Cargo Tonnage Up 14 Per Cent.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29626, 23 September 1961, Page 16

Cargo Tonnage Up 14 Per Cent.

In the first six months of 1961, the tonnage of cargo handled at all New Zealand ports increased by 796,753 or 14 per cent, to a total of 6,438,570, according to the latest Abstract, of Statistics. This increase included rises of 616,237 tons in inward cargo from overseas, whicn totalled 2,916,121 tons, and 76,565 tons in inward coastal cargo, to 1,174,230 tons. Outward coastal cargo was 106,959 tons greater at 1,071,866 tons, but outward overseas cargo declined by 3008 tons to 1,094,925 tons.

Inward overseas cargo handled at Auckland was 1,105,139 tons, or 37.9 per cent, of the total—a decline from the 1960 figure of 38.8 per cent, or 903,563 tons. Lyttelton 13 p.c. Wellington handled 682,322 tons ’ of inward overseas cargo, a rise of 147,975 tons and equal to 23.4 per cent, of the total. Lyttelton accounted for 13.2 per cent, or 385,804 tons, while 162,551 tons, or 5.2 per cent., passed through Taranaki ports. ' The total cargo handled at Auckland during the six months was 1,760,194 tons, against 1,566,949 tons in the comparable period of 1960. Wellington handled 1,374,582 tons against 1,233,432 tons. Next in the list came Lyttelton and then Tauranga. All ports showed increases

lin the volume of cargo handled, with the exception of Westport, which recorded a drop from 96,571 tons to 83.754 tons. LONDON WOOL SALE (Special Cnpdt N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, September 20. Buyers were more selective and values did not quite maintain the previous week’s basis at the London wool sale yesterday. New Zealand greasy crossbreds were just about holding steady, but scoured crossbreds were a little irregular, being sometimes in buyers’ favour.

Slipes overall were from par to 21 per cent, cheaper, more noticeably in combing lambs and blanket wools.

Mount Lyell, 1.C.1.A.N.Z. Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, Ltd., will hold about 1,316.900 1.C.1.A.N.Z. shares after the one-for-4 premium issue announced on Tuesday. The chairman of Mount Lyell (Sir Walter Bassett) says in the annual report that the company now holds 1.053,509 1.C.1.A.N.Z. shares afer the bonus issue and the sale of Commonwealth Fertiliser shares.—(N.Z .P .A.)

Briseoes Profit Up.—Briscoes. Ltd., Australian and New Zealand wholesale hardware and iron and steel merchants, lifted consolidated net profit for the year to June 30 from £80,594 to £90,410. Profit was after tax of £74.627 (previous £103,085) and depreciation of £33.644 (£35.539). A final dividend of 3J per cent, making a steady 7 per cent, for the year is payable on October 26. Dividend will require £70.000.—(N.Z.P.A.)