DUNEDIN NOTES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8714, 9 February 1894, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

Februarys.

Mr Gourley has been re-elected Chairman of the Harbour Board. In acknowledging the receipt of a mounted map showing the Wbon* improvement «H»kiL the Agent*

most difficult to supply Ira- an. intelligible form. I wish other Harbour Boards and mtraicipal bodies i» the colony wonld sen<A Home similar information, *+*+. - x *m-m mil m* great g«xxst-: 'woold. ~ eneae M Ml IB8IS! " >no " ce -" m John I>aLirling,-o£ Hie Union Steamship Gozapaay, wrote from Glasgow, acknowledged the value of the information sent, and added —"No doubt all harbour securities in New Zealand have depreciated, titrongh defaolta north Of you. low wores enemies live among yon- Get clear of them and their ravings *nd yoar bonds will bring better prices." The readiug of Mr Dixling , ! letter

evoked loud applause. The Chairman, In reviewing the year's transaction, raid—-. "On examination of the receipts from dues and berthage, it will be noted that they show a elight decrease from those of the two previous yean, but about equal thoae of 1890, proving that notwithstanding the depression of trade generally all over the colony, and I might add the world, tho volume of our import and export trade has not suffered much shrinkage. In pilotage and port charges there had been a considerable falling off, accounted for by the fact that seaborne goods are now carried by large steam vessels and that sailing vessels are to a great extent being supplanted. This change, as also the improvement of navigation of the harbour, had had the effect of rendering the tug service less necessary, and the total receipts from that source last year were £1300 less than the previous one, the difference in the expenditure between the two years being only £548. The Board started the year with a credit balance of £7665 and ended with a credit balance of £2318, a difference of £5347. Daring the year there was expended on general work £5189. The shrinkage on total receipts amounted to £5343. The reductions in staff expenditure—£ll4o —only partially came into operation near the close of the year, and the full effects, I may say, are only now in force. It is satisfactory to note that the returns for December and January show a' surplus of receipts over expenditure of £1395 after charging £3000 per month for interest on loans. Those figures ! point to the wisdom as well as necessity of keeping down all fancy or not absolutely necessary expenditure, and that demands for new works must be firmly resisted until the Board are placed in a better financial position by » revival of trade, increase of taxation, or by increased rentals from further leasing of the Board's endowmeuts. The real requirements of trade are, I believe, at present fairly met ; in fact, a much larger trade without any serious inconvenience could be dealt with by existing provisions, and the question appears to mc to be one for the uew Board to consider, whether their constituents are prepared to provide additional revenues, or to abstain from entering upon new works which, however desirable they may be considered to be in prospective, are not at present required, nor are likely to be for some time. The extension bf settlement by the opening up of the Otago Central, and the revivalof trade consequent on that and other causes inclines mc to the opinion that the probabilities are in favour of an increase of revenue from most sources during the present year, but, to üße an old adage, it is not wise " to count your chickens until they are hatched." I again repeat, the true policy, in my opinion, under the existing circumstances and conditions of trade, is for the Board to limit their expenditure as far as possible to absolute necessities."