THE HARBOR EXTENSION PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 228, 19 September 1908, Page 6

THE HARBOR EXTENSION PROPOSALS.

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. At the llarbor Board meeting yesterday the following report was read from ill'. F. W, Mai-chant, the Board's consulting engineer, the details having been asked lor liy Mr. Thomson at a previous molding: "Details of the proposed expenditure ill the harbor extension are us follows, as estimated by me: 1.- Breakwater extension, liOOl'l, £ with contingent liability for extra quantity of concrete blocks in breakwater wave'brcaker 40,000 2-—Wharf extension in reinforced concrete 25,000 3.—Dredging, purchase of dredge, building, shipway for repairs, also spare gear .. 45,000 4.—i Moorings, lights and sundries (Mill) 5. —Contingencies at 10 per cent. 12,000 (i. —Engineering, supervision, & sundries 5000

Some explanation is necessary concerning tile item of dredging, etc. Aftcr much consideration ot the problems involved 1 have arrived at the following conclusions:- -That the lio;ird should obtain a powerful sand dredge lilted with two of the largest size Tristiuan grabs. This plant would clear out and deepen tliu sandy formation existing at a mu.h cheaper late than any bucket ladder dredge could do and would eventually bo just the very plant required for tlie maintenance of the port, the pump for the sand drift and the grab for mud about the wharves. This plant could not, however, do the whole excavation required. There is ground that wo must dredge in which she would make but a poor show and for this we must hire a bucket ladder dredge for, say, three lo six months, to clear up all the patches which tin permanent plant could not deal with. The late Mr. Napier B>!i and 1. discussed this matter for a loig time, and eventually came to the conclusion that a bucket-ladder dredge should be purchased to do the wlioie work, further consideration of the proiblem leads me to think that the plant I now recommend will be 1 lie best for the Board to obtain. There arc many reasons for it:—The plant advised will rost about two-thirds of the bucket ladder plant. Repairs to it will' be simple and inexpensive, whereas those to the apparatus of a bucket lad-; der dredge are.very expensive, we.ir taking place very quickly in our sharp cutting sand ill the case of buckets, | pins, etc. We must provide slip-way 1 , accommodation for the dredging plant. This is possible with the lighter pump dredger, but impossible except nt pro-' hi'bitive expense for the much heavier bucket ladder plant. if such a slipway were not available the vessel must I be sent to Wellington for over-haul and hull repairs, at great expense. Excavation per cubic yard by the sand-pump' dredger will be less tlmn that by a bucket ladder one, for all the material capable of removal hv the pump which would comprise quite three-fourths of all the area to be excavated. Whilst discussing dredging plant I warn the Board against second-hand such, unless tho complete history of the machine known to us and also the condition nt which it has been maintained. New I il'lymouth is not a good place to have to' ell'ect repair s to this class of machinery, anil we want a ton! with all its work in it and not something which we must patch up six months after beginning lo use it. Concerning the estimates "Ciierally I have made them full, and expect that the total expenditure will be a good deal less than that stated."