GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 2

GREY HARBOUR BOARD

JUBILEE YEAR. Mr P. .1- McLean, as Chairman, will present the following annual report at this evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board: — As this is our annual meeting I pre same it is essential that I should briefly give a summary of the Board’s activities during the past year, although matters have been fairly well cleared up at. the various meetings. It is somewhat of a coincidence that this year completes the fiftieth year or the Jubilee of the Greymouth Harbour Board. The first meeting was held on December 15, In 1884, and Mr W. 11. Lahman was appointed Acting Secretary, and my father was appointed a. member of the Board on December 22, 1884. The original members of the Greymouth Harbour Board were Martin Kennedy, Honourable H. 11. Lahman, A. R. Guinness, M-H.R., Daniel Sheedy, James Kerr, J. G. Thomas (as Mayor of Greymouth), and Duncan McLean. Mr Martin Kennedy was appointed Chairman and the first Engineer to be appointed was Mr \V. G. Scott, the resolution being moved by Mr Kennedy and seconded by Mr Duncan McLean. Mr W. 11. Lahman was appointed permanent Secretary on January 7, 1885, and our present Secretary, Mr W. B. Gilbert, was appointed in December 1910. If time permitted it would be interesting to give a. general resume of the original programme of harbour works. It is interesting to note that in 1892 the export of coal was .171,972 tons and in the year 1934 the export of coal from the port was 167,941 tons. It must be remembered however, that in 1892 the whole of the coal had to go over the bar as the communication was not then made by railway. In 1916 our export of coal totalled 481,531 tons. I regret in the past year our exports of both timber and coal have fallen somewhat as was reflected in our revenue. The following figures are interesting as a comparison: —

General Imports, 1932-1933: 8188 tons 17cwt. 1933-1934: 8327 tons 12 cwt.

Exports: 1932-1933. —Timber 22,766,438 sup. ft., coal 202,058 tons 13cwt., general 754 tons 19Acwt. 1933-1934. —Timber 22,619,423 sup. ft., coal 167,941 tons 16 cwt., general 647 tons 10 cwt.

Referring now to general business, I am pleased to be able to report that we have received from the Government £3,000 on account of this year’s expenditure, and during the visit to the West Coast of the Hon. Gordon Coates, Minister of Finance, 1 look tlie opportunity of interviewing him in connection with the Board’s financial position. I had the able assistance of Mr D. C. Milne, the Board’s Engineer, and Mr Coates stated the matter was now before Cabinet. He went into the full details and stated that the Government would have to give the Board every consideration, and although he could not commit himself, J feel sure that a substantial amount will be available for this year’s expenditure. I regret to have to record the departure of Mr T. A. Johnston, our Engineer, to Nelson, but feel sure the members appreciate the valuable services he rendered to the Board and district. Had it not been for health reasons the Board would have endeavoured to retain his services in an advisory capacity. The appointment of Mr D. C. Milne us Harbour Board Engineer has now been confirmed by the Marine Department. I am pleased to say that during the past year there have been no serious accidents in connection with the staff. The Board sustained the loss of a steam shovel but we have been able to replace same at a satisfactory figure. I must thank the members of the Board for their co-operation, and also the Engineer, Secretary, and the whole of the staff for their able assistance duripg the year. Thanks are also due to the Press for publicity given to Harbour Board matters, and I trust that the coming year will be in every way satisfactory for the Board and the development of the port.