HARBOR WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1916, Page 6

HARBOR WORKS.

' IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. STAGING AND RECLAMATION. iA PROPOSAL APPROVED. A report on the proposed piled staging to be erected at the Breakwater and an estimate of the cost of the material to be used in building a reclamation wall with stones dredged from the harbor was presented to the New Tlyirtouth Harbor Board yesterday by the superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson). "It is proposed to construct a piled staging beginning at the base of the wharf, about 50ft a hove low-water mark, and to extend 107 ft to the eastward ,at nearly right angles to thei wharf," wrote the superintendent. "The I site will require to be dredged to a depth of 12ft at low water previous to driving the piles, so that the dredge Thomas King can lie alongside at all states of the tide for the purpose of discharging boulders. The five-ton travelling crane, being mounted on rails on the staging, could handle all boulders recovered in the process of dredging, and use them in the formation of a rubble wall along the foreshore. If it is intended to construct this wall and to deepen the foreshore for future wiiarf extension, the preliminary work could be done as outlined without incurring any great expense beyond the construction of the staging. A great number of the boulders could be handled by the crane, i and those lifted by the Paritutu and! Thomas King could be landed almost as' cheaply as the cost of dumping them at sea. The staging would require to be. 107 ft long by 12ft wide, and would comprise 1,8 piles, each 40ft long. The length of the staging would be divided into one span of 25ft and eight spans of 10ft. The 25ft span would adjoin the wharf and the.girders of this span would be built together. It would be capable of being lifted tlear in one piece to allow the Thomas King to be placed on the gridiron. The work would have to be constructed in a strong and permanent manner, as the dredging of the foreshore will take a considerable time. Therefore the piles ought to be sheathed with muhtz to ensure their preservation from the teredo worm." file superintendent estimated the total cost of the work at £1503 3s. This amount included material, to the value of £28:1 Ss, that would have to be procured.

Mr. E. Maxwell described the report as a very satisfactory one. He moved, and Mr. Newton King seconded, "That the Board approves of the scheme as set out in tiie superintendent's report, but is of opinion that the work should be delayed until the immediate requirements in dredging the swinging basin are completed, and until further instructions are given by the Board." The chairman. (Mr. .1. B. Connett) said ho was very pleased with the report. The resolution was unanimously .carried