HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 197, 17 February 1912, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Yesterday's ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was attended by the chairman (Mr. Connett) and Messrs Maxwell, Swadling, Hughes, Wilkinson, Dockrill, Bellringer and Newton King. An apology for ance was received from Mr. McCluggage.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The monthly- report of the superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson) was read as follows: Wharf widening.—The second section of the widening was completed and opened for traffic early- in January. Pile driving was commenced at the last section on January 9, and 69 piles had been driven, leaving 44 to drive to complete the widening, The caps, walings, beams and other parts of the work are well forward.

Dredge Thomas King.—After overhaul and inspection of boilers the Thomas King resumed dredging at the breakwater spit on January 12, and for 23 days' dredging has removed 176 loads (equal to 14,080 tons) of drift sand. Dredge Paritutu. —Between December 11 and 23 the Paritutu dredged on eight days at the second cut parallel to the wharf and removed 14 loads, equal to 5600 tons. Two days were lost through rough sea and two days through the buckets slipping off the bottom timber. This cut had been carried in for 260 ft at a depth of 25ft, and for 200 ft at a depth of 21ft. From January 2 to 6 the Paritutu was prepared, for the voyage to Wellington for overhaul, slipping and inspection. The vessel left at 6.20 a.m. on January 6 and arrived at Wellington at 6 a.m. on the 7th. '* (Japtain Johnstone,- harbormaster at Wellington, kindly reserved a berth at the Railway Wharf under a crane, which' greatly facilitated the work. After several delays the vessel was slipped on January 19, and came off on the 25th, one of the intervening days being a Sunday and another a public holiday. Compasses were j adjusted and preparations made for the return voyage, the dredge sailing at 8.45 a.m. on January 27 and arriving at New Plymouth at 11 a.m. on the next day. The engineering expenses were greater than Mr. Henderson anticipated, owing '• principally to the great distance between i Messrs Cables' workshop and the wharf and slip. Several alterations and im-' provements were made which did not properly come under the heading of ordinary repairs. For instance, four new surging drums were fitted to the deck winches —the others were; found to be too small. A permanent water service of wrought-iron pipe was fixed to discharge into the chute to prevent blocking when dredging mud or day. The i whole of the deck steam pipes, which previously were bare, were covered with rope asbestos ■ and canvas. Other additions were a shield plate on the port bow to prevent the chafing of the anchor. An | , iron casing had been placed over the shafting in the engine-room for the safety of the engineers. Dredging was resumed on Friday, February 2, but for some days trouble was experienced with the lower sheaves of the ladder hoist. These were re-brushed at Wellington, and being rather too neatly fitted seized on the shaft. Every- | thing has worked smoothly since the ■6th inst, the dredge averaging three loads per' day. A cut is now being I made from the end of the- wharf seawards li2oft wide and 23ft deep and eleven loads have been taken out, equal to 4400 tons, up to Saturday last. J

VARIOUS MATTERS.

Attention was drawn by Mr. R. Ellis, clerk to the Taranaki County Council, to the fact that lupins were overgrowing the highway from the Harbor Board reserve on the Ngamotu road. He asked the board to remove the plants that were obstructing the traffic—lt was decided to give tie matter immediate attention.

Members agreed to ask the board's consulting engineer, Mr. Marehant, ,to visit New Plymouth before he leaves for England and to call a special meeting of the Works Committee to meet him on that occasion.

The Marine Department forwarded a copy—which the secretary was instructed to remit to the harbormaster for his guidance—of the regulations for the protection of life and property on vessels. SERVICES APPRECIATED. A motion was passed embodying the thanks of the hoard to Mr. Henderson (superintendent of works) and Captain . McMahon for their special care of the IParitutu and tlie interests of the board on the occasion of the dredge's visit to Wellington for slipping.