HARBOR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16347, 13 February 1917, Page 8

HARBOR BOARD

THE ANNUAL REPORTS. A special meeting of the Otago Harbor Board was held last night for the purpose of discussing the annual report submitted by the chairman for the. year ended 1916, the report of the resident engineer (Mr M‘G. Wilkie) for tho same period, and tho estimates for 1917. There were present the chairman (Mr E. C. Hazlett), and Messers London, Scollay, Walker, •Tapley, Hamel, Mawson, Russell, and Wilkinson. The salient points of the chairman’s report, which was taken as read, are as follow : Notwithstanding the fact that tho war still continues, tho trade of the port has kept up during the year, and the members must feel satisfied as to the result of the operations. Though tho statement of revenue and expenditure shows a surplus to credit on the year, this is reduced to £2,546 bv a debit balance of £7,587 (years 1913-1915 deficits) with which we commenced the year. The receipts for the past three years were : 1914, £94,951 10s 2d; 1915, *£91,964 14s Id: 1916, £104,343 4s lid (including £1,500 for the sale of tho lug Koput-ai and £5,000 deposit on the sale of dredge 404). The expenditure for the same rears was : 1914, £91,369 5s Id; 1915. £116,320 15s 3d (including £23,218 10s interest on loans); 1916, £94,110 6s 3d. During the year the board found it necessary to further increase the dues on wool and transhipments. Owing to tho difficulties that have arisen with regard to shipping and the delay in shipping tho wool, wo have not received the increased revenue on this article that was expected, but tho year ending December 31, 1917, should show a substantial increase. Had dues been paid on Government goods which passed over our wharves during tho rear the amount would have been The amount for the past three years totals £21,085. In view of tho fact that tho board are compelled to pay to all Government departments for services rendered, it surely seems an anomaly that the various Government departments should not pay the board for services. Tho Railway Department should have paid this board £5.710 for the year ended December 51, 1915. We have expended £8.423 under the special fund account (loan, 1909). which, with a debit balance at January 1 nf £1,547 and the refund from the New Zealand railways for work done on the Leith railway bridge, shows a debit of £8,956 at December 31. Wo still have £20,000 of debentures unsold, nr a not amount still available of £11.044. Hereunder is tabulated the total imports and exports for tho year, with comparative figures for 1914 and 1915 :

Totals £4,042,159 £5.321,766 ■'Exclusive of coastal trade, no record being kept by tho Customs Department. These values, however, are somewhat misleading as to tho trade of the port, on account of the increased prices, and the true trade will bo found in the actual tonnage brought in and sent out of the port. The imports have been affected by the loss of the steamers Matatua, Rangatira, and Tongariro. In tho exports, frozen meat shows a substantial increase during the last two years. This, I think is per° haps due fact that the South Otago Freezing Works are now firmly established at Balclufha, and will, I believe, in the future help to prevent the tendency of the trade to go through Dunedin to some of tho northern, ports, as it has in tho past. The following return shows the shipping for the years 1906 and 1916

Owing to the shortage of vessels, the coastal trade has been curtailed. Tho intercolonial trade has also been interfered with, and the only through service, without transhipment, that we have with Sydney is via Auckland, and this, during the past year, has been carried on by the Huddart, Parker Company. Owing to the ttrike and other causes, however, 0 d--nn-*he last few months this company’s Reamers have .been unable to visit Dtinsdm. The Duncdin-Sydney via Cook Strait service is still handicapped on account of the steamers not coming further south than Lyttelton, and there appears to be no immediate prospect of resuming tho original service. In this respect Dunedin has suffered to a much greater extent than northern ports. In fact, since the war •he northern ports have had practically ihe same service with Svdnev as was in existence previous to the war. In the Home trade we have had the advantage of a regular fortnightly service from London via northern ports, in place of tho original monthly sorrice from London direct. This is an advantage to the board, in that it brings extra steamers to the port, and consequently increases the revenue. The trade with the West of England and American ports has been about the same as last year.

The dock department shows a deficit of £2,754 5s 7d, towards the reduction of which the Union Steam Ship Company are liable for £I,OOO, leaving a net deficit for the year of £1,918 8s Id. The accumulated deficit at January 1 was £6,829 15s 3d. which with the net deficit for 1915 (£1,754 5s 7d) gives a total of £8,584 Os lOd, this amount standing as a charge against the harbor Dock dues during 1916 totalled £3,3/9 12s, rents from endowments £1,329 Bs, electric crane and sheerlogs £774 12s, slip dues and other sources £298 4s 2d. To the total ordinary receipts amounting to £5,781 16s 2d, has to be added the board’s contribution of £1 000 and a further £I,OOO for which the Un;on Steam Ship Company are liable, or a total of £7,585 Is 4d. The ordinary expenditure amounted to £9,549 15s Id, to which has to be added £lsl Is 8d expended from Joan account on waiting room and sundry works, giving a total of £9,710 36s 9d. The unexpended balance of loan moneys is £2,875 12s lid. During the year 47 vessels, of 194,636 tons gross, were docked in Otago Dock, and 32 vessels, of 36,827 tons gross, Si the Port Chalmers Dock, while seven vessels, of 543 tons gross, were slipped, making a total of 86 vessels, of E32,006 tons gross —an increase compared with the previous year of two vessels, but a decrease in tonnage of 10.995 gross. In October, the South Island Dairy Association approached the board urging Ihe Erection of cool stores for cheese at Port Chalmers similar to those at Bluff. The resident engineer is at present engaged collecting information regarding cod stores throughout the Dominion, and the whole position will receive careful consideration when his report is submitted. I am of opinion that the present freezing works at Port Chalmers are not quite adaptable lor the particular purpose under consideration, but I think that they ought to be producing more revenue. As the lease expires in April next, and has to be submitted for tender, we shall possibly receive a better return.

