HARBOR EXTENSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1921, Page 4

HARBOR EXTENSION.

TRAMLINE TO PARITUTU. WORK NEARING COMPLETION. TuE NEW PIER SCHEME. The two main features in connection with the development of the New Plymouth harbor scheme at present are the breakwater extension (involving the quarrying of Paritutu stone) and a proposal recently made by the engineer (Mr. G. W. Baxter Lawson) to run out a pier from the Ngamotu beach parallel with the present wharf, in order to provide extra berthage accommodation expeditiously. The two suggestions are inter-dependent on one another, as the running out of the pier cannot be done till the breakwater is extended.

A visit to Moturoa shows that excellent progress is being made with the laying of the tramline up to the base of Patitutu, and it is expected operations for getting out stone will be commenced within a fortnight or three weeks. The line runs up a 1400 feet incline, and the stone will be brought from the quarry by trucks. A double line will be laid, and, by using the natural fall in the formation, the full trucks running down will haul up the empty waggons. A 6ft. surge wheel for use at the top of the incline is being procured and delivery is expected at the end of this week. 'When the stone is delivered at the bottom of the incline the Harbor Board’s engine will then take up the haulage, and part of the stone will be placed on the Tommy King for dumping and part transported out on the breakwater on side-tip and end-tip trucks.

it is confidently expected that the output of stone will be about 600 tons per day, in fact this is probably not the full capacity of the line, and with such an amount being dumped on the breakwater extension the progress of the work should soon make itself apparent in a practical manner. Connecting with the line from Paritutu will be a haulage track running across to the beach near the root of the wharf, and here .the reclamation wall in rubble will b? commenced jointly with the quarry work. Dove-tailing in with the Ngamotu wall is the proposed new pier, about whicn the salient point is that the engineer prop6ses to make full use of the existing deep water to provide more berthage. The sketch plan shows that the pier runs out partly in the same direction as the present wharf. This is a departure .from the actual drawing of the original harbor scheme, but only for this pier, and the remaining berthtige proposals show little alteration from the consulting engineers' idea. The present wharf will ultimately have to be shifted right out, as, according to expert opinion, it is at the worst angle as far aS alignment goes. This aspect, of course, is a long way off yet. The Harbor Board have asked for plans of the proposed pier, and an estimate of the cost, and these are to be taken out by the engineer. Particulars which are at present available show that the structure is to be built 300 feet away from the present wharf and will be 900 feet long; this gives an extra deep-sea berth and room for a smaller vessel, and as the work progresses both sides of the pier may be used for berthing ships. With the experience of the nature of the harbor bottom engineers do not consider it advisable to attempt to drive piles in the boulder formation, and should the new pier be approved its construction would be of concrete or by sbme stone and rubble method. One difficulty which is at present apparent is the matter of access by rail, as certain stipulations -are being made by the Railway Department in connection with the lay-out of any line to serve a pier in the proposed position, but it is hoped this obstacle will be overcome. Negotiations with the department are already under way.