HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1920, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs Newton King 'chairman), E. Maxwell, C. McGuinness, D. ,T. Hughes, J. McCluggago, E. Bockrill, C. E. Bellringer, and C. A. Wilkinson An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. S. Connett. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster (Captain Waller) reported 18 vessels had entered tho port, tjie aggregate tonnage of which was 17,053 tons. The imports were 4600 tons and the exports 2952 tons. Two beacons have recontly been erected on the south side of the harbor for the purpose of marking the foundation of the breakwater extension now being laid. These in line lead 900 feet oft the' breakwater end and 100 feet clear of the bmkwater extension. ; ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows,:— Dredging.—The Christmas and New Year holidays, intervened during the above period, delaying -the dredge for six days. The dredging tons been confined to the 33 feet In-shore area and the sand patch on the west side of the fairway. The particulars of the dredging are as follows:—From {lie 33 feet In-shore area (dredging with buckets) 2700 tons of spoil and 45 tons of boulders, all deposited on the line of the breakwater. From the west side "of the fairway (dredging by pumpj 11,200 tons of sand deposited at sea, making a total of 13,900 tons for 14 days dredging equal to 117 working hours. Two days were occupied in boiler-cleaning mid changing buckets.

Thomas King.'—The Thomas King has been depositing stone from the Fishing Rock quarry on the line of the breakwater. She was laid up during the Christmas and New Year holidays and at the present time is undergoing some alteration so a& to increase her carrying capacity. The stone deposited on the lino of the breakwater up to the Hist December amounts to 3480 tons. The pumps, and auxiliary machinery which have neen giving considerably- ♦rouble are being repaired. Quarries Jn New Year's Day, the No. 2 tunnel on the south side of Moturoa was fired with satisfactory results. It is estimated that about 15,000 tons of stone was dislodged, lie stone is being ~arred down Into the passage between Moturoa and Whareumu islands. Alongside Moturoa the stone Is visible at low waidr. No. A tunnel on the east face and near the to? of the island is being pushed ahead. At the Fishing Rock quarry the men have been employed in getting a. quantity of stone ready, also shifting the railway points and sidings now that more room Is aavila-ble In the' auarry floor.

General—The jib of the 40-ton crane Is In position and In a few days the crane vtlll be ready for work. The running wheels on the 5-ton travelling crane broke, putting the machine out of action. New wheels are under way and will be In position in a few days. Word has just been received from the Chief Inspector of Machinery that tho locomotive boiler purchased from tho Railway Department has been strengthened to his satisfaction and that a certificate Is being Issued. Tho Railway Department have been asked to forward by the first available steaemr. Practically nothing has been done towards the erection of huts for tho employees owing l to shortago of timber and difficulty In obtaining carpenters. This also applies to erection of tho workshop machinery ' GENERAL. In response to a request by Mr. D. J. Hughes, 110 Board agreed to give a trial of coal from stm°l^V ,tCiCt '° tC3t pa^dTo^Zent!" B £2639 53 M Bera