THE WHARF EXTENSION PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 179, 21 August 1909, Page 6

THE WHARF EXTENSION PROPOSALS.

THE LONG VERSUS SHORT WHAT;I.'

BOARD KE-AFFIKI\I« THE IN-SHORE BERTH .

llle Uarlior Hoard yesterday after-! noon, l>y an unanimous vote, decided to adhere to the recommendations of its consulting engineer, Air. F. W. Marehant, and Captain Hone, Marine Superintendent ot the Now Zealand Shipping Company, in the matter of wharf extension, and the work will be carried out without any lengthening of the wharf at present. Tile matter was discussed informally for aliout an hour and a-lialf. It was decided to abandon the proposal to erect large transhipment sheds on the wharf, and to widn it to 72 feel instead of to SO feet as proposed when the transhipment sheds were included in the scheme. The ocean Kteaiuer,' 'berth will 'be dredged to a depth of :l:i feet instead of 30 feet, a--formerly proposed. THE POSITION EXPLAINED.

At the July meeting of tne Board, it will be remembered, it was decided to request Mr. Marciiant and Captain Bone to visit New Plymouth during this v\eek, st) that Messrs. Connett and King might learn first-hand the reasons which had prompted the Board in departing from the original proposal to ■'"re additional berthage accoiuinoda--1 " :l ''. v lengthening tfie tvnari, When .... I ft the Dominion for London 011 the Board s business the scheme was for the lengthening of the wharf. Upon their return they found a widening proposal instead, and were not satisfied to. endorse the action of their colleagues upon the information then at their disposal. Tiie engineer had been authorised to prepare plans with a view of calling. tenders for the material required. That resolution could not be varied, or its operation deferred, without first being rescinded, and it could not he rescinded without notice, except by the unanimous consent of the Board. Messrs. Maxwell and AVilkinson at length waived their opposition so far as to allow the Board to request the engineer and Captain Done to attend this meeting so as to give tile loan delegates every opportunity of becoming conversant with the facts wliicli had led them to their decision; and to instruct the engineer to proceed no further with I 'l plans until after the August meeting of the Board. The engineer and Captain Bone accordingly visited New Plymouth this week, and'eonferred with Messrs, Connett and King, and Captain Hood (harbourmaster). They also attended yesterday's meeting. During the morning a typewritten document, setting out the net results of this conference, was placed hefcre members, and it also fell into the hands of the Press representatives. During the mid-day recess, some discussion took place concerning tne report, and, judging by the remarks made at a later stage, it was decided that the report should not come forward as part of the business of the meeting. This led to complications. THE LAST PORT OF CALL.

VHkii mo iKimu mailman, uuiUiiig a cupy iu me icpvit a. ilia JIUJIU, UolvLU U He CUUCUt'iL'U 1U CiliJ UCCISiUiIs murum COil tamed.

captain Bone replied in the aU'irniative.

-Hi-. Alaxweli thought the report cuulu nou be reierred to.

in reply to a lurther question as u the uepui required to ue ureugeu in tne Oi:can steamers' berth, capt.iiu Dun. sail! he considered u necessary n, diedge it out to 33 leet. bin L ,s, oi t-uuioe, were increasing in size, ana wen tlieie nas the probauuity oi .\ew I'iylnuutu being made the last port of can lor ocean vessels leaving -New ACiuauu. It bad t« be remembered mat uuttei wa» going Lo be tue article oi export, and butter was, \tiicn pusfible, unveil auonrd lust. ahips, tueu. wuuiii oe practically may luaum u'ueii they came here, and wuUlu require a tun depth ot water. jir. jtaxwell asked if tile chairman intended to read the report. -Ml'. Connett: And let it get all over the place!

-Mi. .Maxwell: If it's not read, you cau l refer lg it, surely. ,\lr. .uaxweil went on to explain how it was Hint • esc experts were present. Tliey Jiau . ..finally been engaged upon Mr. King's ■ ...i resolution beiore lie went Home, ..iu tii j.oard liail acted on m e report u..im ... mis and .Mr. Connctt's absence. L > ■!' return, the delegates were Jioi K!i i.iied to concur in ,le Board's actio... and the Board liuii . ...led to get the experts again, but with tlie idea that a fresh case should be stated to tlii'iu lor tueir opinion 011 it. It was not meant tli.it the experts were to go into the scheme privately with tiles' members and give another report revised to suit any particular views. The members were entirely taken aback by this development. As iur the increased depth of water for butter vessels, that matter was not before the Board, and could not be discussed.

