THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

A YEAR'S WORK OF THE BOARD REMARKABLE GROWTH OF TRADE/ ; MR FERGUSON'S REPORT. The statutory annu.il mooting" of tlie- Wellington Harbour JJoard was held yesterday at noting and was attended by tho Hon. ,'i'. Kennedy Macdoriald, JLL.C. (Chairman), ajiV] Messrs. H. Beauchamp, G. Shirtclilfo, R. Fletcher, anillF./H.' Fnwor. , Ihe.wojjnts for tho year ended Septoniber 30/ : other statutory statenifnt-s. wore taken s: ' read; and adopted. i -.' THE -YEAR'S CONTRACTS. Mr. W. Ferguson, engineer, secretary ,ind treasurer, presented .his twenty-fourth, an)uni -report,' covering thp twelvo months snded September 30, 1007. In tho colii'm.- nf Jhw rather lengthy document, he state/1 that )lwi Board had, on October 1, Contricts . let for works; on which tho OiH.im.qted liabili- ' ties were £5f,749 6s, .2d. . D«Hi'| year pontracts wero Usf for worke aroouuting to £209,396 10s. lid. Payments were made during tho year amounting to £33,722 lis. ; ' 10d., 'and there romsined an estimated Jiii-bilit-y,. in rospcct to contnets', for 1 works, to accrue on. tbej'r"-cbhipletibiii ''of-j £260,462 sum; of- £2920 10s- ?d----was paid to,-, Mr. Charles F. Pulley on the completion of-tho Taranaki Street', Wharf and ,-*• store thereon, making tho totalcontract . prieo £*23,294 4s, gd.. " Tho Taravaki Street Wharf has addition to the berthing accommodation, of tho port, but I think that the Board oughtto eonsider tho advisableness of completing it? 'connection' with'tho Jervojs. Quay ,stag(rig, ~. »nd through it to tho Quoen's'-Wharf by th"o sonstruction of the staging of about '520 feet ill, length to covcr tlio gap between tho-two wharves, aud thus save tho'Jong-,detour-which-has now to bo made t-lirP«sh Taranaki Street, . feble Strep,t,.,and^'TSiroi^'Qua^ito'^'gctTrothwharf to tho other. . This, work.-would-provide » berth of about 200 feet in length: ..suitable in fine, weather for. jight-dra'ught vessels or small- h'nlks-'fe- lip''at;--but whirli being broadsi(le ( -; on, .to; tb.o - "north-we?.t.e.rly winds and exposed'to !tlio back-wash 'fjfom':th<s''Face of tho reclamation would, although parti-? 1 ally protected by .the'Taranaki Street: wharf, not bo-a comfor^a,b|e.rberth,at ;,ajl;times for small craft to'lie at;' "If the Bpard,decides to'; •rarry opt this work-it- will be-neee.=sarv' toi, ihorieni lower,., and-, rebuild tho Iwat skids af the Naval Artillfiry Volunteers, Star Boat'. Sag CJub, .and Wallingtbn' Rowing provided Jor in Subsectioni y of Sectipii 8 of. the Wellington CityJ.Reclamation ah'd> powering Act,' 19CG. Probably it woiiJd bo . most convenient for-.thc'-Board to do;...this.', worfe; charging the '.boating clubs the-.'cost'' therepf."- -' ; WHARF GATESu l 'Alhlding to the placing 'of 'giifeii 'and'Crail--ings on the wharyes, v Mr. Fergii3o))-;says he,is satisfied that' tho shuttling' l ,.up. of'■ tho• . wharves at night " has resulted in the saving , of the lives 'of many persgug . who arp ,u))fit, to be allowed on t]io except under supervision', and has excluded many undosirablo persons who have no legitimate business . on the wharves at night:tinio." ' ■ KING'S'WIJARF. ' - ' ,- %, "The contract let,, in September, 1906, to iir. Chas. F. Pulley fov tho construction of Ihe King's Wharf apd adjacent; stagings forjhe sum- of £79,440-.os. 9d.Ellas' -progressed' . airly well, considering tho difficulty that the Wntrsctors now have in obtaining- ironbark limber and piles. The contract time.does not\ aspire until tho end of September,..l9oß, and': the work, if not then finished, ought, if nothing unforeseen occurs, to be nearly cpm f plete. . Mr. Pulley deserves methods he has adopted to'save labour and expedite the work. _OwjnK\t;p.'<thp'.large area of reclaimed land Which' , tho Board has been ajjio v -'lto-'^ia^V ? Sisposal of the coptra?^^j^jtj..J)q()ij. ! ■ lo carry out the work in a r !veryv'eystomn-|ife: • manner. Jt is anticipated . thVf'" jhortly complete and hand over.tn,tfießqqrd the breastwork berth.