244 



Appe7idices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



then 836 lineal feet of breakwater have been built, the work being carried 

 on simultaneously from each end, so that now only a length of 90 feet 

 at foundation level remains to be built to close the gap at the centre. 

 The Ruthven Burn has been diverted eastward, and now flows to the 

 sea through the breakwater in a concrete conduit. A commencement 

 has been made to the construction of the jetty and the quay walls, but 

 no excavation has been done in the new basin. 



It is expected that the whole of the works under scheme No. 2 will 

 be completed next year. 



The total expenditure on the scheme to 28th February 1914 is ap- 

 proximately £41,834, towards which an instalment of £4000 has been paid 

 from the Development Fmid. 



The payment of further instalments only awaits the rectification of 

 certain defects of construction, and damage by storms, which are at 

 present receiving attention. 



Wick Harbour. 



A new river harbour basin is in course of construction at the outfall 

 of the Water of Wick, with protecting breakwaters and piers to provide 

 additional accommodation for fishing vessels. It is being carried out 

 under a Provisional Order of 1903, empowering the Wick and Pulteney 

 Harbour Authority to construct a new North Breakwater, an extension 

 of the existing South Breakwater, two new piers to enclose and protect 

 the new basin, various quays and retaining walls, including a widening 

 of the North Pier, and deepening part of the new basin and fairway. 

 Statutory powers were also obtained to borrow sums not exceeding in 

 all £150,000, and in terms of the Order the Trustees obtained a loan of 

 £70,000 from the Pubhc Works Loan Commissioners, and a free grant of 

 £20,000 from the Treasury. 



The engineer for the scheme is Mr. James Barron, Aberdeen, the 

 contractors are Messrs. L. P. Nott & Co., Westminster, and the contract 

 price is £106,569. The sum available being insufficient to meet the cost of 

 the improvement scheme, the dredging of the basin and fairway, and the 

 westward portion of the North Pier widening were omitted from the 

 contract. Subsequently, in February 1912, a free loan of £15,000 was 

 obtained from the Development Fund to meet the cost of this work, 

 and the first instalment of this loan, amountino; to £5000, was paid to the 

 Trustees in May 1912. 



The South Pier was extended, the two new River Piers were con- 

 structed, the widening of the old North Pier completed for a length of 

 about 600 feet, and a portion of the dredging executed, when, unfortunately, 

 the two new piers, the old South Breakwater, and the old North Pier 

 head sustained serious damage by the severe storms of January and 

 November 1912. The amount expended on the strengthening and re- 

 pairing of damaged works since 1907 has amounted to about £12,650, 

 but the river piers still require considerable reconstruction and repairs 

 before they are properly secured. The opinion has been advanced that 

 the North Breakwater should have been constructed before the River 

 Piers were built, as these piers were not sufficient in themselves to with- 

 stand the heavy seas in Wick Bay When, however, the plans were sub- 

 mitted to the Public Works Loan Board for approval, their engineer 

 considered at the time that this was unnecessary, and the North Break- 

 water has never been erected. 



The severe storms of Jaiiuary 1913 did further damage to the north 

 river pier, demohslung the inner wall and roadway, and causing a breach 



