends to carry on the work instead of stopp ng uiid ru-conuncneiqig in ihe spring. Every toot now added means greatly improved shelter to the whan', atfi when the rough early spring weathei sets in we shall have given much additional shelter, to the .shipping then compared with what formerly existed.

"I am glad the Board is sii'listied with the results attained. We are working in Ihe -most economical way that probably similar work has ever been constructed. We din not inakp any great show at si time, but tile Board is getting' most bo lid value for every shilling expended, am! there is positively no waste as far as I know.

"I ask the recognition of the Hpard for the system of construction adopted and designed by me. IVorka of ihis character are usually carried out in a very much more vvpensive way. but J thought I could do the work as it is Mnj dofVO, and -Mr .Vupier lleli consented to my attempting it. That gentleman is by far the most experienced marine engi)ir eer south ol the line, and he pointed out the doubts ami difficulties of ihe system of construction I submit, ted to him. and urged that if after fair trial I could not make satisfac tor.v progress and slnble work, then Uie system suggested should not he i.r.jo.'eded with, and that we should revert to the customary lind ortihodox method, though (hat would b'- 1 much more expensive."

Mr Mai-chant also paid a tribute to 'the good work iumo by the foreman (Mr llenileAion). Tbi: Chairman remarked that he could jarafirm all that Mr Marchant had said. The work done had'beien very satisfactory indeed, and the progress being made wna hfghly commeiKlable, espec ally when the bad weather was taken into . consideration. lie considered thnt as tlu work was proceeding: so ecosioniicallj >ind well it would' 'be a great mistake to have any stoppage 011 account of the winter. The foreman and staff deserved every praise for the manlier in. which the breakwater ond wharf extension work was carried on.