-Mr. King-. We claim that you should have discussed it.

-Mr. -Maxwell said the day was far distaut when Xew Plymouth would be tile last port of call. It might tunic uiiu lie hoped ic would come, and the sooner the better. But the Board hud no money just now to provide for a problematic requirement. It was really looking too far ahead. As for the report in tho hands of the chairman it should be either read or withdrawn. He thought it should bo withdrawn, and he suggested it would be better for Messrs. Connett and King if it were withdrawn.

Mr. King: Oil, -we don't mind. Mr, Maxwell said the position was extraordinary. "You say you've withdrawn the report, yet you keep it in your hand and ask Captain Bone qucs l lions upon it." A i'-iUSJi PUSIIiUiX. -Ur. CuuneU protested warmiy ugaiua,. oeing putceu in a laise position ,u,. -ua.\.„ l-|1 or -Ml'. Aiij uuuj eiae. -ua.\Weii was continually ilial .

was upon -ucssrs jiju a auu motion mat Captain iwuc ga.e ma import. i\ow, Laputin .tsone uau Ucui enjjugcU to le,)uiL On.) Uliull I'C.auH

* iuues oi a straigut or a crooKeu extension ol wie wnau, not upon uie Miune suieine ol wliari extension. tie was, IIOL gOlllg tO SUUIIIH to SUCH mis-staie-ments.

Mr. Wilkinson suggested reading the new report and dcauag witu it its merits.

Air. Maxwell: I think so now, too -nr. King: Yes, because it suns }ou.

.ur. uUaxwell denied the allegation, ana suit! mat a most improper tiring had been done in getting this report .Vow that it hau ueen got, however, and as things had gone so far, he thought it should be read. ilr. Connett said it was plain that Messrs Maxwell and Wilkinson intended to stick to the adopted plan. Why, then, had they got Captain Bone here J llr. Maxwell reiterated that they hai considered it only reasonable to allow these members to have Captain Bone's views direct.

-Mr. King thought the Board might, reserve its own quarrels until alter these gentlemen had left the Board room. But Captain Bone was here, and tl'ey needed his advice. He and Mr. Connett, returning from England, had read the report Messrs' Marchant and Bone had submitted to the Board some months ago. It hau seemed to them that a wharf SO feet inside was unnecessary if there were no sheds era the wharf. It was correct, so -Mr. Marchant had said, that he (Mr. King) had stipulated that there should be transhipment sheds, but now he thought tliey might leave them out of the scheme In that case, a wharf 80 feet wide was unucessary for working the steamers., The sheds would not lie large enough in take the whole of a steamer's cargo fur sorting. .Mr. King supported the extension of the present wharf by 150 feet, which would not impair the efficiency. Tile original plan had provided for dredging out the berth to 30 feet, and Captain Bone had thought that was sufficient for present requirements. Captain Bone said that iie had given this matter a good deal of consideration since his previous visit. Ships were getting larger, and it was impossible to

state what would b e the depth of vessels I trading to this port in ten or fifteen I years' time. |

Mr. King cordially agreed with the idea.

Mr. Wilkinson said that in their report to the Board Mr. Marchant and Captain Bone clearly stated their opinion that any extension of the wharf would be undesirable. But it was ev'dtnt that an attempt \r.is being made to carry the wharf out in the "face of ■expert opinion to the contrary. !'t was quite unfair. The members of the Board bad given a great deal of time to this matter, and had conferred very fully with the experts before adopting their suggestions. Unless some very good reasons could be adduced, the Hoard should go on and complete the harbour extension according to existing arrangements. It would be very difficult indeed, he thought, for Mr. Marchant and Captain Bone to vary their report upon the question of lengthening the wharf. MOKE ROOM IiEQUIIiED.