- 1.-Wommend;";th?it ! when this portion of the tt'ofk .is complete,' »nd the Board .obtains it? full use, he should be paid in Jul) for it." THE GRAVING DOCK. 1 1 , After tho completion, of the dredging of the dock area at'the. end of September, 1906, ' c , ar ?/ u l soundings were made over tho dredged area and over 'the" SrjpV to~ bo "reclaimed under the dock contract, tho final extract plans were completed and tenders nailed, closing in January last, when three ionoerj wore received and the confract'-'was-wt to Messrs. John M'Lean and Spu for £396,261 os. 4d., thp-other..tiv'p jtenders-helng Jor £260,16S and-r£273,476..''mo'.''ainouh| tpent during the year out of the dock loan 'f £250,000 was £295, which, added to tho orevious expenditure of £16,'918, leaves an unexpended balance,, of;£2^fls7gl6' meet, the' present contract and J^ r 'prov'idtj 'for pumping machinery, caisson,, supervision, and for the Jiicessarv cranes, machinery, aj:d apilliances for a high-class dock. tApthority has >eon given to make inquirles-'a|)ou't''tbp;'''per-tianent- pumping plant and power for driving lame, and this will have to bo arranged for, jnd the floating cajsson designed, and a contract let for building it. H is.; anticipated that, ihe loan funds will be sufficient to enable not only ample hght j?rane accpn)modation to he supplied, a' heavy crane 1 ; •ommanding the dock, but also.the purchase af heavy machinery aiid' the'ertctioq Of dock' shops to enable work to bo carried out jp- a • satisfactory inaijner at the dock. " VARIOIJS WORKS. In connection with the Potonc'.'.wharf,--fpr r hicb the Board )et a contract, to Messrs. Donald M'Lean and Co., the Engincor rcf.rets that arrangements for a' railway' wharf could not bo made,"; .and .'rocomrnends" that provision should be made on the Victoria I Street frontage for the erection of a weighbridge. Dealing with the mooring accommodation For coal bulks, Mr. Ferguson -urges, that' the' license fee of 10 guineas for hulks should be ' raised, m view of tho cost-to the. Board of S providing moorings, aiid' the fact that scarcely any of the coal bandied paya any revenue to tho Board. "Peedgikg:" The dredgo has continued working 06 hours S.week by picaijS'Qf r double'shift; throughout tlie'ycar. - In tlie-twelve monthi ilier'e was dre/lged 503 loads or 201,011)- tons, of which 3-11 loads o'r.]no,'o66 ton;; (07.'per i-ent.V w'ere discharged by pumping ashore at W'aterloo Quay and 16J. loads or 95,350' tons (33 per cent.) hoirig of a nature iins.iiitablo for pumping had, to be taken t« sea and there discharged. Sist7?sercp' per cent, of tho material dredged has been pumped ashoro for reclamation purposes,, as compared with 61 per ceut. in the previous twelve months. As an amount of Gdl per ton is charged to the reclamation or £4914 the actual cost chargeable to dredging is reduced to . g.58 pence per ton, an compared with 9.66 penco per ton in the previous year. The Priestman dredgo'has lifted 80C0 tons of spoil, wbicb haa been deposited inside tlie retaining wall at the Board's Waterloo Quay North Reclamation. "Tho cost of working the Priestman, £722, or about Is. lOd. per ion, has been, as in previous yoars, charged i-o the working; account. Although this cost is very high, it appears to be necessary to keep the dredge in commission to work round the wharves and in corners where the '\Vhakarire' cannot get, or where the loss of berthage by its use would be too great, and in order t" i;ff the §ilt -brought down the city watercourses, and to pick up the debris, which, notwithstanding the vigilance of the Board's officers, still finds its way overboard from vessels lying at the wharves. . It is suggested that. wlion the work on which the Priestman is at present occupied- is completed it should bn placed In tho boat harbour to pick up tho debris and deepen tlie wator therein.

