NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9000, 24 January 1906, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

The annual report of the Xew Plymouth Harbor Board shows that considerable progress nas been made during' the past' twelve months. It is gratifying to v see 'that the financial position, as 'regards working account, wears a satisfactory aspect. This account shows a net profit -for tihe^year of £4333. The overdraft -at the banik has gone up materially, standing at '£6620 as agaiast a little under £2000 at thefiend of the previous year, but there has jbee^ heavy expenditure -cm, permanent iwork and improvements/ a large part of iwh^h is not likely to be repeated tliis jyeaaij. Thus over £4000 has been spent on over £3000 on 'wharf extension, and on the improvement of town endowments likely soon to

produce revenue there has been spent upwards of £600, port lights £200, new crane £600, permanent way £300. The total of tliis class of expenditure exceeds TQOOO. Increased overdraft plus the profit on the year's working has been used in this way. Except as to breakwater extension not much of this expenditure will be recurrent. A good deal of additional wharf accommodation has been secured, and a considerable addition (about 100 feet) has l.een made to the breakwater, which is now out well over ?000 feet, about 2140 feet, we think. The present procedure in respect of the breakwater is that heavy rubble is railed to the head of the structure and thrown over, and after being allowed to settle concrete is poured i over it to the extent of several feet, and a level surface thus being obtained huge cement blocks are laid on this. Concur- ■ rently rubble apron work is extended | along the weather sides of the structure. For sevewil years no damage has been done, and the authorities are hopeful that there is now little danger to be'anticipated. To the uninitiated ifc appears as if the curve, which has taken a decided turn with the length of the work, is likely to present a less exposed -surface. However this may be, there has been no difficulty, foi some time, and it is confidently expected that there is now little to fear. A feature of the past year's work has been the cheapening of the cost. The engineer's estimate approached £75 a foot, ■ but the cost is officially set down for the last 100 feet "at £45" per foot. This statement was questioned at the Board meeting as being too good, but the habot authorities say ihat the statement is quite accurate, and is indeed ■ somewhat over the mark, for the expenditure charged against this 100 feet includes some items which are not fairJy chargeable to it. Such ( an improvement is of course most gratifying. The trade of the port, es^ peciall/lt'fte jtexport trade, shows satisfactory expaniiorir 1 * The total exports and imports: during 1 1905 were^ '62,508 tons a*s against 25*;0§3- toW in 1895. As to the land reyentf^rthat still diminishes. Last yeir-*it^yfeldtd only £2912. In 1891 it. yielded £8588. "The 1 .rate' revenue", .however, H as migntC'have been 1 anticipated from the higher^ valuations, continues to^ grow. Though reduced from |d in the £ to 5-1 6 dit last year produced £10,083. The sinking.fund irt respect of the £200,000^ 6 per cent, loan falling due* in two ox three years' time now stands at £54,332, an increase of over £3600 during the year. ' ' '• ? - ■