Page 72 - Bulletin 18 2014

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sequence of five slices. Mass concrete, four to five feet thick, was laid down over the top of

the blockwork as it advanced to make a firm regular working surface that carried the crane
and trolley tracks. A fresh water main and electric cabling were laid at the same time. The

process was repeated over and over until completed in December 1918, by which time over
3,000 blocks (30,000 tons of concrete) had been laid, amounting to perhaps 160 - 200 slices,

and laid at an average rate of 2 - 3 blocks/day.

By the end of 1914 the breakwater extended to 302 ft. and 1,132 blocks had been set.
Progress was slowed during 1915 by the war and a shortage of cement (until the war all

cement had been imported and now had to be produced locally) and only another 123 ft. were
added, but it was now past the halfway mark of 391 ft. The cement shortage continued during

1916 but the structure reached the 562 ft. mark. Rough weather and the worst storm in living
memory on 13 February also hampered progress.

The breakwater was to have been terminated in a roundhead but instead it was returned at

right-angles for 20 ft. to form a platform some 50 ft. x 30 ft., standing 2½ ft. above

breakwater level and approached up four steps. It was protected on its sea-side by the
continuation of the parapet wall which was also returned for 28 ft. across the short breakwater

face. In 1919 a lighthouse was placed at the centre of the return head. It had a two-second
flash every 20 seconds that was visible from 10 miles out in clear conditions, and a red arc

covered the sector containing the dangerous reef south of the Breakwater.

The breakwater’s mass concrete surface was finished off with compressed asphalt paving
slabs. (Figs. 2.26 – 2.30.) The coping edge on the harbour side was made of granolithic

blocks into which bollards were let at 33 ft. centres for heavier craft to tie up to. Ring bolts in
between carried life-lines hanging down to water’s edge. Further attention to safety was given

along the outer wall where life-ladders extending down to spring low water level were fixed
at three places. Life buoys with life-lines were also attached to the electric light standards on

the breakwater.