"Tito range? of twat sheds, .livclyo small mil twelve liirge, worn mm plot m] in reinforced concrete, and Ijavn -Y?JX_i;2iisi factory, cxcrpfc that the rentals re'j~un'cfl7

ranging from £~ 10s'. to £2.1 per annum appear to be considered by the owners of boats as too liigh and not half of jlicm have yet been leased. It is not proposed lo erect any moro until tho present "isheds arc all occupied."

; '"VU WHARF. Plans have been prepared and approved ■ by the Governor in Council, and tenders calledi closing at tlio October meeting ol the Board, for a wharf to ho ('oiistrin.'tod in reinforced concrete to he erected from tlio ' To Arb Reclamation J&St. The wharf is to •bo about 560 Font in length, with a breadth of Ji3 feel. ,Jj will h;ive n berth on the eastern side? bfvioO -j'eotj with 28 leet- depth ■!at.-low water, Valid Vo'ii'iithe western side of 450 feel'with tho same depth. It is to lie .fendered'all round with ironbark spring Jpilfs arid. r feiiders which, though adding materially to the cost, will, it is believed, enable* vessels to coino to aiid lie at the wharf in weather during which otherwise it would be difficult for them to do so. The wharf will, in addition to providing muclinoeded berths for the jpijal' and .timber trades and for hulks and', vessels. lying up under repairs, act as a screen or breakwater from easterly- winds and mmis [o tho Graving .Dock .entf?nfr;" ■ •' rSUJJUK-'DA'N WHARVES. "The actual earnings from tho Rona Bay pud Day s Bay wharves during the year were £63 9s. 3d., of which £5 2s. 9d. was for goods. The. revenilo .derived from the Wellington Harbour Ferries, Ltd., in respect of'passengers carried to and . from Miramar Wharf during tho year has.been £3.9 Bs. 6d., and it), respect- fo thejjontoun and Karaka Bay- wharves, SCSOfI lifsv-od., being also onetwelfth of the passenger fares. In addition, tho Board earned £62 lis. Id, as wharfage on goods passing over tho Mir»niar Wha.rf, and £10 6s. 2d, on goods over the Soatoun it ml Karaka Bay Wharycf, tlio total earn* and Karaka 'tfiVv 'Wh'ar&Vs' IjcinV' £321 12s. 2d. fov tho twelyc inotifhSi.. .Dpductinir fronj. this sum the annual nayment (till 1928) to the Miru» mar Lls.- 7d, for interest and» pvincij)al on the Government loair"T6r"'w]{arf construction, we have £240^17,the net earnings last year jifj tho .throe ■ taken over from tho'Mjramiir Borough. The cash paviinont the cost of the "extension's"to"Mim*mar'Wharf now approachto amount, to "about £f{lpP, so-thatHhe roTenup produced on ihe capital es'pendi- . ' .'HANDLING LUGGAGE. • '"•TJie > portioii': of:the IF' shed set aside /!)s h,v H.M. J»^pra^-»f"'t-ho luggage' of ''passengers'--Arriving ,civj>r seas, has proved itself both suitable ,foi; -tho purpose and n boon to the travelling public, and ban relieved- tlie transit. sheds materially. I desire, \ho#oi'fc| < ;! ! =fS!>igßiii''''pp»)fe?oiit that the..Board is aiptf paid: by/anyoripf. for the labour invplyed ill',-tlio ha'jtdling of the luggage from ■Uie" 'the .luggage' store, for 'aft'ondane'e oiu-tho-.-Customs officials there, '.aad __foc .iOMjiU6""&n'";l?!*' vehicles -after tho examination is complete, nor for the u,so of tho..!>toi;o loccujiiod. c.SuRh work is not, so Jlir.-jvs"!, haVjolbesu ahl.Q-Tto trace, carried out '.by, ;a Jia;-(jci.iVr~ authqrjjiy,, free pf cost, in any 7 p»r(;- of; thp : 'I bolieve that either a Sinall-charge per'iiackage should be made tir'th'd '■ pfissiliger's tor "tft the ship bringing 'the- passenger? Although it may not bo desirable to make a revouuo oufof "th(s"ovorsea travelling public, thero ..doe-s 4!ot, J s.c<j!a h J:fl-.t.br- J i)ny reason why the jljoard'-'shotild -not ho 'recouped for out-ol-j-pbekofc.. espcn«}s.".v >,» .i PAJKiIOL I'OHT.. . " Thp. attention of tho Post and Telegraph PspartiiiienFi'hns been drawn to the injustice that has arisen to the Board through the largo inorease in the.'hulk of parcel post, •and a request mado.