OPENING OF THE LYTTELTON GRAVING DOCK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1051, 4 January 1883, Page 3

OPENING OF THE LYTTELTON GRAVING DOCK.

Sir James Prendergast arrived at Lyttelton by special train at 12.40 on Wednesday, and was met by the Mayor and Councillors. He was rowod in the pilot boat to the dock, where ihe was received by the members of the Harbor Board. A guard of honor of the Lyttelton Navals presented arras, and a salute of 17 guns was fired by the Christchurch artillery. The ship Hiirunui, 1005 tons, Captain iTaselwcod, then entered the dock, and His Excellency declared it open. Captain Haselwood was presented, according to custom, with a gold pencil case, by Mr Peter Cunningham. About 2000 people were round the dock. After the opening, a luncheon was partaken of in the new export shed. The ©hair was occupied by Mr P. Cunningham, "Chairman' of the Harbor

Board, and among those present was the Acting-Governor. The dock is situated west of Naval Point, and its dimensions ore : length 450 ft, width of entrance between coping 92ft, depth of water on sill 28ft, width on floor 46ft. The floor consists of 2ft masonry on 2ft Gin of concrete. The sides are of stone, from Melbourne, and concrete. The excavation and masonry were executed by Messrs Ware and Jones at a cost of £91,976 The entrance is closed by an iron caisson from Glasgow, 62ft long, 19ft beam, and 28tt deep. The dock is emptied by two centrifugal pumps worked by a pair of 15 h.p. nominal engines. These will empty it in five hours. The construction of the dock was commenced in October, 1879, and the last stone was laid in February, 1882. Considerable delay was caused by the non-arrival of tiie caisson, owing to accidents on the voyage.