PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 February 1925, Page 6

PATEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

MEETING OF lIARBOUR BOARD

The usual monthly meeting of the Patea Harbour Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs A. T. Christensen (chairman), Pacey, Corrigan, Williams, Yerry, Pearce and Hodge. Before taking the business of the meeting, the chairman welcomed Mr A. Hodge to the. Board, remarking that he felt sure Mr Hodge would be a worthy successor to Mr Grainger.

Mr Hodge briefly thanked the chairman for his kind expressions and assured him that he would always try to do his best for the betterment of the Board and district.

An application was received for the lease of the small house at the corner of York and Bedford streets, and it was resolved to advertise the property for lease for a term of 21 years, tenders to be in by next meeting of the Board. CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT. Mr Christensen’s report for the past vear was as follows: —-

Revenue. —The revenue from imports and exports, I am pleased to say, shows a favourable improvement, details of which are to be seen in the secretary’s report. Tn 1023 the Board showed a loss of about £9OO. but this year a profit of about JCSOO is shown on the year’s working. This is duo principally 'to the increase of wharfages on exports, as well as a big saving In dredging expenditure, both of which are very pleasing to note. Dredging. —This work will still hai e to be continued, for in addition to the clearing of the silt which periodically comes down with the freshes, there are several undertakings which will require the services of the dredge.

Shipping. —The South Taranaki Shipping Company’s new ship “Inaha” arrived early in the year and .is a. great acquisition to the fleet trading to om port, being largely responsible for.the increase of wharfage, as shown in the balance-sheet. Finally, I have tn thank members for their constant, attention and support, and also the clerk, the pilot and the staff for the faithful way in which they have carried out their various duties. SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT.

Receipts. —Again receipts of general account have increased by £720, wharfages £5.14, rents. £2.15, tonnages £S(I, pilotage £9, and port dues £6, being the principal items, while receipts derived from sales and refunds, royalty, dredge services and tieing-up charges show a slight decrease, interest account receipts —that of rates —for the current vear have increased by £.145.

Expenditure. —Expenditure in general account lias again decreased by £IOOS, due principally to the large reduction in the cost of working the dredge, this year’s expenditure in that department being £824 less than that of last year. Other departments show a reduction in expenditure as follows: Office £75, piffit £7, wharfage £B, miscellaneous £lOl. and reserves £2l. The amount expended on general maintenance for this year has amounted to £35 more than that of last year. Expenditure on interest account for this year lias been £6lll, as compared with £6321 for last, year—a decrease of £3lO. Trade. —This year’s imports show a decrease of 600 "tons as compared with last year, but exports show an increase of 1568 tons. Thei approximate value of exports during the year just ended is £1.014,100. Depreciation. —In my opinion, and basing my list on the same grounds as last year, I consider that the sum of £304 should be written off as depreciation. In moving the adoption of the two reports, the chairman said he was pleased to be able to say that the position of. the board’s affairs showed a oreat improvement on the previous year—something like £I7OO. The expenses of the dredge had been reduced by £BOO. and he hoped to he able to make still further decreases in the expenditure. It was necessary to keep the dredge working. They could now see their way clear to pay their way and keep the dredge going, and he hoped that in a year or two all moneys borrowed by general account _ from the other accounts would Ire repaid. There had been a considerable increase in exports, but he was sorry to say that imports showed a decrease, which to a great extent was no doubt due to motor lorry traffic. Now that they had the new* steamer running lie hoped that the volume of imports would increase. Although the river was looked upon as a “ditch,” over £2,000,000 worth ol goods had been sent out over it. Mr Corrigan seconded the adoption, and said it was very gratifying to see that they had made up the leeway lost during the previous year. If they could got the imports increased it would greatly assist the ■ finances. He suggested that perhaps the shipping companies could he prevailed upon to reduce the tariff on inward cargo. Air Williams said he had on several occasions discussed this matter with Mr Grainger, but nothing ever came of it. The Railway Department was now out canvassing for all it could get. The chairman said the board was willing to help the shipping companies in any way possible. The reports were then adopted. The pilot’s reports for December and January were read, the former stating that the channel was straight over the bar. with 16ft of water on the bar and about I,2ft Oin between the walls at high water spring tides and about 12ft Gin on bar and 9ft between walls at high water neap tides. There had been 16 arrivals and departures since last report, making a total for the year of 170 arrivals and departures, as against 185 for 1923. The river was getting bail al Pulley’s wharf and the viaduct, and also at the wharf .through silting, bill dredging would soon remove most of it early in the New Year.

During January, 192/5, the liar showed 16ft of writer, with 13ft between the walls at high water spring tides, and 12ft on bar and 9ft between walls at high water neap tides. There were 2-1 arrivals and 2/5 departures during (lie month, 1-1 going out on the lights. The reports were adopted on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Corriggn. The report of the dredgemaster showed that during the month of December 1800 tons, and during January 3084 tons, of silt were deposited at the heads, most of it being dredged from about Pulley’s wharf. Everything on the dredge was in satisfactory order. Mr, Pearce honed that on the first opportunity the dredge would he taken up above the traffic bridge to remove some of the timber deposited there, and thus increase the scour.—The reports were adopted.