-.th.at wharfage ,should ;be paid on : these goods. , Owing tq tho cost of largo bulk but small woighfc being less by post than have adopted the planoP'seiidjiigVout many classes of. light and .ibn!ky..'.g6qas. hy mail, hud as wl|arfage is not i;cliargeublo jin Government,' 1 goods,- the .iner-' v escapes, harbsiir.vdues. By .two....consecutive , stjeaipers about--240 tons , tons meastiremont of, parcel post 'were respectively landed, and tho.discharge of the ordinary cargo •by thq vessel wan \,materifllß', impeded aiicj loss thereby caused to •w'Board by the given to mails. It is understood sthat both the New Zealand arid British Postal-Departments aro fllllyj .alive to .the abuse, and it is hoped that soine remedy may bo provided." THE PATENT SLIP. " The Board, under, the Empowering Act P riooL>.""took powers to enable tho Board to purchase, and the, Patent Slip Company to sell the slip. '-Ma-i-cli, tlio Wellington Gas. Company _ arranged to purchase tho und'oftaking - with* J the"ihtention of erecting gas workshop .portiop of tho land, and tho Board' taqre tg]jprqaplietl "with the view that they''should' take' 'the"'slip portion of tho property,, leaving a. site for the' Gas Company. Arrangements were made fpr a joijit survey, rf .and I_ jsubnnttp.d to the Board a report 'couoe'rping>.a,\i-ec)aniation scbeinc at the Slip property to provide for tho requirements of tjie. Gas Company, hut, as the scheme was apparently too costly, the Gas Company, at tho.findrjtrJuno, withdrew from its negotiations' with the Board. 1 then submitted u memorandum to tho Board doaling with the suggestion tliat- tho Board .should itself,acquire the,..property, but, owing to' tho acfifih" of t-li'e'-ffity Council in opou.illg ,llP.the. : oiiestjoi| : .Df'..reclamation in Kvans Bay-pib-a largejsgnlo for, indunl.riai purposes, tile CRii'sideratit)'n"of t'ho question Jms been pofilpolled.''. - v-

-2 «-.H.ISVAN"S PAY KBCI/AJIATION., Aftc'r r/nbtirig-iIVP 'resolutions of tlio joint conference of the copimitlees of the Oily Council and Harbour Ityard on the, Evans -Bay ; 'W'eidamatioif i' sdlicme, Mr. Ferguson says:—" A schomo is being prepared providing (cr-a suihdilp/reclamation at tlio southern "end pr. of. Avails Bay, d<j. j sighpd so that ' it can''lie carried , out in doptiohmehts, a'denlaifd for reclaimed land shows itself, to [exist. It is, however, unlikely that reclamation can he carried out at a . cost.su/licieptly low. to render it a sominercial success."" i; I/O A.VS. .Of'the borrowing powers of £850,000, the Bpard havo at present only arranged to . exercise £800,000 Jftaving £50,000 to be borr rowed hereafter as the progress of tho works may require it to be issued. Mr, Ferguson's statoment of the position of',l'ho".l3o!ird l ,!> Joaps, nt.'.t.|ifi cud of Septuiur ber,'. 1907, shows 'as follows Amount, of debentures issued, £800,000. Amount of debentures sold to September 30, 1907, £342,000.'. ; Amount of annual interest-oil debentures sold to September.3o. 1907, £22,910. Amount of annual interest on £800,000 when ail debentures sold, £33,875. ■ Assuming that, the unissued portion of the loan,. £50,000 is' to hear <1$ per ecu):, interest:,'tho'annual charges for interest and sinking fnii dwill, when the debentures aro all sold, amount to £40,800, or 4.8 per cent., as compared with tho. average cliargo for interest and sinking fund of 5.6 per ccnt. on tho loans prior to February 28 last. Tho four different sinking funds, which had prior to February 28 to be kept separate, then merged, ujion ,lbe repayment of tho old'loans, into one now fund'in respect to the consolidated loan of £850,000, and amounted at'the end of the year, September 30, to £88,306 19s. Bd., ns represented by inyoKtinonts, and in addition to £552 6s. 7d. of