A PORT OF THE FIRST CLASS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1899, Page 4

A PORT OF THE FIRST CLASS.

Thirty-seven years ago to-day the first pile of our Queen's Wharf was driven, and it is interesting to look back and note the various stages of the growth, of traffic upon the waters of Port Nicholson. Through the courtesy of the Secretary of the Harbour Board we are able to present figures showing the wharf area and berthage accommodation from 1862, when the Queen's Wharf had an area of 32,950 square feet and 820 lineal feet of berthing room, to tho present day, when the total wharfage is 630,640 square feet and the berthage room 8130 lineal feet. In 1879, when the Railway Wharf was in use, the wharfage had increased to 114,000 feet, and the berthage to 4290 feet. The Wool Jetty was added in 1882, increasing the figures to 120,600 feet and 4820 feet respectively. In 1890, when Jervois-quay came into occupation, the wharf area had grown to 284,950 feet, and the berthage room to 7060 feet. Additions and improvements were then continually being made to the wharves, so that Avith the addition of the Ferry Jetty in 1896, the areas in use had increased to 325,540 square feet wharfage and 8010 lineal feet berthage accommodation. This year will see the work of constructing the Glasgow Wharf begun, and as the new wharf will be about 580 feet long by 140 feet Avide, Port Nicholson, which is already noted for its harbour works, will stand with the best ports in the colonies for facilities and wharf accommodation. The earliest statistics available concerning the number of ships which have passed through our port are those of the year 1882, as the Customs records prior to that year were destroyed by fire. In 1882, 1522 vessels of 356,107 tonnage entered Wellington, and last year the number Avas 2370 vessels Avith a registered tonnage of 1,328,052. So that Wellington has every reason lo bs proud of her harbour and its works, and we Avish the Harbour Board many happy returns of the day and continued prosperity.