Wharf Accommodation.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4347, 6 December 1882, Page 2

Wharf Accommodation.

At the monthly meeting of the Harbor Board the following report from Captain Davies, Harbor Master, was read :—

SHOBTLAND WHABF.

la view of, meeting the increasing requirement of shipping accommodation at the Shortiand Wharf, and also that the construction of the railway will absorb fully one half of the present wharf, so as to make it nearly useless for shipping purposes, I beg to report that I consider it necessary to extend the wharf seaward at least 200 feet by a breadth of 40 feet. To estimate the oost of such extension is somewhat difficult on account of the great depth and softness of the rnqd forming the rirer banjc on whjph, fche structure has tp

1)3 erected. I believe, however, the cheapest, as well as the most useful and permanent wharf could be built on the following plan:—Three k>wb of piles parallel for the whole intended extension, the width between each row 14 feet. The pile* to be totara, 30 feet by 12 inches diameter. The front row nearest the creek, and also outer end, to be 6 feet from centre to centre. The second and third rows 12 feet from centre to centre, longitudinal width as stated above. The front of wharf and outer end sheet piled, with 9x3 heart of kauri to a depth of (according to nature of bottom) from 15 to 20 feet, and planked from mud line'to top\ of wharf (10 feet) with similar material. The back part of wharf would require a sheet piling of 2-inch timber to a depth of 10 to 15 feet; top planking also 9by 2; longitudinal stringers 9 x 6, on each row of piles, with front cap 12 x 10. To prevent spreading, each cross row of piles should be securely braced by 6 x 3 iron braces extending the whole width of the wharf. The cost of filling in will be difficult (o estimate owing to the same cause as mentioned above^ viz., of obtaining a foundation. It wilj, 'perhaps, also be necessary to cradle soiJieroCthe piles, and a few other unforeseen3x'penses; yet I do not believe the cost of constructing a wharf of .the above dimensions, 200 feet x 40, wonld exceed £1600, and much less if the silt lifted from the bed of the creek by the dredging machine could be made available for filling in, which I believe possible. As the goods-shed on Shortland Wharf must be removed on the construe* tion of the railway, I would recommend the building of a new one on the place marked on the plan, and to have the new one somewhat larger than the old, viz., length, 60 feet; width, 25 feet; height of stud, 10 feet; walls and roof corrugated iron, &c. Cost would be £124—a1l material first-class.

goods' whabf. Regarding the sbrd accommodation on the Goods Wharf, I would suggest a Bide addition or lean-to to the present shed, which "would give sufficient room for a longtime, and, occupying onlythe least used part of the wharf, would scarcely interfere with the traffic. The south side of the building is the proposed one for the addition, which will be of corrugated iron, 6 feet 6 inches high and 6 feet 6 inches wide; cost, £18. I would also ask the Board's permission to have the braces under the Goods Wharf repaired. In a former report I drew attention to this matter, but now it is becoming imperative to have the matter attended to, as there is not a single whole brace under the T. The remedy I proposed before, and which I still believe to be the most inexpensive and lasting, was to splice the braces above high water with 6x4 totara, thereby saving half the present timber, and <o replace the worm-eaten kauri with totara (which can now be got at the same price), effecting a lasting improve" ment. The broken piles at the end.of Curtis' Wharf have now all been drawn, and replaced with new ones, in accordance with the Board's resolution. ;

The Boird decidf d to leave the proposal relative to the extension of Shortland Wharf in abeyance until the intentions of Government re railway were defintely understood. The expenditure proposed upon bracing, and the addition to the goods shed at the Goods Wharf was authorised. -_ .