interest accruing but not due on that dale. "It would seem that if tlio sinking . funds aro carefully managed flint the scheme of. repayment is not. only thoroughly sound, but will-produce t'hv. necessary funds bel'ou! the specified time." THE BOARD'S EMPLOYEES. • "The amount paid fpr accident pay to the • casual employees was £558; to tlio constant stuff, £101 : and for sick pay to (he permanwifc' bands, CIK9; in all £8(S, us rompared with £551) and £161 in flic I wo previous years."'The accident pay shows a very • large increase,'being '£659, as compared with lililin-WfiyiJiua..year, and tho previous maximum of £51J in 1003-1. Towards tho

sum of £'050 paid by the Board in wages as accident pay they recovered from the iusurancn coriipauic.s the sum of £-103, in addition tp which the companies liave been I'able to death risks and'for sums paid directly to employees in commutation .of claims, and which suijis have not passed through tlio Hoard's books. The Board's agreement with the South Brititih Insurance Company terminating in June, it was deeided by the Board only to insure the men appearing on the pay books of the casual stair, mid arrangements' wore entered into with the Ocean /Accident and Guarantee Corporation. Limited, at 2os. per rent, to cover all legal liabilities under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Acts, Employers'. Liability Acts, ami .Common Law'-tip. to £300 in respect to any one claim. The Hoard determined to itself'insure its permanent stuff- and to' set, aside an amount based on the premiums that would havo been charged had the insurance been given to an insurance company—lis. per cent, on office, and administrativo staff, and 20,5. per cent, on all other branches, as well as the annual suwof £500, and to debit.tlio account at tho end of each ,twelve months' with tlio claims. paid in respect, to the 'Board's legal liabilities. Tho amount on fixed deposit at September 30 amountpd to. £190".. ,lt is proposed to allow-this' sum to accumulate by yearly contributions-of-'£soo, by tho earnings of, fixed 'deposits and by tho excoss of,premiunis over claims unt if tho amount set aside reaches £50(10. Tho Board continues to pay to itfi-. employees, both permanent and casual, half pay from tho time of accident,', although by law- tho employer is not entitled to the, first week's payment whero tho result of tho accident dops not oxtend longer than a fortnight. The. number of permanent cmployoes. of: jtho. Board at September 30 was 277, of whom 233 had theirljyes insured/ towards the premiums of which the Board contributed £307. tho total sum assured being £46,950, or an average of £202 per employee. Tho amount contributor] by tho Board amounts'to 1.73 per cent, of tho total sum assured. The .claims paid by tho Board amounted to £192 16s. 2d., as compared with £55, £154. and £263 in tho throe previous years. Of this amount £87 arose through accidents,; £61 frorii goods stolen or lost, £11 from'patty pilfering and thieving, and £33 from errors of the employees of the Board. 1 ani Katisfictl that a large amount of petty thieving takes place, that where cases containing' canned goods such as sardines, salmon, etc., are landed broken out of vessels many of, tho men employed pocket tho tins in place, of returning them to the cases they belong to." TRADE STATISTICS. There has been a slight denreaso in the number of bales of wool rind skins shipped, tho shipment in the year ended jjeptomoer, 1003, 133,762 bales, having decreased to 129,6(56 hales, but tliej shipments of hemp and tow increased by 4005 bales, from 83,84/5 to 87,850 bales, leaving tho total shipment at 217,516 bales, as compared with tho previous and record year's shipment pf 217,607 bales. ' Tlio season 1905-6 was iu' respect to wpol tho record year, but tho, past season has not fajlep materially behind