THE NEW WHARF.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1922, Page 6

THE NEW WHARF.

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION. PROCEDURE ADOPTED. ACQUIRING NECESSARY MATERIALS. A detailed report on the methods to be adopted in the construction of the new timber wharf at the breakwater was submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board by the resident engineer (Mr. G. W. B. Lowson). Accompanying the report was a detailed diagram showing how the work progressed from the driving of a pile hack to the placing of the decking on the wharf. The report said:— "In dealing with tins class of work, it should be remembered that it is of a comparatively straightforward nature, in a measure consisting of a constant repetition of piers and bays, almost wholly alike in construction. so that the working force is naturally divided into separate gangs, each with its particular duties to perform within a certain time. Every gang must fulfil its allotted task each day, and, being constantly engaged upon the same class of work, becomes very efficient in carrying it out. "Two traversing derricks are placed at the head of the work, and these machines must be as light as possible. The traverser itself, on which both derricks are mounted, is built in sections across the wharf for Its full width, and cantilevered at the ends to facilitate lhe driving of the outside and fender piles. The drivers each consist of a quickacting friction winch, with boiler and derrick mounted on the same platform, and running laterally across the wharf on the traverser. Those proposed are not unduly cumbersome, and can be easily moved into position by running a line round the snare drum or warping barrel on the driving winch. Two derricks should provide ample driving facHi ties for keeping the work ahead of scheduled time, hut in the event of a third driver- proving necessary, the same could easily be installed.

"In addition to drfcing the piles, the pileIrlvlng gangs would be reonirod to cut and shoulder them and place the cans pormanenflv In position before laying temporary beams and moving forward. This would save unnocessarv duplication of work and simplify things for 'hose coming behind. The whole sequence o* 'hose operations—driving. scarfing, placing caps, and moving nn—should nrocopd at the ’•ate of three plops ner fortnight, or ?.6 linen 1 foot of wharf per fortnight, loss 25 nor rnpt 'or had weather and other eon tin gon cl os. This rate would ensure the wharf being completed within scheduled time. "Following the drivers come the gangs placing the stringers. Two nortahle hnnd-ornnao. --rslst them ’n their work, and they will he 'urthor equipped with pneumatic drills to, -need nn the drilling of the bolt-holes, n ’orge Item In work nf this rtesorlntion. Al l ♦he gangs mentioned above will ho engaged nn no other work than has I’l’t boon de♦ailed. p o that the erection of the main portions of the wharf mar without ’nforruntlnn from start tn finish. "Tn find the oTtrn Iflhnr nf t ; me« reniiirod 'or tidal work Hirncinir and lower walings) must look tn fhr.so on "aged on less Imnortnnt parts c* thn ioh. i.e.. tn the gangs Invln" Aone^vtl'-o' 1 ’- j>nd rlprk’nrr nnd following tn th" wake n' those nntt’n" -’own the ftfringprq provlouslv <m«nt’onpd mhls transfernneo nf inhnr to other inhs. nl♦hnii'rh/ generallv Inndvlsnhle. is unnvoidahlo : n this case, as tq evident tlrnt the "Armanentlv omn’nvod preparing the bracing •v’list rennlre assistance In nlacing it In posimotj durir" the limited periods of time RYU 11nh’n Mr tidal work. "Allowing for nne nr two mon fltfin" straps snd other Ironwork, we have prof tv woll ink' l ’ l ’ntn account the general constructive features of the wharf< and are loft with the Items nf preparing the piles and transport. Tn prepar’nc the piles, separate men attend tn the rhnKlnc and ringing, othejs following with the ♦spring, felting, and sheathing. Those nmn cro engaged %crmanetlv in their particular hitio,s. and must complete them to fiiiue Transport is not n big Item, but must he '■arriod oilt effiolontlv. or there wi’l be n continual demand for nlleß and timber. which must he brought up to the head of the works without allowing any undue congestion nn tlm wharf. Two light portable hand-ernnoß will i;p emnlored in the yard to load the piles »nd timber. "Tim plant renuired is not of an oTpnncsrP nature and has been dosorllmd in the foregoing dlscußßlon. Tn ensure 11 h f 'ine in "cod working order h«fom the work commences, It i® adrlssbjp tn have it nn hand afl early ns possible. have therefore fllrparTv been called for the main items comprised th*r<Gn—two se< • nf pile-driving eou’nmonh two porphin tor use on th« v-barf. end two for use tn the yard. I**>"ardine iho nnonninHo drills, the board alr« ,!, dv PORRPRS the comnre«."fir. boiler and receiver. The drill* themselves Wotdd tiere to he niir„bnqpd—qnr a nt fi4o Prtch. not ft largo item. "A rensonflhlv large stnmgn vnrd tc nnw Hptng rod Aimed and should aeoommod-iD ‘be piles and timber should then Arrive id eov'hing the niiant?tlo« pxn»ot»d. nsdirl Unefl wi]l run from the reclamation wall frack over this vard and fnHl?t»te ‘he transport of ♦bn material tn the head of the works. The fol’owlng table, although tn ho taken rmlv as a rough appro-iimation. will give some ’dea of the number nf men reoulred on the ♦oh. Tn many Instances th" numbers nfe taken from actual practice with dtie allowance fnr the time ifi which the work Ift to M completed • No. 1 Rang.—Two pile-driver gnngs, each of 4 men (including winchman), R meh. No. 2 Hang.—Hangs on Rtrlngers and headers. 10 meh. No 3 Gang.—Hanes nn «lCAh?rs and deckin’ (and to assist in tidal Work when reoiilrad). R men. No. 4 <inng.—On horizontal and longitudinal hrsclng. 2 men. Nn ' Gang.—Preparing bracing and wnbngs and nloHng same (tidal Work), and chafing niocos. 1? imen. No. R Gang—Fitting straps and other Ironwork, 2 mon. . Vn. 7 Gang.—Shoeing and ringing P’les. « s Cm’.— Tarrlni-. feltins «tid shmtliinc piles. 10 men. Nn. 9 Gang.—Haulage (and loading in ynrd). 1 men. Nn. 10 Gang.—Supervision, 1 man, RO mon. The elmirmnn (Mr. C. F. Tlpllrlnr'or’l RP’d flint the oncripoor hnd rone intn the nrnffor verv olooely find his explanations "had been very el par. Tl»e report wns received. The nct’on of fho eliairmnn in arrnnffinm for the caWnm nf tenders fnr the plant w*iß confirmed, n cnniniitt.eo coTnnrisinP thp chnirnifiu. Messrs. Newt-nn Kino-. U TT. Burposs nnd J. S. Connett being set up tn consider the tenders received, with power to act. MATERIALS REQUIRED. TENDERS CALLED FOR. Messrs. Blfl’r Mason. Lee and Owen, consulting engineers to the hoard, advised that they had completed pl fins for the now timber wharf and hod forwarded them to the Marine Department for approval. A numbe’’ of the qpecificat.ians had been completed and tenders were being advertised in the | four centres for all contracts, and. in I the ease of totara, in the King Country and North Auckland. Specifications for the hardwood contracts wore also on view at two newspaper in

eluded only the actual quantity of materials required and they recommended that such stocks -as the resident engineer might require during the next two years be included in the contracts before acceptance. The chairman said he had discussed the matter with Mr. Lee and they had agreed that it would be as well as advertise in Australia, besides New Zealand. He had also suggested that anything they required for the old wharf should be included. Mr. Lowson mentioned that they required very little in the way of stocks. The tenders received will be considered by the finance committee on December 4 and 13 and at a special meeting of the hoard on December 14.