"THE PREMIER PORT"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 13

"THE PREMIER PORT"

WELLINGTON'S PROUD POSITION A RECORD OF PROGRESS OUTLINED BY HARBOUR OFFICIALS. Interesting information concerning the Port of Wellington is contained in an article appearing in the "Dock and Harbour Authority," a publication printed in London and dealing with matters of interest to bodies administering harbours. The article was described by the chair,man of the Wellington Harbour Board (Mr. G. Mitchell) at the last meeting as "being a good advertisement for the port" 1 and the thanks of the board were accorded the secretary, Mr. H. E. Nicholls, as-sistant-secretary, Mr. M. H. S. Baniett, and confidential clerk, Mr. D. J. Gibbs, for compiling ths particulars contained in it. Accompanying the article are some . splendid photographs of thewharves and shipping, as well as views of the "various methods employed in handling, transporting, and storing cargo. BOARD STANDS ALONE. < Details are given in the article of the rise and progress of Wellington Harbour' and its position of being the leading port, in the Dominion. "The Port of Wellington," it is stated, "with its excellent administration, its great provision for future development, and its central situation, ranks as the premier port of New Zealand, and, with perhaps one exception the finest port south of the Equator." The Wellington Harbour Board stands alone among the boards of the Dominion (it continues) in that it acts as wharfinger, receiving the goods from the ships' slings, giving receipts therefor, and delivering to consignees, or transhipping ■to other vessels as required. Thus, the work is carried out more satisfactorily and cheaper than if it were left to private enterprise. Another important merit of this system is that it establishes a strong central authority, having full control over the work of receiving and delivering, and acting impartially in tho interests of both ship and consignee. . As showing- the great growth of the port's accommodation and facilities between 1862 and the present day, it is pointed out that in place of one small T-wharf, with a total lineal berthage of 1500 ft, the board now has eight wharves and almost continuous breastworks, extending over nearly a mile- and a half of water front; the total lineal berthage being 17,027 ft,. with depths of ■ water alongside varying from 16 to 41ft. Of this total, 4117 ft of berthage is linked up with the railway system. There are, in addition, six suburban wharves with a total of 2364 lineal feet of 1 berthage. There were no sheds in 1862, but to-day there are 32 well-equipped stores, with a gross storage capacity of- 8,925,820 cubic feet.

The article explains the facilities for transporting cargo about the wharves by means of the eighteen tractors with trailers attached, and describes the equipment for handling goods in the various stores and sheds. The means of supplying ships with either coal or oil for bunkering purposes are stated, and an outline is given of new works which the board has in hand, or in contemplation, including the Pipitea Wharf, Te Aro Wharf, Jervois quay breastwork, and Thorndon reclamation. WHAT THE JE'IOURES SHOW; The principal value of external trade is with the United Kingdom, and out of a total value of imports, amounting to £16,484,270 landed from all parts of the world in 1921, £9,014,595, or more than half, was supplied by the United Kingdom. "The trade of the port has increased with remarkable rapidity," the article remarks. "In 1882, the total net tonnage of arrivals of trading vessels was 344,814 tons; in 1921 the total net tonnage of arrivals was 2,868,044 tons, an increase of 2,523,230 tons. The tonnage of general cargo inwards and transhipped increased from 85,004 tons in 1882 to 520,678 tons in 1921, and the general cargo outwards increased from 22,----939 tons to 222,577 tons during the same periods. The total wool and hemp shipments increased from 40,380 bales in 1882 to 223,253 bales in 1921. Coal and timber, which are not included in the preceding figures, have increased from 14,----000 to 226,000 tons, and from 1,000 000 to 14,000,000 super feet over like years, respectively. . . . The board's total amount of receipts in 1882 was £57 346 • in 1921 the total was £489,293, an increase of £431,947.' The expenditure including working repairs arid maintenance, capital account, and sinking fund account, during the same years increased from £49,046 to £505,019. The total value of the assets of the board in 1882 was £110,729. In the last published statement the assets are shown as £1,----824,746, giving a balance of assets in excess of liabilities of £825,634, and a gross increase in_ value of £1,714,017. In an editorial comment ion the article the "Dock and Harbour Authority" says that the members of the Wellington Harbour Board are devoting unremitting attention to the expansion of the accommodation for shipping in "one of the most-favoured localities to be found in the world."