Sessional_Paper_1924 — Page 150

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Adjoining the eastern ferry piers, provision is made to accommodate the present river passenger and cargo trade by the construction of five piers 300 feet in length, 40 feet in width and 200 feet apart, the width of the piers being divided by a close partition, giving each vessel a wharf about 20 feet wide. In order to provide for the better control of cargo, one storey transit sheds, 70 feet wide and of a length of 90 feet per berth, are arranged for its reception. In regard to the passenger trade, provision is made for a central booking office and waiting rooms on the ground floor, the passengers being subject to police and medical inspection on leaving the waiting rooms. The searching rooms are situated on the first floor. Passengers, after having passed through them, proceed along a passage-way over the top of the transit sheds and downstairs to the particular berth at which they wish to embark. In-coming passengers ascend to another passage-way which likewise passes over the transit sheds to the searching rooms. On leaving them, passengers pass down stairs for medical and police inspection and thence to a passage leading to the street. The design of the arrangements is such that in-coming and out-going passengers can be prevented from communicating with each other except when in the searching rooms. Passengers and cargo can also be separated entirely if the scheme is operated as arranged; viz. :—that the discharge of cargo should not be commenced until the passengers have entered the passage-ways leading to the searching rooms and the loading of cargo should cease before gates are opened to admit passengers to the piers from the passageways leading from the searching rooms.

Whatever decisions may be taken in regard to leasing out the accommodation, it is recommended that Government should control the arrangements for regulating the local passenger and cargo trade.

A considerable portion of the new frontage is reserved for public use, convenient access being given by roadways between the transit sheds.

To the west of the five piers referred to, a pier 160 feet long and 42 feet wide and warehouse and office accommodation on a space 140 feet long and 80 feet wide are arranged for the use of the Imports and Exports Department, adjoining which, a pier 160 feet long and 38 feet wide is arranged for the use of craft operated by the Harbour and Police Departments.

To provide for expansion in the local passenger and cargo trade, three piers of the same size together with similar arrangements as those already recommended for the carrying on of this trade have been laid out to the westward of the pier designed for the use of Harbour and Police Departments' craft. In continuation of this system of piers and adjoining the Western Ferry Services, a pier about 160 feet in length and 42 feet in width is recommended for the landing of building materials and an area 195 feet in length and 70 feet in width reserved on the new reclamation for their temporary storage. Provided the storage time is limited, strictly to that necessary to remove the materials to their destination, it is considered that this area will be sufficient.

Type of Construction.

In regard to the Eastern and Central Ferry Services accommodation, the ferry berths which form the arms of the vehicular ferry boat basin should be constructed in re-inforced concrete, all other ferry boat berths and also that for Post Office launches being formed by quay walls, (similar to that recommended in the North Point Scheme), constructed in blackwork on a pell-meli rubble mound, the latter being founded by dredging to depths at which suitable foundations exist. The depths of water to be provided alongside quay walls should be 12 feet at L.W.O.S.T., with the exception of that for vehicular ferry boats which should be 15 feet. Selected filling material should be used to reclaim the area within these quay walls. Two storied buildings on this reclamation provide office and passenger waiting accommodation for the ferry services, the ground floor being reserved for 2nd and 3rd class passengers and the first floor for 1st class passengers. Provision is made for embarking and disembarking by double- decked ramps which will be raised and lowered by mechanical power according to the rise or fall of the tide. In the case of the vehicular ferry service ramp, the lower deck is 25 feet wide and provides a central passage-way 10 feet in width for vehicles, and two passage-ways each about 6 feet in width for passengers. In front of the building

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