M V Irvinga Dry Dock, Dry docks (or graving docks) were as much status symbols as practical ventures in colonial New Zealand. Every major port wanted one. Designed by harbour board engineer C. Napier Bell, Lytteltons graving dock was built of masonry and concrete. It was opened on 3 January 1883 when the gaily decorated Hurunui – the very perfection of neatness and order – sailed in, breaking a blue ribbon. Thirty speeches followed. Now a registered historic place, Lytteltons graving dock still repairs ships

---

Size: 4544px × 2910px
Location:
Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 3, 1883, bell, blue, board, breaking, built, colonial, concrete, decorated, designed, dock, docks, dry, engineer, gaily, graving, harbour, historic, hurunui, irvinga, january, lytteltons, major, masonry, napier, neatness, opened, order, perfection, place, port, practical, registered, repairs, ribbon, sailed, ships, speeches, status, symbols, ventures, wanted, zealand, –