HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present: Messsrs. Newton King (chairman), C. E. Bellringer, E. Maxwell, C. H. Burgess, J. McCluggage, D. J. Hughes, J. S. Connett, C. E. McGuinness, and C. H. Wilkinson. ENGINEER’S REPORT. % Work for the 1 month ended l2 was reviewed in the following report presented by the engineer, Mr. G. W. Baxter Lawson: Breakwater Extension.—Th^x,Thomas King dumped 4280 tons of stone on the extension apron, while 261 tons of large stone were tipped over the end of the breakwater. From observations made by the diver, the sand on the western side of the extension seems to be banking up very slowly, the top of the wall being now about 7 feet above the level of the sand. There can bo said to be no batter to the western side of the slope, the mass merely presenting the appearance of toads tipped here and there. On the eastern side of the foundation some small stone lies clear of the wall. This gap between the stone and the wall seems to indicate partly faulty tipping and partly the action of the sea, but as the top of the foundation Is six feet to ten feet higher than sand level on the seaward side, no appreciable levelling of the apron has yet taken place. The need of idfge stone to cap the extension foundation, however, is most apparent. Dredging.—The month’s dredging returns show an output of 8750 tons of mud, sand, stone and clay. Practically all the work done was irj heavy ground, necessitating continuous blasting, and for a dredge of the Paritutu tyve this output represents good going. Six thousand two hundred tons were removed from the third outer basin cut, 1950 tons from the inside cut, and 600 tons from alongside the wharf at the vessels' berth. During the time the dredge was laid up for boiler cleaning, repairs were effected to the ladder, etc.

General.—The widening of the waterside workers’ building is now nearing completion. A tram line and staging has been laid down at the Mikotahi magazine, the approach to the magazine being also fenced off to comply with Government regulations. The wharf approach widening has been completed, and general wharf maintenance attended to. Considerable concrete repairs have been effected to the breakwater. The air, receiver used In connection with the quarry drills blew out, necessitating the order- of a new one. In the meantime the small receiver on hand has been coupled up to the compressor. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT. The report presented by the harbormaster (Captain Waller) for the four weekly period ending on the 12th inst., stated that the number of vessels entering the port was twelve, of‘ an aggregate pf 13,347 tons. Imports. amounted to 6?23 tons', and exports amounted to , 664 tons. Government coal landed totalled 1270 tons.

Captain Waller reported that extensive soundings had been taken over the fairway course taken by the liners berthing at the wharf. Abreast of the breakwater at a distance of 1650 feet, there was a depth of 46 feet at lower water ’ spring tides, decreasing gradually to 28 feet entering the dredged channel, which had a width of 450 feet, with not. less than 24 feet 6 inches at low water spring tides. Sweepings hayg also been taken which agree with the above soundings. Moorings are being laid oh the east side of the wharf to accommodate the Thomas King. The frequent congesion of shipping at the wharf rendered this necessary. A new wharf was much needed. GENERAL. A letter was received from the Taranaki Workers’ Council directing attention to the insufficiency of the lighting facilities between the end of the car terminus and a point about half way down the wharf. The question was left. in the hands of town members with power to act. The Taranaki Progress League wrote inviting the board’s opinion on the suggestion that one Power Board should be formed for the whok of Taranaki-—lt was decided to await the issue of the report of the chief Government electrical engineer (Mr. L. Birks), who recently made a visit to the province and inspected the New Plymouth scheme.