64 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



Contractors' claims arising out of the works already executed, and they 

 are making arrangements for the completion of the scheme, but as the 

 available funds are insufficient they have made application for additional 

 financial assistance. 



A payment of £985, 6s. 4d. by way of loan has been made to the 

 Commissioners from the Development Fund during the year. 



Nairn Harbour. 



This Improvement Scheme has been reconsidered by the Town 

 Council, who have submitted fresh proposals. 



Wick Harbour. 



The progress of the special repairs necessary to secure the stability 

 of the piers and breakwaters has been slow this year on account of the 

 exposed site and stormy weather, and the operations have had to be 

 suspended during the worst of the winter season. The workmen 

 engaged on the special repairs had also to be withdrawn on occasions 

 for other work of an urgent nature at the harbour. 



The reconstruction of the North River Pier was commenced in the 

 early part of the year, and this involved the removal of a large quantity 

 of debris and the landward section of the inner wall of the pier, which 

 was overturned when the pier was destroyed in 1912. A 10 tons steam 

 crane with grabbing appliance was erected on the site and removed the 

 debris. The overturned wall was then removed by drilling and blasting 

 the concrete into convenient pieces, which were lifted by the crane. 

 The early stages of the work have been tedious, but the first section of 

 the new wall is ready for filling with concrete. When the work is 

 interrupted by stormy weather the men are employed quarrying stone 

 and collecting sand for concrete. 



The expenditure on the repair works has exceeded the original 

 estimate owing to the enormous increase in wages and the cost of 

 materials which has taken place since the works were commenced, and 

 the Trustees have made application for further financial assistance to 

 enable them to complete the works. 



Payments amounting to £7912, 19s. Id. by way of loan have been 

 made to the Trustees from the Development Fund during the year. 



Bucket Dredger. 



The Board in September obtained an advance from the Development 

 Fund for the purchase of a bucket dredger to enable the authorities of 

 fishery harbours to improve and maintain the depth of water in these 

 harbours at moderate cost, and the dredger " Dragon" was purchased 

 for this purpose at a cost of <£19,500. The " Dragon " is a self-propelling 

 hopper dredger of modern construction, of a convenient size, and with 

 suitable power and hopper capacity to deal with the dredger work 

 required by these harbour authorities. During the three months it 

 has been in the service of the Board it was hired by the Buckie Town 

 Council for deepening the entrance and approaches to the harbour. 



A number of other harbours have applied for the services of the 

 dredger when the work at Buckie is finished. 



It is intended to charge for the services of the dredger at such rates 

 as may be necessary to cover the expenses of the vessel. 



R. Gordon Nicol, 



Consulting Engineer. 



