Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4858, 5 August 1884, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

At to-day's meeting of the Board, the Harbor-master's report was presented to the following effect:-?*" During the month work at Goods Wharf was confined to keeping the" =ro ,d in order, and puttirg intermediate stringers in the wharf; these, stringers have greatly strecgthened the structure, and put a stop to the vibration; whiph was previously, experienced. In carrying out this work all the planking, has to be taken upland when the stringers; are in a position and bolted down, the planking is relaid properly, and with good timber; and, so far, we hare used nothing but what was taken up, or timber which we saved from where the road now is. In many places the stringers are so rotten and nail-sick that it is simply a marvel how the structure has stood the amount of traffic over it. About 10,000 ft, of timber will be required. . After this work is finished the wharf will require very little doing to it for the next two years. The planking will stand double the wear and tear it did formerly on account of the spaces between the stringers being lessened one half. I should recommend kahikatea in preference to kauri to finish the work, first on account of the priced and second it will last quite as: long as the present structure, will, and I should strongly urge your Boaj;d to; finish -this very necessary work, as i|sf i needed, the stringers being in jsuch ;i'"'bad" sttite. I have had the prices^ given me. for the above-mentioned kahikatea, one at 7s per 100 super., and.'•the.other,; at' 7s 6d. JRe Curtis' Wharf, Mr Rdberfc. Stone has started to get the ciamage\done by the Lizette repaired. H Kwould hivej no doubt, had it finished before now had the weather, permitted. 1 have had all the piles of the silt wall cut down and brought in and stacked, as they will be useful down Shorlland sooner or later, and had they, been left much longer, they would have disappeared through the worm. The ground about the edge of Shortland Wharf was in such a fearfully muddy and unworkable state that I have had a few loads of shingle spread over it to make it workable. Some time since, Messrs Eobinson and Gordon, railway contractors, applied for leave to take ballast for the line from the mouth of the Karaka Creek, and also from underneath the Waiotahi culvert. I granted them leave in both instances, as in the case of the Karaka Creek the more debristhat goes away from the mouth of the creek the better, as it lessens the liability of the creek getting flooded, and so causing damage to the town. Ai the Waiofahi, I have confined them to the north side of the line of the culvert. By so doing it will tend to send the water away from the wharf, anddeliver.it out attheiootQfithb Moanatairi tip. ; They have applied also to have their toll remitted on what;they cart frOm.the Waiotahi down wharf rbad^ As the advantages are about equal to both publicbodies and contractors,.l^ must ask your Board's direction in the matter.