PATEA HARBOR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7367, 21 January 1902, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR.

At the annual meeting of the Board on Monday, the Chairman in his annual report said : —

During my short term of chairmanship several important matters, not only to this Board, but to tho town and district, have corae before us, notably the butter industry, wharfage on coal, and last.'but not least, my scheme to borrow £25,000 for improving the entrance to the river. As you are aware, shortly after I was elected Chairman I brought down a proposal whereby I suggested that we should borrow £25,000 for the purpose of paying off our present indebtedness (£13,000) and utilise the balance (£12,000), with accrued sinking fund (£3O), and build a west pier or breakwater. A resolution was carried whereby Mr Leslie Eeynolds, C.E., was requested to report on river and bar improvement, and best means of effecting same. His report and plans were in due course submitted to the Board and adopted, and I then proposed that a bill be prepared and submitted to Parliament to grant the Board power to borrow up to £25,000 at alow rate of interest over a long period, with a small sinking fund. This proposition was also carried after opposition from some members of the Board ; the bill was prepared by your Secretary, and I am pleased to say it passed both Houses of the Legislature practically without opposition or amendment. Having got our bill through, the first question (and the most difficult one) was raising the money on suitable terms, for, although we obtained the power to borrow £25,000, we had no rating power, and as the security we had to offer was principally the revenue of the Board derived from the shipping, this source alone did not offer sufficient security to private money lenders, hence I saw that my only hopo was to get the money from or through the Government. Our best well-wishers very much doubted if I would be successful, but from the first I was determined to succeed, and I am pleased to say that the Hon. Sir Joseph "Ward has approved of the Postal Department making the advance. In this connection I am greatly indebted to your secretary for his able and willing assistance at all times ; Mr Major was also indefatigable in his efforts to help me to get the money, and I thank him sincerely for his assistance.

The next question will be the rapid carrying out of the work proposed by Mr Eeynolds, and already approved by the Board. I intend to take immediate steps to get the work proceeded with.

Butter Industry.— This has exceeded my most sanguine expectations. The Grading Company are already considering the necessity of enlarging the buildings, and are, I believe, intending to put in a much larger machine. As you are aware, the Board reclaimed about 30 feet of land between the wharf and grading building. It is, I believe, the intention of the Company to build on this reclamation, provided , the Board can see its way clear to grant a lease. It will be a large saving to the Company in loading butter if this can be effected. The Company early in July approached the Board, and requested that a wharf should *be built some 60 feet long. It was afterwards found that 80ft was necessary on outer side and 100 feet on inner side. This is nearly completed. Tou will be pleased to know that ample provision has been made for the future, as there is now 7 feet of water along the wharf at low tide, so that when a larger class of steamer is employed, there will be no difficulty in loading at low water. This butter industry means a very large and profitable industry to the Board. I estimate that next season wharfag and tonnage from tbis souroe will amount to not less than £300. It is the Board's duty to encourage this .industry in every way, and I am glad that the members are alive to its importance. At the present time two new and up-to-date steamers are building for the Patea trade, which in itself shows the growing importance of the harbour.

District Leases. — Several valuable leases fall in during this and next year, and it behoves the Board to treat these with care, and, while not neglecting the Board's interests, to deal fairly with the outgoing tenants, who have greatly improved their leases.

Ircnsand Industry. — Tbis requires a lot of vigilance and taot, as you are aware the New Plymouth people are using all the influence they possess to have the industry started there, but I feel sure that the quantity and quality of the New Plymouth ironsand is not to be compared* to the deposits between the Manawapou river and Waitotara. X I have the privilege of a seat on the Board, I will watch with oare this important matter. As a proof of the large increase in the trade of the place, the staff at the local railway station has been considerably increased, property has advanced very considerably in value, and while there is no boom, nevertheless the increase in value is very large. In ccnolusion, I predict continued prosperity fox Patea and distriot. I trust the Board will advanoe with the times, and let its. motto be " Progress." I cannot conclude my fir3fc annual report without giving a due meed of praise to our Secretary ; he is ever ready and willing to help in the advancement and prosperity of the

Board. It is a pleasure to work with him, and I have to thank him for very valuable assistance readily given 00 nil occasions. Captain Flowerday, our pilot, is a mo3t painstaking and careful officer, and the Board is most fortunate in being able to retain his services. It must be borne in mind that due economy will require to be exercised in handling the finances, as extraordinary expenditure has lately been considerable, and it will be some time before a commensurate return will he forthcoming to make up for such. The importation of coal is assuming large proportions, as you will gather from the secretary's report, and, with the advent of new steamers, I am satisfied that this year there will be a very large increase.

The secretary's report on finance showed a net profit on the year's operations of £517, after meeting extraordinary expenditure, such as £140 on Government wharf, over £100 on plans, and £129 for depredation.