Mr. King quoted the remains of Captain lioou (harbourmaster) tmu at present the wharf was scarcely jong» enough 10 berth two coastal steamers, a. nine extension would enable the whole ot the length to be Used, instead 01 only pan 01 it, fur the wnarf was too long ior one boat. Captain Bone said the proposal when he came here was 10 exund the wharf by 500 feet, which was not wise, iney required to make the ocean steamers' berth where the wharf was now. They could not dredge suiliciently deep along side the present' whan, so they womd have to widen it. The sheds which had been proposed would not be big enough for transhipment of direct cargoes, and if the sheas were dispensed with only twenty feet need be added to the width of the present wharf, so as to give three sets of rails 011 one side for the big boatSj and-two 021 tae other for the coastal trade. Nowadays it was endeavoured to keep the wharves short and the ships as close to shore as possible, and under those conditions he would not advise lengthening, course, ho didn't know the trade 1.. the port at present. Captain liuou, who should know it, estimated that there might be two or three vessels in port at the same time as the ocean steamer, and if it was impossible to accommodate them with the wharf at its present length, it must be lengthened. But if the wharf was long enough for the coasters and the ocean s'toamers lie would not extend it at all, but would retain it at a sufficient length for berthing one or two steamers. As far as providing for ocean liners were concerned, the whan need not be lengthened by a single foot. Lengthening was not required for the liners, but apparently for local shipping whilst liners were alongside. Mr. Maxwell: You wouldn't take the ocean steamers out if the wharf were extruded? You'd berth them inshore? Captain Bone: We'd berth inshore. We wouldn't take her a scrap further out than the end of the present w'nart. Mr. Maxwell entirely disagreed with the proposition that there would be so many coastal steamers iu port with the ocean liners. Captain Bone said that was a matter for the harbourmaster's opinion, and not for his own. In answer to Mr. Maxwell, Captain Bone repeated that the extension of 150 could be carried out, but it was not necessary for the berthage of ocean steamers'. Mr. Maxwell said the Board had to keep in mind the importance of calmness of the harbor and the safety of the port, and remarked that the Board had already decided to cut down the originally proposed length of tile breakwater. Where was it intended to berth all these other vessels; on the 150 feet of wharf sticking out beyond the ocean steamer? Mr. King: 'No, on the other side of the wharf. Mr. Maxwell: Then by extending the wharf by 150 feet you will not gain a foot on the ocean steamer side. Captain Bone said they mus't bear in mind that the harbormaster required tin? berth 011 the other side. It wasn't for the ncean steamers at a)l., A VALUABLE ASSURANCE.

Continuing, -Mr. .Maxwell referred to the matter of the extra deptii required. It was very fortunate thai it came up now, for one of the arguments against the short wharf was that it would not 'he possible to dredge its berth to a depth of 30 feet, but now it was proposed to dredge to 33 feet, and tin Hoard didn't doubt its ability to dredge to that greater depth. .Mr. Marcliant agreed that this could be done. -Mr. Maxwell said that if only for that assurance tiie Board had gained a lot from the presence of these gentl - men (Captain Bone and the engineer). -Mr. Connett protested tiliat neither himself nov Mr, King liad ever said it wasn't possible to dredge to a depth of 30 feet. Mr. King: The street-corner man says a thing, and you pounce 011 us. Mr. Maxwell said there had been a great deal of controversy 011 this point, but Mr. Marchaut had 110 doubt about the matter. The chairman sought to clear the atmosphere by explaining that the matter of the butter trade had been introduced by Captain Bone, and not by him. He contended that the necessity existed for lengthening the wharf, for if there were an ocean boat in they would not be able to handle two boats such as the Koonya and the Corinna. -Mr. Wilkinson pointed out that tlics' boats were not scheduled to arrive together, and they were not calling frequently.

Mr. Connett said the Corinna was ]iero twice in every fortnight regularly. Jt would be good busimss to get the extra coastal berths, and he would suggest that Mr. Marehant and Capr tain Hood might confer, so that the wharf would not bo lengthened more than wa»' actually required. They eoufd not have boats passing by. No member of the Hoard would allow trade to slippast him m bis own business. Kven now boats were compiled to go past the port on account of insufficient berthage.

