NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR REPORT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 20 January 1902, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR REPORT.

• The annual report of the Chairman of the New Plymouth Harbour Board does not exhibit any very striking features, nor does it show marked development in trade. There was, during the year, an increase in the export of butter and cheese, the figures being 8133 tons as against 7733 in 1900, but ''other ports" showed a reduction from 3949 tons to 2813. In fact, "other exports" show a constant and heavy decline for the past seven years, but coincident with this there has been a still greater increase in the exports of dairy produce. The figures simply bear out the opinion one would form from everyday observation of what is going on —the substitution of dairying for the general farming, which was a feature of our rural activity in former yers. Within the same period the exports of dairy produce hava practically quadrupled: Expressed in tons, there was a falling off in the total exports last yea? as compared with the previous year of over 700 tons, but as a ton of dairy produce is much more valuable than a ton of most other export- 1, we dare say that if the figures expressed values instead of weight, an increase would ba shown. Import 3 show a stead? increase; last year there were 83,611 ton?, as against 28.726 ia the previous year, and 18,885 in 1894. As to the harbor itself, the report is congratulatory in the fact that for the sixth year in succession there has been no damage sustained by the structure from storm. On the ofchor hand, there has been le-.s dredging done, "and, consequently, tbe depth' of water in certain parts of the sheltered area sbowa a decrease as compared with last year." ' On the wharves over ;£looo has been spent, but they are still inadequate, and need repairing and strengthening The cattle wharf and yard are falling into great disrepair. As they are little used now little has been done to them. Finance is thus referred to: —"One farthing rate was levied during the year, being only one-third of the originel, producing £6563 11s 7d. The actual amount received was £5466 3j sd; and the land revenue was a>£4s4 4s sd, making a total with interest, etc.,'of £11^ 056 43." Table of Land Revenue for the past eleven years: —

The sinking fund now Ltands at £48,491 Is, the sum of £41,950 being in tha Board's bonds, and the balance in the Bank of New Zealand at interest. Leased endowments in New Plymouth will, bring in another £700 a year. Taking the roport as a whole, it is a record of fair progress, but the trade of the port is not booming, and having regard to the decrease in land revenue, it is not unlikely that, despite the new land valuations being materially higher, the rate will have to be maintained at the figure fixed last year.

Year. 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 £ s. d. 7905 11 8 7125 8 2 6114 1 11 7577 8 1 8588 15 3 6706 9 4 4870 18 • 9 5935 3 2 6806 18 4 6094 6 3 5454 4 5