it. The homp trade, if tho returns-of the past six'years are to bo taken as aiiy guide, appears to have settled | down into a-steady industry wjtli for tho past four years a steady annual growth without any retrogressions, tho shipment in the past twelve, months being tho highest yet attained in any year ending Soptomper. The coal passing over tho wharves and paying wharfage, that is excluding coal for the Governmont Departments, amounted to 145,575 ton's, an increase of 14,973 tons, or 111 per cent, on tho imports of the previous year. - * • ■ "The tonnage of goods .receive*}'.frnjn British and foreign ports during 1906-7 amounted to 156,055 tons, as compared with 138,366,, 126,846, and 136,747 tons in tho thre'epreneding years. . Comparing tlies figures wjtlj thoso of ten years back— 77,377 tons wero landed, the increase seems to have avorag«l over 7 per cent, per annum,. The tonnage. pf general goods received from colonial and coastwise ports amounted to 163,942, as compared with 156,940, 152,155, and 138,656 tons in tho three preceding years. Compariug these figures with 1897, when 77,856 tons woro landed,' thoro' has been an averago increase of about 7i per cent, per annum. General transhipments ljavo also largely increased,in tho past year, amounting" to 112,935 tons, as compared with 97,002, 87,97.4, and 92,351 tons in the tbrep' preceding years, and with 66,813 tons ton years ago in 1897, corresponding to an average increase for tho -past teu years of newly sJper cent, per annum-

"Summarising tho inward and transhipment figures'so as to giro tlio total 'imports handled-over tho wharves, the tonnage for tlio past year amounted to 432,932 tons, as compared with 392,803, 3(iG,975, and 368,254 tons for tho thrco 'previous years and with 222,546 tons for 1,897, ton years ago, and with 120,200 _ tons for 18S7, twenty years bank. The-so increases correspond to an average inereaso per annum, of nearly, 7. per cent, on the basis of. ten years, and of GJ'per cent, on the basis pf twonty years' growth. These figures appear. to be based mi sufficiently long periods to warrant the assumption that tlio Boards ought' to provide year by year on average additional accommodation for goods to the extent of at least 7i per ccnt'." . thf, timber trade, The'timber Imports amounted, to 22,402,866 feet- super., n far larger amount than had i;v?r been reached before, expopt in tho preceding year, wlipn 23,072,364 super, feet were 'received. In the two prior years 7,717,283 and 10,421,846 feet super,, respectively, ivero landed, and in 1897 2,052,447 I cet super. Tho imports of tjmbpr havo olways been subject to groat variation. • . It is probable that, even if tho volume of timber imported during the last couple of years is abnormal, the'volnmo will continue much larger than in previous years, a, 1 ! owing to the bushes being cut down within moderate distances of Wellington,..tho supplies of timber for house-building requirements aro now largely brought .pver-sca.'.fl'om.,l,l)o west coast of the South. Island,..and. it is by po moans certain that the tapping of''.tlio'timber forests in tho .cciitre of tlio North bland'by tho Main Trunk line ; will materially alter tho position, as for many years to come until the West Const bushes.-become partially worked out, water carriage will probably Bp ablp .tQ oompetp with railway charges. • , EXPORTS. Tho export of genera! goods for colonial and coastal ports passing , over tho wharves amounted during the year to 95,971 tons, as compared with 58,013, 79,005, and 70,597 tons in tno thrco preceding years, and with 50,217 ten years previously in 1807, an average yearly increase of nearly 7 per cent. The exirorts of frozen mutton, butter, cheeso, tallow, and other goods passing over the wharves for shipment to British ami foreign ports amounted to 39,110 tons, as