Page 97 - KBHA Bulletin 16

94

1910-11 the Pier and Foreshore proposals were refined and brought into harmony with

each another.

The reinforced concrete recommended for the pier’s sub-structure was a comparatively
new material and not much tried in sea works. So Council decided to appoint a Resident

Engineer and Clerk of Works having practical experience of ferro-concrete marine
structures. The post was advertised locally and overseas and drew 66 responses, from

whom they selected Mr R A Piercy of the UK who presented a comprehensive motivation

showing he was abreast of contemporary experience with ferro-concrete structures in
Britain, France and Germany. He was appointed and attached to the City Engineer’s

Department where he assisted with the development of the plans. Thus, the detailed

drawings, specifications and supervision of the construction of the pier were all handled
by the City Engineer’s department.

Construction

By late 1911 plans and preparations had been completed and at noon on 16 November

1911 Mayor Sir Frederick Smith performed the inauguration ceremony.

MAYOR AS PILE DRIVER
SIR FREDERICK AND THE PIER EXTENSION
“LONG CHERISHED HOPE”
AFTER 21 YEARS

In the presence of a large assembly of the public and a gathering of councillors
and city officials, Sir Frederick mounted the upper platform of the novel “walking” pile-
driver at the end of the present pier, and touched a lever on a switchboard. In response a
two-ton weight, known as the “monkey”, slid upwards in a groove and, having attained
sufficient height, fell with a dull thud on to a baulk of timber set vertically above the first
of the reinforced concrete piles already set in position. Several times in rapid succession
the “monkey” rose and fell, and with each impact the pile was driven into the sea bottom.
Then Mr. Piercy, the resident engineer in charge of the work, gave the signal and power
was switched off. The pile was deep enough – in fact, Mr. Piercy pleasantly remarked
that the Mayor had done his work too well, as the pile was an eighth of an inch below its
correct level.

The Cape Argus, 17 November, 1911.