HARBOR WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 958, 3 August 1903, Page 4

HARBOR WORKS.

THE OVERSEER’S REPORT,

The following is tho full test of the report given by Mr McLeod at tho last meeting of the Harbor Board, of which condensation has already been given. LEADING LIGHT TOWERS. The work ordered to be done to the towers has been completed. RECLAMATION BACK OF WHARF EXTENSION. I have discharged half the men on this work, and discontinued dredging alongside of wharf, and havo been getting the material from ehallower parte of the river by dredging as opportunity offered. This work will bo finished in tho course of a day or two. 3 DREDGING.

Dredging has been going on steadily during tho month. I have had tho sand grab belonging to tho Hercules crane altered to suit the double chain of the John Townley, and after experimenting a little lam happy to Eay that I have succeeded in making it cut the papa clay that neither of the other grabs would lift without blasting. This has been done by temporary weights, amounting to ab,out half a ton, being added to the weight of the grab, and with the half ton added it is still a good deal lighter than either of the other two grabs hitherto in use. I am quite satisfied that by and strongthoning this grab sufficiently it will be found to work very satisfactorily, and to still further facilitate the dredging of this papa clay I purpose, with your permission, getting a three-furrow skeleton plough, to be used by the John Townley whenever the weather is too rough to go outside. 1 feel quite sure that nearly all the papa in the river, from the Kaiti bridgo to a point about a chain below the slip, is sufficiently soft to be ploughed and dredged without the use of explosives, but the papa from this point outwards is much harder, and more the nature of rock than clay and needs blasting. The grab recently repaired and strengthened by Messrs Davys and Third is the better suited of the other two grabs for dealing with this rock when blasted. THE JOHN TOWNLEY.

A number of repairs will shortly require to be done to the John Towniey, and should be attended to when sho is on the slip, particulars of which appear in the report of the Engineer, hereto attached. THE SLIP. The outer end of coffer dam has been removed, and tho entrance to the slip deepened to the level of river channel. I havo had the small dredger on the slip undergoing temporary ropairs. When the big iron pulley blocks for wire rope come to hand two or three days will suffice to get tho slip ready for taking up the John Townley. The recent high tides, combinod with hoavy sea, has made it very evident that tho two small reclamations now in hand are absolutely needed, not only for stacking tho timber on, but also for protecting the machinery from salt water. The building over tho machinery will soon be finished, and there should be two large tanks attached to the building for supplying the boiler with water.

STONE-CRUSHER. I have had the stone-crusher and locomotive rotnovod and placed in working position clear of the lino, in order-to leave tramline clear for traffic. WESTERN GROYNE EXTENSION. I notice by the plan that it is intended to carry this work SO feet beyond the right angle line of the breakwater. It seems to me to be a mistake to go outside the shelter of the breakwater with tho groyne, as it will havo the effect of training the waves into tho river. I would respectfully ask that you carefully consider the advisability of having this work done by tender, as it is a work that requires a considerable amount of up-to-date appliances, of which we have none available. Should you decide to go on with this work by day labor, the necoßsary machinery should be ordered without delay, and some of the preliminary work might be put in hand at once. The material for filling in the groyne will have tobe conv eyed to the site either by punts or else by tram laid along tho groyne from about the centre of the old groyne. If by punts, they will require to be repaired and strengthened considerably, and could only be used during fine weather. If by tram we could work in any ordinary weather. The engine used for this work must be of sufficient power

to drive the boring tool and a force pump at the same time, the pump to have sufficient power to drive all the sand off ■ the papa rock while being bored to receive piles. In conclusion, I desire to state that Mr DeThiery has given me every assistance in his power. He has also kept the accounts, and done whatever clerking has been required this month. I should be glad if he were appointed to do this work, and assist in other ways in which a man of his ability would be capable of doing.