WELLINGTON DOCK DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2683, 13 December 1909, Page 4

WELLINGTON DOCK DIFFICULTY.

SERIOUS TROUBLE. fl’jjit Pu::c3 ARsnorATioN-I WELLINGTON, Dee. 11. For over two hours yesterday the Wharves and Accounts Committee of the Wellington Harbor Board discussed the difficulty that has arisen in the formation of the floor of the dock at Clyde Quay. The members had before them a report from the Beard’s engineer (Mr. Marchbanks), and a preliminary report from the consulting engineer (Mr Ferguson). Finality Avas not reached. It Avas agreed to.reopen the question at a full meeting of the Board/in committee on Monday afternoon. It i.s understood that more exhaustive reports av ill then be available for tlie guidance of the Board. Wellington’s dock has already a history more interesting than tne average dock. The contract, prosaically knoAvn as “Contract No. 145,” Avas let in January. 1907, to Messrs John McLean and Son at £196,216 5s 4d, the Avork to he completed by 31st December, 1910. The unsuccessful tenderers Avere Messrs C. F. Cuney and Co. £206,167 13s lOd, and Messrs J. and W. Jamieson £272,469 12s 9d. Prior to inviting tenders tbe Harbor Board employed the dredge Whakarire for twelve or eighteen months in exca\ r ating the basin. In the early stages of the Avork, over two years ago, a suggestion Avas made that it would benefit the Board and the community in the long run to change the site. This proposal soon gathered considerable support, and the advantages of Evans Bay Avere strongly pressed. Mr R. Fletcher moved at a meeting of the Board that it Avas advisable to cease at Clyde Quay, and select a more suitable site. He failed to make tbe Board change its mind. The Avork went ahead steadily, and public interest in the dock was not appreciated till a few weeks ago, when the representatives of the Navy League and other citizens suggested that the design of the dock should be altered to enable it to receive tbe largest battleships. A report on this proposal has been prepared by the Board s engineer (Mr Marchbanks). but it is understood that unless the Government or the Admiralty will agree to foot the bill the enlargement will not he undertaken. The main difficulty would lie in extending the width, which would bo costly. The matter of manoeuvring super-Dreadnoughts into the basin Avould also have to be well considered. To °ive the public an idea of the present* check to the work of forming the floor, it is necessary to explain the general plan. Roughly, the basin is to consist of a concrete floor, flanked by concrete faces, which slope upwards and outwards in a series of steps, lbe bottom of the floor is made by the deposition of concrete in wet blocks encased lightly in wood to hold the composition, and the whole is loivered m an iron box. In the upper, shallower portion of the dock the concrete lias set satisfactorily, but in deeper part its beliaviour lias proved, disconcerting. Somehow the blocks waste by about 25 per cent. A considerable portion of the cement manages to escape from the mixture. The first line of steps abutting the floor suffered a diminution Avliich called for a renewal. The Board lias a choice of Vwo courses, each one of which Avill involve a large amount of thinking and .pondering. Experts may determine 60me special treatment of the concrete to enable the scheme of wet blocks to be continued in accordance with, the specifications on Avhioli tlie contractors haire been acting, or the Board may deem it advisable to construct a coffer dam.If this system was' adopted the basin, would be' pumped out, and the concrete flooring 1 and faces- would Ue dry before coming in contact with the salt water. Estimates of the expenditure that would be entailed by a coffer dam varv from £60,000 to £100,0)0. The flooring work stands suspended till the Board has selected the line of action to take. v