HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1921, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. Newton King (chairman), E. Maxwell, €. E. Bellringer, C. H. Burgess, C. E. McGuiness, J. McCluggage, D. ,T. Hughes, C. A. Wilkinson, and J. S. Connett. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. G. W. Baxter Lowson) presented the following report on the work for the period April 11 to April 30: — Quarries and Breakwater Extension.—Owing to the board’s delay in authorising the working of the Paritutu quarry, most unsatisfactory conditions have arisen in the confined limits of the present quarries, where the desired output of stone cannot now be realised. The board, after having been duly warned as to the state of the Fishing Rock quarries, and the inevitable results of working them during the winter months, cannot express surprise at the fact that this state of affairs has come about, and that very shortly the working of the quarry will become very uneconomical. Certainly heavy seas were very frequent during the last three weeks, and various odd jobs interfered somewhat with the work of our now reduced quarry force; but even then the returns are not such as will, from an engineering point of view, warrant any self-con-gratulation on the part of the board as to their management of this branch of their works should they still hesitate to open up the proposed new quary at Paritutu. The higher quarry at Fishing Rock has proved disappointing, and will have to be worked from the southern corner only, while the lower quarry has been so worked that practically only the rock composing the quarry floor and the stone along the beach remain to be taken. Should the board deem it advisable to retain this level piece of ground, no doubt they will decide immediately against its removal; otherwise it will be considerably reduced in area before the next meeting of the board in five or six weeks’ time. A protective apron has been left along the weather side of this quarry, to act not only as a means of preventing heavy seas from interfering with the work in hand, but also as a protection to the Mikotahi beach and adjoining lands. Two thousand tons of stone were deposited on the breakwater extension during the three weeks, and 171 tons of heavier stone laid on the apron protecting the present structure.

Dredging.—Heavy seas also interfered with dredging operations during this period. Practically all the work done was in new ground, and required continuous blasting, the spoil thus lifted being suitable for dumping on the line of breakwater extension. One thousand three hundred tons were lifted from the inside cut, 2650 tons from the third outer basin cut, and 400 tons from alongside the wharf, a total of 4350 tons for the three weeks. From a dredging point of view this output is very satisfactory for the class of dredger used and the nature of the ground encountered. In view of the fact, however, that the deep-water area of. the bort is very limited, and tte cry fcr increased berthage likely to become more insistent as time goes on, it is very evident that a considerable amount of patience will have to be exercised by those demanding a new pier on approved lines, 'ere the board, with their present dredging plant, will be able to satisfy their needs.

A glance at any recent sounding plan shewing the limited area dredged by the Paritutu in the last eleven years will readily convince even the most optimistic that no great credit will be reflected on the board in this respect should they not procure a more suitable dredger at tt'e first favorable opportunity. Praise is due to the master of this vessel in bringing her so well through work for which even the builders declare she was never designed, and in a large measure is it due to his careful handling that iro serious mishap to the dredge has occurred to rudely awaken the hoard to tte gravity of the situation. General.—The half-tine Priestman grab has now come to hand; also the new air receiver, which has been installed and is being used to operate the quarry drills. Repairs to winches, etc., aboard the Paritutu have been effected, and wharf maintenance and other general work attended to during the three weeks.

THE REPORT CRITICISED. I "I think the engineer must have written that report on a very wet day,” Mr. Wilkinson remarked. He proceeded to point out that the reluctance of the board to interfere with Paritutu had been the result of one of the delays mentioned, and this fact, he thought, ought to be a fairly conclusive answer to the board in getting the stone from Paritutu. The question of securing another dredge was a matter of policy, and utterly beyond the means of the board, who always bad to be guided by the amount of funds available. Mr. Bellringer said he thought some of the remarks were uncalled for. He pointed 6ut that during the last few years it would have been Impossible to get a dredge even if they had the money. In regard to the stone he had been disappointed at the amount of work done, but the board had been told there was a certain amount of stone available. This proved to be otherwise, but the board could not be blamed. In looking for another source they had to take time to consider, and he thought that if they had rushed immediately into the proposition of blasting Paritutu there would have been a storm of opposition. Instead, the board had been able to convince the people it was a necessity. Mr. Maxwell said he ratter thought some members were reading the report wrongly, and pointed out that the engineer’s remarks indicated that the work on Paritutu should not be held up. Mr. Burgess expressed the opinion that the engineer was quite within his rights in bringing the actual position before the board. The only question was whether tie report should have been put in a different tone. Mr. McCluggage said the engineer had put the position very fairly, especially about Paritutu. The chairman said there was no doubt some delay had taken place, but it arose from the reluctance of all of the members to interfere with Paritutu. Eventually they found the only business-like course was to take a blast out of Paritutu. He hoped to see the finances of the board in a position which would enable the work to be proceeded with. GENERAL. The secretary of the New Plymouth Waterside Workers’ Union wrote thanking the board for their promptness in attending to the work of improvements in connection with the men’s waiting shed at the port, and expressing the hope that the good spirit shown in the past would prevail in the future. In connection with the question of providing accommodation for warehouses, Mr. Wilkinson urged that the board should take steps to give temporary relief. It was a matter of great importance and he did not think that the permanent sites would be fixed for some years yet. He advised that the board should make an inspection at the port with a view to seeing what could be done.