Captain Hood, asked for an opinion, said that with a Home liner occupying one side of the yharf and the Corinna monopolising the othvr ''Y're would be room left only for «. v. .or the "Moa" type. If they "had the Corinna and a eollier in at the same time 1.10 feet of extra wharf would give them room to work. With the wharf thus extended be felt lie could handle four ordinary vessels besides the Home boat.

in further explanation, Captain Jlood iaid the lengthening of the wharf would assist in giving (puck despatch.

.Mr. MeCluggagu the approximate cost of the extra i">() feet of wharf, and the cost was given at about .t!SUO(>. Captain Hood, further questioned, said that in this estimated length of wharf required he was allowing for the increased size of vessels in a few years' time.

Mr. Wilkinson said they could builil for those vessels when the time came. Mr. Maxwell drew attention to the' filet that the Board seemed to lie asMiming that the trade of the port was going to attain its maximum proportions uliiuKl straightaway, and that there would always be coastal steamers here when tile liners were alongside. Even at the most hopeful estimate they would have ail ocean steamer only once a fortnight, and it might be a lew years before they got so many. There seemed to him to be any amount of time for the local shipping to be carried on. liven at the most important seaports there was occasional delay, vessels awaiting tiieir turn. No port provided for the maximum amount of shipping that might have to be dealt with. The custom was, to provide for well over the average. I Otherwise they would have a. lot (.it! I waste room, which wouldn't pay. It! was not fair to expend money in this | way when they hud so little of it. If | I hey were going to benefit so much from I the port it nnis't be by the direct trade, j and his opinion was that the ocean i steamers would lessen the coastal ship-1 ping, for our merchandise from Europe were coming direct it would of necessity cease coming by way of Auckland ov Wellington. .Mr. McCluggage reminded Mr. Maxwell of the development of the interior, ami the consentient increase of trade, as the Stratford-Ongaruhe railway 'progressed. Mr. King s'aid it must be borne in mind that the foreign-going boats could not bring our coal or our produce, and the boats the Board "had to make provision for brought these. The Corinna was very frequently fully laden with produce from tihe South Island. Coal imports were increasing, and must increase. He would admit, of course, that the coastal steamer cargoes of general merchandise would fall away, but the j Board imist remember that it was for j the produce trade, and not for tranship- I nient goods, that the Corinmi had been put on this run. The chairman suggested the possibility that other members had received as much enlightenment during the meetI ing as he and Mr. King had done, and, |if so, lie hoped they would say so. Kvery member was doing his best, of course, in his own way for the good of the port. T?e thought that Messrs. Maxwell and Wilkin-on were convinced now that there way 710 need for a wlmrf 80 feet wide, and that transhipment sheds were o#t ef ths jpstiga, Mratom of m-

tentiou now was the question o! extension. It was easy to get over that. They could widen the wharf by 20 feet, erect a smaller shed,-and put lf>o feet on the end of the wharf, lie would be prepared to mown that. Mr. Maxwell, with a view to removing any misapprehension, said lie was not satisfied, that the report should be withdrawn. The report had not contemplated sheds. Of course, the width of the wharf hinged on the shed question, but the main point was the berthage of ocean steamers, 011 which point Captain Bono had come here. Captain | Bone was Melinite that the wharf need I not be lengthened for ocean boats; in fact, he was against it. Jit; (Mr. Maxwell) had understood from Mr. Marchant that it was in deference to the repeatedly expressed wish of Mr, King that the greater width had been planned lor the erection of transhipment sneds on the wharf. Now .Mr. King Wl : abandoned that notion, and he was prepared to follow him, although he believed that there should lie such sheds, lie drew attention to the loss of revenue at tin' rate of £IOOO per quarter in the passenger tax alone, and said the Hoard must endeavor to make that up somehow. Tile port must be made a distributing mitiv for the trade up and down this coast, and for this it wan' essential that there should be a large shed on the wharf. If goods had to be railed oil" the wharf by the Kaihvay Department, and then brought back to the small steamer's side, it would be of no use at all. But he saw it would be useless to stick out for the sheds if Mr. King had abandoned them. He had no idea of what size the sheds would need to be. lie was prepared to cut oil' the extra width that 'had been allowed for the sheds .so long us the wharf was sufficiently strengthened, but he stood for the inshore berthing of the ocean liner#. If it were proved later that they must have W'harf accommodation the Board would have to consider the matter. But the great point was that if thn r put this 150 feet length on to the wharf they would gain on only one side of the w'harf, lor when the ocean liner was not here the extra berthage would not be needed. Mr. King suggested the possibility of dredging farther in on the eastern side and getting another berth further inshore from the big boats. Mr. Maxwell went on to refer to the point of finance. With inshore berthnig they could effect a saving by reduction of the length of the breakwater. The engineer had estimated that the wall might be made 100 feet shorter tluvn lie-.had recently planned. The Board was suffering great loss of revenue just now. Jt must keep its trust account full, and the ordinary account in a healthy state. The Board must go on with the work of providing additional accommodation so as to attain the object in view, and still retain a strong financial position, otherwise it would not be able to pay its interest. If they lengthened the wharf it might be compulsory to go to the full extent of the breakwater, If in two or three years' time, when the fortnightly ocean boats were coming here, it was found that the requirements, were in excess of the accommodation, the Board covJd engineer to provide for them, perhaps by a new wharf altogether from the proposed reclamation. In answer to questions, the engineer said he could not exactly estimate the life of the wharf, The piles would easily average a life of twenty years, and more. ■Mr. Price asked how far the Board Would need to extend the mole in order to provide protection for the 150 feet extra wharf. Mr. Marchant said lie had been more