At the amnia l meeting of the Chamber of Commerce reference was made to the draught of the Homo steamers. In the case of seven steamers, it was pointed out that their draughts fore and aft were, such that, had they been trimmed, they could have negotiated the Victoria channel. I think it is reasonable to expect that shipowners might show more consideration when. loading their vessels, so that it would be possible to bring their steamers to the Dunedin wharves. The Port Hardy (450 ft) came up to Dunedin on June 28, drawing 22ft sin, on practically an even keel. The Devon (473 ft 3in) came up later, drawing 22ft 6in aft. These figures show the possibilities of the channel. The harbor master La prepared to take vessels

in or out of Port Chalmers drawififf 30ft h.w.

The widening’ of the George street pier is now well in hand. When the work is finished (which will be some time in February), the harbor will then possess a berth where it will bo possible to allow •steamers to lie afloat drawing 61ft at low water.

A first-class jllustrated booklet, which has been unavoidably delayed on account of Mr Bardsley’s indisposition, is now in the hands of the printer, and should prove of benefit :n advertising the facilities of our port.

Iho Order in Council authorising the construction of a wall along the frontage of the area to be set aside by the board, pursuant to tho Otago Harbor Lands Vesting Act, 1910, was issued on March 21. As the City Council did not desire that tho construction of the wall should be gone on with at that time, tho work has not yet been commenced. Negotiations arc* at present in progress with the council as to the terms under which the. board will now undertake the work.

Dredge 223 lias been idle for the past seven months. The saving caused bv her idleness has augmented our surplus funds advantageously. As a result of both dredges being laid, up, the workshop was also closed down, effecting a further saving. At the February meeting it was also decided to eliminate tho vote of £3,685 for the year’s working of the Vulcan, and tho dredge has bom closed down for the rest of the year.

It aives mo pleasure to place on record my appreciation of the able and valuable services Mr Mason has rendered to the board, the port, and the community generally during his term as engineer and s-ecre-tary. lam pleased to say that Mr Wilkie has more than p rover I himself fitted for the position of resident engineer, being an able, energetic, and resourceful officer. The foliowing is now the roll of honor of tho board’s employees;—R. Richards, 11. W . Justin, ,T. ,1. Kilpatrick, P. M‘Lachlan, J. Baker, O. R. Goudov, J. Adam. S. Gallon, R. Dorman, J. N. Walsh, F. Durry, J. Bnintcn, F. J. Norris, J. Murdoch. If, G. Williams, D. M'Kouzie. Lieutenant R. Richards died of wounds received ; n action, and Private J. J. Kilpatrick has been missing since Juno. 1915. Private P. M‘Bach lan, who was severely wounded, has returned to Now Zealand. Private G. T. Baker was also invalided homo, and has resumed his former work. Rifleman F. Durry has also been reported wounded in action in France. Sergeant J. Adam has returned, and is in temporary charge of a hospital at Rotorua. The board still continue to grant an allowance to members of the staff who volunteer for service, and is now paying about £I,OOO per year in this manner.

_ When. it is obtainable from Home, a light isto bo placed on Hayward Point to facilitate the passage of steamers at the Heads.

_ Additional sections to iho extent of three acres have been leased during- the year, and prospective tenants for several more acres are in treaty. It was ant-ici-]\ated that we would bo in a position to place block 74 on the market for lease, but owing to the delay in connection with bringing the plan under the Land Transfer Act it was not possible to do so. This block will, however, bo on the market at as early a date as possible. A decision in the matter of setting aside an area of land, in blocks 74 and 75° Ward street, has been delayed through various causes, inducting the action of the Health Department in the matter of insamtary buildings on the board’s lands. The subcommittee set rip in connection with the whom matter hope to - report at an early date.

In May it was found that the slip was unsafe without considerable repairs, which it was considered inadvisable to effect owing to the state of th© structure; consequently the slipping of vessels discontinued, and vessels which formerly were slipped can now dock at a slightly higher rate than they previously paid lor slipping. Th© provision of an up-to-date slip will no doubt have to receive consideration, but in the moantimo the-r© does not seem any absolute necessity for this provision. The work on tho south endowment has been practically suspended for the year. Sufficient labor has been retained to prevent the wall getting out of repair.

1914. 1915. 1916. Tons. Tons. Tons. Imports ... ... 277,545 289.388 300,865 Exports ... ... 135,283 181,546 160.876 Totals ... 413,828 470,954 461,741 And in the following return will be found a statement of values :— 1906* 1916* 1 m ports £2,298,001 £3.118.928 Kx ports 1,744,158 2,202,838

Coastal1906. 1915 Vessels ...• ... SiV 58 a 7 ,7 Met registered'tonnage ... Intercolonial— 219,566 262,539 Vessels 178 72 Net registered tonnage ... 366,418 125,416 Vessels Qt 1H7 Net registered tonnage ... IU I 325,519 431,215 Total vessels 631 616 Total net registered tonnage 911,105 819,050