HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1920, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present—Messrs Newton King (chairman), E. Maxwell, C. E. McGuinness, J. S. Connett, C. A. Wilkinson, and C. H. burgess. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. McCluggage. HARBOR MASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster (Captain W. Waller) reported that for the four-weekly period ending ! llth inst. 14 vessels lad entered the port, aggregating 21,890 tons. The imports were SIS 7 tons and exports 1382 tons. The s.s. Walton Hall, which arrived from New York via ports on November 22nd, landed 774 tons of cargo. The Japanese s.s. Tamon Maru arrived on the 7th inst., and had 1900 tons of superphosphates to land. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineers (Messrs. Blair Mason, Lee and Owen) reported as follows on tie hoard's works for the period 13th November to llth December, 1920:

Dredging.—'Dredging has been confined to the second fairway cut, deepening It to 25 feet at low water, the material consisting of sand and mud, which has been deposited at sea. This cut is practically completed. The usual throe-monthly boiler cleaning was carried out during the above period, the dredge being laid up two days for this purpose. The dredge hta been employed drawing some of the damaged piles In wtarf berths. . The dredging returns and hours worked for the month ending 30th November are as follows: 39% loads, equal to 15,900 tons, of which 12,400 tons were from the second fa'lrway cut and 3501) tons from the No. 3 fairway cut, all of which were deposited at sea. Hours worked, 226; dredged per tour of total time worked, 70.3 tons.

Quarries.—An average of about 22 men were engaged in the Fishing Rock quarry. The large stone which lias been accumulating In the quarry has all been placed on the breakwater apron. The low portions have been filled in, and the apron is in better repair than it lias been for some considerable time. The total stone placed on the apron is 1269 tons. Now thit this work Is well ahead, the block crane is being used to lift the stone from the bank on the Inside of the breakwater and deposit it into trucks for the Thomas King. Any large stone is being placed on the breakwater apron. The rock drills are being used in the Fishing Rock quarry, and whenever the tide and weather are suitable, the stone on the reef and ttat outcropping on the lieef is being worked; 4720 tons of stone have been placed on the line of-the breakwater by the Thomas King. General—The repairs of the sea-faee of I the bretlswater blocks is being carried out! whenever cement supplies can be obtained. At present no cement is In hand. Ten tons of rails for repairing the railway sidings have been ordered from Australia. Four damaged piles lave been drawn on the east side of the wharf by tiie dredge, and new ones are being placed In position. There are still a tew imove piles to renew on the eastern side. The piles and squared timber ordered from Australia are not to hand. The contractors advise that the timber is ready, but that they have been unable to get shipment. It is Important that some stocks sl-ould be obtained as soon as possible. Tatara piles are uuder offer in the North Auckland district, but at the present time there Is no freight offering to New Plymouth. The wnllings and fender pieces on the whaTf are being attended to whenever the tides ore suitable.

The sheds on the wtnrf are completed. A customs office has been fitted up on the south end of No. 2 shed. The launch is under Government inspection and repairs. The hull has been overhauled, engine taken to pieces, and new flooring fitted, and lockers for life-belts. The piles carrying the coal bins Vave been recoppered in places and new wallings fitted. The crane purchased from Westport is erected, with the exception of the housing over the toiler. The 25-ton crane in the Fishing Rock quarry requires some repairs. It is proposed to lay this rrane up, and in the meantime use the Westport crane. Owing to the poor quality of coal received lately, ttere has been some difficulty in keeping up steam on the cranes. No further advice has heen received from Australia re a direct shipment of timber to New Plymouth, as referred to in last month's report. Quotations have been received for eonmeto mixers, but until certain details of the designs have been arranged, we are unable to make a recommendation. The purchase of a crane for general work, which was left in the hands of tie chairman, has been held over In the meantime,