AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOABD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10272, 14 February 1894, Page 6

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOABD.

THE CALLIOPE DOCK. IPeb Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Fee. 18. At the annual meeting of the Harbour Board, Mr Crowther, the Chairman, delivered a lengthy address. Referring to the kauri gum industry he said“As the gum busineaa is just now so very.critical, and has been so for some time, I am seriously afraid that Auckland has begun to feel the weight of the consequences, and it is a very debatable question whether the Gum Commission setup by the Government last year is not, to a great extent, responsible; It is already being realised that the Commission told tbe Americana and others; more than enough concerning this our valuable export. They now know what it costs to produce, and they are regulating the buying prices accordingly, leaving a smaller margin of profit than hitherto, whereas if the details had not been made known to them the results would, I believe, have been continuously batter.” Alluding to the Calliope Dock and the naval station, the Chairman said “ Anticipations have not been realised, Auckland ia not the naval headquarters, and the coats to naval sfaipa when in dock have had to be reduced. Wa atill have to pay for wear aud tear, and S2O 10s per day interest, besides wages, coal, etc., to keep this dock going. The Board ia in fact providing a splendid pionio ground for one and all warships that come here, in addition to dock conveniences, without getting one shilling profit to the Board towards the interest of between $150,000 and $200,000 that has been spent by the Board to provide these conveniences. This is a crushing weight for a small port like ouro to carry year after year without any hope of relief, and absolutely no income from it. In consequence of the reduced charges there ia no profit left. If we had the S2O 10s to spend in the harbour every day, instead of having to find it to support the Calliope dock, we could start two big dredges and keep them going every day, which would moan in a short time that Freeman’s Bay would be filled in, more allotments with a frontage to Patterson Street would be available for factory and other purposes, and the Board’ll revenue increased thereby. Upoa referring to the accounts you will see that the item having reference to dock dues is nearly s9ooless this year. In my opinion, notwithstanding what is done in Lyttelton or elsewhere, something should be done here at once to restore this diminishing income. I look upon this item as being serious, hence my reason for drawing special attention to it.” Mr Crowther said he might have made his report of a more glossy and prospective, character, but he did not desire to do so.

Mr Niohol said he took exception to some of the remarks made by the Chairman. Ho moved—" That the address of the Chairman be referred to the finance and legal committees.” Mr Witheford said he greatly admired the speech, and asked Mr Crowther to read his paragraph likening the special committee to a “ mountain ot snow ” again. Mr Crowther:, “Mr Witheford, stick to business, please,” Mr Witheford said he would second Mr Niohol’s proposal. Various other members having criticised the report, the Chairman's address was referred to tbe financial and legal committees to report upon at the next meeting. . . • -