HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 184, 21 December 1912, Page 4

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yestesday. The chairman (Mr. J. B. Connett) presided, and there were also present: Messrs C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., Newton King, E. Maxwell, C. E. Bellringer, J. McCluggage, D. J. Hughes and E. Dockrill. SHIPPING. In a report covering the five week* ending December 14, the acting-harbor-master (Captain J. McMahon) stated that 31 steamers and one sailing vessel, of an aggregate gross tonnage of 28,896 tons, had worked the port inwards and outwards. The imports amounted to 5949 tons, of which 4768 tons was general cargo, and 1181 tons coal, of which 821 tons were for the railways. The exports of produce and general cargo amounted to 2464 tons, making a total of 8413 tons handled. HARBOR WORKS.

The superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson) reported that during the five weeks ending Saturday last, the Paritutu dredged in the fairway with the sand pump on 27 days, the net time worked being 244 hours. In all, 108 loads, equal to 43,200 tons, were removed. A small patch, about 200 ft ahead of the wharf, had proved too hard for the cutter to attain the required depth, and would have to be removed with the buckets. Otherwise recent soundings showed a marked improvement in the depth of water in the fairway and approaches to the wharf. The Thomas King dredged with thi Priestman grab on 12 days, removing 20 loads, and with the sand-pump on 13 days, removing 74 loads. The net working time was 256 hours, and th« total spoil .removed 7520 tons.

At the whaTf lengthening 20 piles had been driven and the cap walings and deck fitted. The weather and tides had been most favorable, and th« whole of the under-water beams of th« three bays, had been fitted, and thu» practically /naif of the extension tru now completed, excepting the deck.