OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23478, 5 November 1941, Page 4

OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD

— f— , DIVERSION OP SHIPPING CAUSES CONCERN

The effect which the diversion of shipping to main ports had had on the board’s finance's was discussed by the chairman of the , Oamaru Harbour Board (Mr R. K. Ireland) in his annual report to the board yesterday. The chairman stated that the year, began with a credit of £1866 .s lid in the general account and closed' with a credit of £3876 28 9d. The cash balance in’ the Harbour Improvement and Renewal Account at the beginning of the year was £sf|l6 5s Id, and at the end £I7BB Is Bd. The total cash credit was £5664 4s sd, compared with £7482 7s 6d, at the beginning of , the year, which was satisfactory, considering the loss Of wharf revenue. The total debt under the come sion Joan (1937) was £84,719 7s 9d, and outstanding arrears in district rates amounted to £277 16s 6d, , . . The diversion of overseas shipping to main ports had concerned the board, and was seriously affecting the board’s financial position, Mr Ireland said. Only one overseas and two intercolonial vessels had visited the port, compared with eight overseas and six intercolonial vessels in 1940. This vessel, shipped 104,586 compared' With a total of 271,96* last year. Ninety-five coastal vessels; causing the handling .of a total cargo of 25,705 tons, had visited the portion 2805 tons on last year’s figures. The exports totalled 20,541 tons, and the imports 5165. Theunain exports were flour (10,723 tons), wheat 2689, lime 2014, wool 2812. The Ramsay Extension was now but a distance of 312 feet on the curve from the frog, and was at a point where froni now its effect on the entrance would be more, marked. When sufficiently far'advanced the extension would give protection for dredging outside the entrance. Replanting of trees had been carried out on , the lighthouse reserve, and the trees were in good order. . , :; A report on the quarry output and cost was given by the secretary (Mr T. J. Gdthrie), Mr Guthrie said that the total number of tons lor the year ended on September: 30, 1941, was 25.009.. the net cost ;3s 6.1797 d a ton. The - rubble amounted;-to. 1Q7.7384 tons, the proportion* stone to rubble, respectively,. being 38;84 per cent.; and 81.16., The total output since the firing of No. 1 tunnel was:; stone 191,667 tons (31.737 per cent.); rubble, 412,285 (68.263 per cent.). The net cost to September, 1940, was £34,218 8s 9d, and September, 1941, £4395 6s Id. making the total £38,613 14s 10d. During October 3357 tons were used on the breakwater, and 8110 tons of rubble disposed of- Owing to adverse weather little concreting work had been done on the breakwater. The south side of the concrete work had been protected by placing large stones in position, and the rock work on the mole had been' extended by 30 feet. On the Holmes wharf the mole line had now been connected up to the third line and the cross-over line completed.