compared with 36,099, 35,055, 39,83] tons for thfl three preceding years, niu.l wjt.li 12,853 tons ten years back in 1897, Jr. js, however, scarcely iair to take 1897 as the year to compare with', as owing to this trKlishipjpcnt of frozen meat out of hulks tho statistics of that year are not. comparative. Taking tho following year, 1808, the. tonnage was 20,461 tons, showing an average annual increase in the nine years of r <\ per cent. Sunimarjsjug tlio figures so as to add to the goods shipped and transhipped' over the wharves, those transhipped from vessel to vessel whilst lying either at t|ie wharves or in tho stream, wo find tho exports from Wellington of butter, cheese, and frozen meats liavo been Twolvo months ending September 30: 1907. 1906. 1905. Tons. Tons. Tons. Hotter 17,-150 16,243 17.382 Uhoeso 12,766 7,582 4,1.23 • Frozen meats 24,084 20,703 10,387 GIiOWTH IN THE SHIPPING. Tlio total number of vessels arriving during tho twelve months increased by 52, from 3316 to 3398, and the increase in registered tonnage |ms been 247,687 tons, from 2,461,137 to 2,709,124 tons. Sailing ships show a decrease in numbers 51, and in tonnage 12,435 tons, whilst, steamers have, increased 103 in number anil in tonnage 260,122 tons. Whilst the actual numbers of vessels liavo increased only about K |ter eenl.. I lie frnimigo has increased by 10 per eenl. The gradual increase in (lie size of the vessels has greatly added In I he difficulties of I hi' l.loitnl in providing berthage accommodation ; tlio increase in i.he tonnage nf vessels largely shown by increased length., with (he result that berths that were adequate somu jears

ago to take steamcr.v in a -particular trade arc now insufficiently jony'to : accommodate the steamers now in tlie trade.FINANCE. - The receipts from the Harbour blaster's Department, including berthage rate, amounted t0'£21,927,* aud the -working expenditure was £•1271. leaving a surplus of £17,050. Tho capital expenditure amounted t0..£073, leaving a net balance of-£1(>,983. To the balance ol £17.030 from Hie 'Harbour Master's Departments, after deducting working expenses, must lie added the sum of £'-5007 received lmn) tlio harbour -improvement- rate, together making £'23.263, being the direct contribution. on ,tbe part. of. shipping towards host,' Hiding. charges towards management- and for interest, sinking fund, and depreciation on tlio whurves and facilities provided for its use. Tlio berthage rate collected for tlio year amounted to £'0041.

The Board's gross revenue for the year ending September 30,' 1,007, was £156,531, an increase of £14.333 as compared with that of tlio preceding year. .Of this increase, interest on fixed deposits ncebnnts for £070, and increased business in the Queen's Bond 'amounts to £336, the balance of £13j317 being duo'to the: other 'operations of tlio Hoard. '. . .-

Tlio. statement of profit and loss for tho 3'car : ending September 30, 1907, shows tlio small credit balance to tlio working account 0f.,£212-1, as compared with credit balances in the two previous years of £7728 and £6379. This decrease is partly accounted for by a sum.of £3031 charged to tho working - account in the past, year in respect to dredging operations which,- in tho previous year, as tlio dredge Whakariro was engaged in dredging for tho graving dock, was chargeable to tho loan account. . This expenditure will, however, be recurring in tho next and future years, and may bo greater. There was also expenditure in conncction with tho repayment of the Joans, which will not bo recurrent. Through tho Hunter Street endowment passing from tho Board to tho City Council, tho rents received by tho Hoard will be less br £1315 per annum, a portion only of this reduction having been felt in tho year, as there was received £214 for'the period from October 1 to February 28.