than agreeably surprised with the amount of shelter given by the breakwater, and instanced the remarkable calmness of the harbor during the recent heavy weather, lit would hardly be necessary to extend it to the full original width. It had greater effect 011 the harbor than he had ever anticipated, and this might be because the rubble work broke up the seas to a greater extent tlian tin; concrete wall, lie pointed out that if the Board decided tu stop the extension of the wall at another 100 or 200 feet they could always' extend it further whenever required. To Mr. Price, Mr. Marcliant said he thought that -another 100 feet of wall would protect another 151) feet of wharf. Mr. I'rice pointed out that quHt lecentl.v the (Government steamer had had tu ,put out from the wharf to allow a coastal steamer to berth. .Mr. Wilkinson said the first thing they had to do was to get sufficient safe berths for the Home liners, and they

could do that without an incli of extension in length. When tile Board had adopted tilu: suggestions' of the experts the members had had tile fullest reason for it. One of Captain Bone's reasons urged against the lengthening of the wlmrf was that "as the trade of the port increases all shipping would be berthed at a single wharf; and with two or three vessels 011 each side discharging or loading, satisfactory and economical working would he impossible owing to the difficulty in supplying and withdrawing railway trucks, l'rnof of this is to be seen at all ports in the Dominion where several vessels are berthed at the same wharf, and especially so when berthed 011 both sides." ill-. Marchnnt had reported at the same time: ''After much consultation with Captain Hone, he and 1 have agreed that any extension of the wharf is undesirable." And so 011. Both were emphatic ill tiieir condemnation of lengthening at all. There was 110 doubt that when they got the Home liners here a lot of coastal trade would leave, 011 account of the stuff being brought direct in the ocean-going vessels. He favored milking the wharf narrower than 80 feet, anil had never been in tnvor t slieils on the wharf, so would, agree to the abandonment of mat. iit was but right that those members who were pressing for extension wharf should be reasonable, too, and allow the wharf to remain as it was. When the greater length became necessary the matter could be discussed. Mr. King said lie was being referred to as an authority ill the matter of sheds. He still considered the sheds necessary, but the s'heds that could be put 011 a wharf 80 feet wide would be of 110 use for the Board's purpose. They would need a wharf 110 feet wide for proper transhipping sheds. The finances of the Board would not allow of that. But they would have to erect a small shed on the wharf for the coastal trade, lie hadn't abandoned the sheds on "u.e wharf, and lie hoped to see a big s'lied there, If they erected the sheds ashore there would be the llailwny Department to pay; 011 the wharf the haulagv would be saved. " I'm after those sheds," he

said. " us sonn as we can get them." .Mr. Maxwell: Xot jii that wharf? Mr, King: Yes, on that wharf, when

