WORK AT THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1922, Page 4

WORK AT THE PORT.

EXTENSION OF THE BREAKWATER. NEW STAGE COMMENCED. An important step in the development of the New Plymouth harbor scheme was made yesterday afternoon, when stone from Paritutu was tipped on the line of the breakwater extension to form the rubble top. The breakwater is being extended for a distance of 800 feet, and for some time the work of tipping the foundations has been in hand. The progress has been unseen, for it has been under the water, but the work commenced yesterday involves the “capping” of the extension* and the growth of' the breakwater will now gradually become apparent. The rubble extension will be Bft. higher than the present breakwater, which is of concrete blocks. This will enable tipping to be proceeded with at times when breaking seas would prevent work at the present level, and yet would not be sufficiently severe to stop trucks from being rushed through to the higher level. The up grade to attain the higher level was commenced when the three sets of rails were being laid, and the extremity of the breakwater is now 15in higher than it was at the beginning of January, when this work was commenced. It involved the mixing awl laying of a large quantity of concrete in addition to the setting in position of the Sleepers and rails. Another important work now in hand at the port is the erection of the overhead bridge over the railway line at the foot of the wharf. The completion of this bridge and the connecting line will enable the reclamation inside the harbor to be proceeded with, the small material from the quarry being used. Two cranes are now working in the Paritutu quarry, but the equipment will not be complete until a Priest man grab is in operation, which is expected to be about a week hence. Then the two cranes will be engaged in transferring to the trucks the big blocks of stone to be tipped over the end of. the breakwater, while the grab will deal with the small material, which will be deposited partly in the reclamation area and partly on the line vf the breakwater extension.