THE PORT'S PROSPERITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 3

THE PORT'S PROSPERITY.

HARBOUR BOARD'S INCOME.

INCREASE OF £5453 FOR HALFYEAR. The Hon. E. Mitchelson (chairman) referred at the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday afternoon to the wonderful progress of Auckland. The cause of his remarks was the submission of a comparative statenrent by the secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. A. Brigham. of the income for tne half years ending 30th of June, 1906 and 1907. This showed the total receipts for the past six months to have been £41,874 2/0, while for a similar period in 1906 the receipts totalled £36,420 2/11, thus showing an increase in the revenue of the Board for the half-year just closed of no less than £5,453 19/10.

The chairman said it must be verypleasing to members of the board to note the very large increase which had taken place in the revenue of the board during the last half-year. It showed that the works the board had in hand were not commenced any too soon. In fact, he feared, judging by the lar<*e number of steamers coming to their port now, that they would even with the increase at present being provided, find that they were not far ahead of requirements in the very near future. The increase in revenue during the past six months was £5452 9/10, while for the whole of 1906 the increase was £6756, which in turn was an increase on the' income for the previous year. It must be gratifying to the board that such a large increase had -taken place during the past six months, showing as it did that Auckland was going to be the great centre, and a long way above the port of Wellington, about which they heard so much.

It may be mentioned that the only decreases were weigh fees, £2 2/. cab tolls, £2 16/, storage of explosives, £S 14/7, license for vehicle, 2/6, water supply. £4 15/2, and miscellaneous, £26 13/1, total £38 19/ S. The increases were as follow:—Rents, £86 0/6; goods, wharfage, import, £2410 12/6; goods, wharfage, export, £151 18/; shipping wharfage, £425 7/2; port charges, £641 8/6; Harbour Master's fees, £293 11/3; pilotage,- £4SI 13/7; crane dues, 10/; dock dues, Auckland, £51 5/6; dock dues, Calliope, £108 0/11; storage of goods, £804 19/; old material sold, £27 17/7; licenses, boats, £9 15/; __mir_lty subsidy, £737 10/; a_d interest, |£61 3/4; £6786.