it is made wider. Mr. Mardiant said the widening of the wharf wiw necessary. On that point lie had dilVered with some members of

the Hoard for years, they averring that ii was pos-ible to dredge out a deep berth alongside the present wharf, lint that wharf could not stand it. The wharf would have to be widened so s to allow thp piles to be driven to the required depth. When Captain Hone vetoed the lengthening, he had said, J '• Let's widen enough to put the sheds on," Xow, as 1 Captain Hone said the Hoard might as well prepare for the ultimate object, and he was willing to dredge out us suggested. As for the letter or report which had been placed before the Hoard he was the innocent cause-of all tile trouble, thinking he | I was doing the Hoard a good turn by , summaiUhig the conclusions come to at | the conference. He had no feelingahf 1 the extension. If Captain Hood *» lie had not enough room, he would ti;> and find it for hhn. The breakwater was' giving excellent shelter, and he would not mind seeing it stopped after it got a little further. •Mr. King asked if be would be allowed to bring forward a motion, which could be done by unanimous consent.

Mr. Maxwell would oppose any motjojj coming (in to provide for lengtheninj; the wharf, but would not object to oin* reducing the width. If fJte lesiglheniurr was required. notice should hive been given, for opportfinity bad been allowed for that.

Mr. Wilkinson said the members could see the strong backing the Board had bad iu coining to its decision, ami he was' not going back on it, in reference to I he lengthening. Mr. (Journal suid t]nU lit Melbourne he and Mr. King had seen five of the biggest ships that ever traded there, and they were nil working alongside one long wharf. If Mr. Wilkinson had seen that it would have opened his eyes. Mr. Wilkinson rejoined that iie had been frequently nt Melbourne, and knew Umt the wharf mentioned was a. most awkward and inconvenient one for ping. On one Mansion fhr> vessel iie was on ha<l taken the best p;irt of two hours to berth. In New York. n;i the contrary, every wharf was short, for one vessel only, The whole principle of modern wharf construction was for short

wharves and steamers berthed close ii yliore, Even in Melbourne they had go a New Zealand engineer to devise sum means of: getting rid of the long wharj and it was only the stupendous cost tha prevented the work going on now. Mr. MeCluggage said he had not beei fit the meeting when the short whar was decided on, but he would have suj; ported .. ~u the reports that they lun had. But he felt sure the reports wer written witnont regard to local condi tions. He thought there was' little ilil ferent'e of opinion now except as t when the extension would be required and it might be as wise to order Hi timber now for the whole thing. | -Mr. King said he would like 10 assur Messrs. .Maxwell and Wilkinson, who na taken up the cudgels on the other side that there had been no fixed idea wit Mr. (.'oiuu'tt and himself of upsettin; what had been done. Had he give; notice of motion it might have bee suggested that they were .doing it "ou of pure eussedness." lie considered tha the narrowing of the wharf and th deepening of the berth would justify th visit of Captain Bone, Although tin Board's iinanees were straitened, th«i could get the ocean steamers here, fo* thev had C7U,()00, with which sum thej could get wiiat they had worked for namely, mving the ocean steamers here He moved: "That tint scheme of berth age accommodation passed at the meet ing of the Board in May, 1001), be s<i modilied as to provide for a total width of r> feet instad of 80 feet, juid the piles he of sufficient length to allow oi dredging down to .13 feet instead of ;i() feet; that the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and call for tenders accordingly; and that the question of further accommodation at the wharf be held over." -Mr. Maxwell seconded.

Mr. Connett repeated that he had had 110 wish to upset what had been done, but bad wanted to flna wnat mw Ue best thing to do, and to do it. >le supported the motion. Tlie motion was carried unanimously. RECLAMATION. Upon the motion of Messrs. Maxwell and Connett, it was decided to instruct the solicitor to prepare a Bill for presentation to Parliament giving authority for carrying out reclamation work at the port.

Mr. Maxwell said that two members of the Board had waited on Sir Joseph Ward, pointing out that the reclamation had a considerable bearing on the Board's harbor extension s'cheme, and the Premier was kind enough to say that upon the Bill being prepared be would assist its passage, providing the scheme were approved by'the Railway and Marine Departments.'

Mr. McCluggage confirmed this.