TIMBER TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 13

TIMBER TRADE

« GREY HARBOUR CLOSED SHIPS HELD UP , A further serious development for the port of Greymouth is tlic decision of the Union Steam Ship Company not to send any more steamers to load timber for Australia until the bar improves. The company's Greymouth manager received the following message from the head office: —"In view of the steadily decreasing amount of water on. the Grey bar we have decided definitely that we cannot risk tonnage to load timber at • Greymouth for Australian ports pending an improvement." The Kaituna, one of the five vessels in port, is bound for Australia with timber, but is short-loaded to the extent of over half a million feet. Even with only half her load she cannot sail yet, owing to the swell on the bar and the lack of water. The Poolta and the Kalingo arc two vessels affected by the Union Company's decision. Over 4,000,000 feet of timber are now awaiting shipment from the Coast to Australian ports and the position is serious for the timber industry. The weather remains fine and hopes for a run in the river to scour the shoal on the bar are unrealised. A test of a hydro-pneumatic plant with the object of removing the bar shoal is. proposed for this week-end, and the plant is now being installed on the tug "Westland.