HARBOR BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 16 September 1911, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD

' MOXTMLY MEETING. IThe monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yester- ■ I day. Present: Messrs. J. I!. Connett, i Newton King, E. Dockrill, J. MeCluggage, i C. K. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson, W. Swadling, and E. Maxwell. LEAVE OK ABSENCE. Mr. D. Hughes telegraphed his apology for absence as follows: "Apologise unavoidable absence. Anything reasonable cropping up re harbor's further development, towards hastening entrance liners, has my support."-—Leave of absence was granted. ! TRANSHIPMENT SUED. Mr. T. Ronayne, general manager of railways, wrote: "With reference to the recent representations made by your Board respecting the provision of a shed on the wharf at New Plymouth, and alterations to the sidings thereon, I have the honor to inform you that your proposals as submitted to the District Engineer, Wanganui, are approved, and that ollicer has been instructed to communicate with you accordingly." HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster, Captain Newton, reported, for the four weeks ending 9th inst., that there' had been 31 steamer berthings, of the aggregate tonnage of 24.171 tons. The total imports were 6021 tons, of which 2242 tons were coal, 1879 for the railway, and 303 tons for private use. The exports of produce and sundries for this period amounted to 425 tons. HARBOR WORKS. Mr. F. Henderson, superintendent of works, reported for the four weeks ending 9th inst.:— Dredge "Paritutu."—The Paritulu dredged with the buckets on 22 days (net time 107 hours), and removed 36 loads, equal to 14,400 tons. Eleven days of this time were occupied at the 33ft. cut, from which 12 loads and 70 boulders were lifted. This cut has been carried in 30ft., and completed at pile 15%, giving a wharf frontage of GIO feet, with a depth of 33ft., and 280 ft in a depth of ilGft at low water. The remaining eleven' days were occupied in dredging a cut 120 ft wide by 25ft deep across the end of the wharf towards the breakwater. Twenty-four loads have been taken from this, part, and the cut has been carried in 120 ft past the western side of the wharf, ft is intended to continue for another 40ft., which will. take about four days to complete. No stones have been encountered at the. end of the wharf. The dredging is very muddy on top with a live feet of sand beneath and terminates in soft clfiy at about 25ft. Dredge "Thomas King."—The Thomas King dredged on 21 days (net time 210 hours), and removed 13(i loads, equal to 10,880 tons, from the various parts of the harbor.

•Wharf Widening—At the wharf widening two extra piles have been driven at the approach, and extra beams fitted to meet the requirements of the Railwny Department. The whole of the lower walings and nearly all the braces are fitted ,and the decking is being put down. This section of the widening will be completed in about two weeks, and pile-driving can then 'be resumed if the middle berth can be spared. I have received from the District Railway Engineer plans of wharf sidings with strengthening beams. 1 find that a largp portion of the existing rimu deck wilt have to be taken up to place those beams, and it is doubtful whether the timber will be fit to put down again. It would be well, therefore, to procure 200 extra deck planks as soon as possible. Red birch would be 'a suitable timber for this purpose, being more durable and cheaper than rimu. The old rimu decking could perhaps be used again in shorter lengths in re-decking the original approach to the wharf before building the shed upon it. Gravel. —Two hundred and five yards of gravel have been lifted from the Mikotahi inlet and disposed of as follows: Delivered to Caddy. 98 yards; place on upper and mixing-house siding, 57 yards; placed in lower yard for freezing works, 70 yards. The suggestion regarding timber was approved by the Boards consulting engineer, and the report was adopted.