Tho working nxpendiiiiro shows'an increaso of £19,331, from £100,617 to £119,948, of which increase .the interest charges are responsible for £1604, leaving the net increaso on tho working account at £17,727. The reciiipts have 'increased from. £142,193 to £156,531, or by £14,333, of which' £679 is duo to the increased earnings on fixed deposits, leaving the "increased receipts on the working accounts at £13,654. "It seems.clear (says Mr. Ferguson) that in operations so largo as those:of tho Board' the margin at present existing'is too small, and with the Jarge expenditure of capital that tho Lcard mj]st make during tlio next fow years, a portion of-which' Will only bo partially .remunerative, and some . such as the graving dock, entirely unreiriunerativo in a direct manner, it beconics necessary for tho Board to, j before long, .consider, how it can most equitably increase its revenue, and I suggest- that this had best bo doiio by increasing tho harbour improvement rate and th« port charges."/ ■ . . "The total reccipts'in the General Account from Reyoiiuo amounted to £152,376, as comparod with £141,004 and £124,885 in t-ho vni°. r' ,rcvlqus J' oa . rs Vjin addition to-which £16,000 was received on Capital account, being the payment by the City Council inrespect to the Hunter Street Endowment and To Aro-Reclamation Exchange: The re-:' ceipts from Wharves and Quays: Departments" amounted to £117;987, as compared- with £10/,424 in the previous year, an increase of £10,503 or 'J 0-0 per cent-., as compared with 12J per cent, ip .the previous year, wliilst the expenditure ih,tho3o Departments on Working Accounts amounted to £82,854,. as compared wjth £03:917 in the previous year, an, increase, 0f,£13,937, or over 20 per cent., us compared .with 15J per cent, in the previous year. This increase .ip. tho ratio of expenditure - confirms .-the forecast- that I made in my last year's roport-.' l ' EXPENDITURE ON \VQRKS. .

Out of, the General Account £11,855 was expended on repairs and miiintenancp, whilst of the capital expenditure C2OOI was charged to tho General., Account, and £.49,920 .to-the General:. Loan.,' Account; .'and £295,.' to" the .Graving Dock Loan Account. 11l all, the'expendituro on Inew. -work's and on ! , renewals and maihtcnanco ame'unfed. £§4,160, :as compareil jvitji £90,320 in tjie previous year. This reduction .docs, not represent any slackening by..\tho Board jo .its 'efforts to jiroyide further works and accommodation as is shb'jvii by the'important contracts let and in hand. In view of tho certainty that large and expensive works must be entered into to provide for t,lio rapid growth of trade during this and the following years, Mr. Ferguson. ■ suggests that it will probably benecessary ty seek further, borrowing' powers from Parliament next sessionThe total assets are set down as £868,819. There was owing by'tho Board at the end of the year £542,000 in respect to Loan moneys, £5164 for accounts due by the Board ami a liability to tlio "Mirainar Borough Council to meet payments to tho Treasury in respect to l tho Suburban Wharves of £2,250. The gross amount written off for depreciation foe the.twelve months amounted to £29,25!), as compared with £29,093 and £26;580 in-the two previous years. ' CONCLUSION. Finally,' M)'. Ferguson pays,:—"As I have arranged, to ,fioyer my .connection with tho Board, this will be the last, animal report that I. shall have the honour of placing before it.• I therefore desire to lie permitted to publicly acknowledge the ready assistance, which lias at- all times been rendered to me by so niiujy of tlio I'onrd's employees, in all the grades of it s- service, and without which willing eo-operatiijn iny individual efforts as you;' Chief Officer would have, been of little avail, and I-also,wish to thank f.lio Chairman and Members of successive Boards who since May, 1881, have extender) to mo many courtesies'and" that support 'without which no managenjciit'-.can be a success." . STATEMENT Bl' THE CHAIRMAN. ; In moving that the report be published, j. the Chairman said that Mr. Ferguson's I'statement of the work of the year was so -complete that it .was unnecessary for him to add anything to, it. ■ Ho intended, however, a.t the meeting of the Board oil January 30, to give an outline of what lie regarded as the requirements of the future, for which the Board would have to provide. The report was ordered to bp published.