N.P. HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 17 September 1910, Page 2

N.P. HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the New (Plymouth Harbor Board yesterday there were present: Messrs. Connett (in the chair), Newton King, E. Dockrill, J. M'Cluggage, R. Price, C. A. Wilkinson, D. Hughes, W. T. Weils, and E. Maxwell. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. Captain Newton (harbormaster) reported that for the four weeks ending 10th instant 29 steamers had visited the port inwards and outwards., of the aggregate tonnage of 24,692 tons. The total imports amounted to 7471 tons, of which 2578 tons were c0a1—1635 tonfc for the railway and 943 tons for private use. The exports of general merchandise amounted to 499, tons. The dredge Thomas King worked on 18 days, pumping and taking away 130 loads of saaa equal to 7800 cubic yards. i

FOREMAN'S REPORT. Mr. F. Henderson, foreman of works, reported lor the present month as follows: — Wharf.—At the western side of the wharf five additional mooring piles have been driven. One new set of lower walings and eight ne\v chafing pieces have been fitted. A boat derrick has been erected at the shore end of the new 'coal bin to replace the one on the wharf. Two of the electric light poles have been removed to more suitable positions. Blasting.—Extensive blasting has been carried on alongside the wharf to facilitate dredging, and some fairly large stones have been broken up. Altogether about 30 tons, varying in weight from lOcwt. to 5 tons, have been lifted by the crane; others have been broken up so small that the dredge ■buckets fan lift them. The bottom immediately in advance of the dredge has been 'broken up by heavy charges of dynamite and gelignite, but it is difficult to do anything to lossen the "corners" of the cut, because the overlying SSind filling them up. It is in these corners that the dredge has the greatest difficulty, and I have written Mr. Marchant on the matter. Up to the present 1301b. of dynamite and 401b. of, gelignite have been used in charges varying from 31b. to 151b. j A hand punt about 14ft long by 6ft wide and 15in. deep is badly wanted for repairing the wharf and for tidal work at the wharf widening and for many purposes for which a boat is not suitable. It could be cheaply constructed of 2-inch Oregon planking. The provision of a punt was authorised. ' , THE PARITUTU. Mr. J. H. Knowles, chief engineer of the Paritutu, forwarded the following report on the operations of the dredge since last meeting. On Thursday, August 18, two loads of &> total of 650 tons were pumped in 2 hours 49 minutes. On Friday, 19th ult., temporary mooring were laid at the end of the .wharf, and your board visited the scene of operations, when a load of 440 tons was lifted by buckets in 2 hours 19 minutes. On Saturday, after shipping eoal into junker from the trucks operations were resumed at the inshore berth until Friday, the 26th,ult., when they resumed pumping to allow Mr. Henderson and stag to proceed with 'blasting work. On Thursray, • September 1, operations Were resumed at piles 11 and 10, and on Friday a start was made at pile 18 to wonk in over the ground lately blasted, and considering the heavy nature of tlie ground, work has proceeded at a fairly satisfactory rate up to date, a niimimum depth of 16 feet at low water being maintained. On Saturday, the 10th, inst., while the blinker was being refilled, a further examination of the bottom was made, and three large boulders lifted by the crane on the wharf. Following were the details of work done by the pump apd buckets respectively:—With pump: total tons 5290, net pumping time 10 hours 38 t minutes, dumping .time 9 hours 41 minutes. On Tuesday, August 30, five' loads of a total of 2000 tons, were, lifted in 175 minutes, the respective times for each load being 34, 40, 31, 33, and 37 minutes. They hoped to maintain an even better rate than this when they complete the ihopper alterations in a permanent manner. With buckets: total .tons 5785 from August ;19"to date, net loading time 55 hours 8 minutes, dumping time 13 hours 10 minutes. .Total boulders lifted by the dredge I 3188 from August 19 to date. On the 13th inst. .pumping was resumed to allow the,blasting operations to proceed at the inshore berth. Five loads, or a total of 1920 tons, had been lifted at the entrance in 180 minutes, or an average of 36 minutes per load. The chairman said the pumping and loading was satisfactory, but a lpt of time was taken up in mooring and one thing and another, which really took, up more time than pumping and going out. PLAN OF HARBOUR. ' Mr. G. Allport, secretary 'of the Marine Department, Wellington, forwarded a' copy of letter received from the hydrographer to the Admiralty with reference to the Admiralty Chart in respect to the harbour. The enclosure | stated that the existing plan of t'he harbour on the Admiralty Chart was ! considered to 'be large enough for all | navigational purposes, but if the chart I prepared from the survey by Mr. Edgar C. Jones, C.E., was brought up-to-date as suggested, it could be used to correct the above plan. luiorred to the Harbourmaster for a retort. IN COMMITTEE. Th<; Board went into committee to consider ■ several reports received from the engineer. .