PORT OF WELLINGTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 194, 18 July 1939, Page 2

PORT OF WELLINGTON

FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD. OUTLINE BY CHAIRMAN. Interesting data concerning the history and present facilities of the port of Wellington were presented to members of the Palmerston North Rotary Club, in an address yesterday, by the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr M. A. Eliott, of Palmerston North. Mr Eliott was recently elected chairman of the board. Also present at the luncheon was Mr W. L. Fitzherbert, the other local representative on the board. Mr Eliott commenced by outlining the history of the harbour. He said that on November 2, 1773, Captain Cook anchored off the entrance. He did not actually enter the harbour, and probably little did he think at the time that inside was one of the finest harbours in'New Zealand, if not in the world. Captain Herd was the first to enter, in 1826, and Colonel Wakefield followed in the Tory on September 20, 1839. The city was founded on January 22, 1810. The Wellington Harbour Board was constituted in 1879 by the Harbours Act of 1879, and the first meeting of the board was held on February 20. 1880, 59 years ago. when all the existing wharves were taken over.

The board consisted of 14 members, and ten of these were elected by the whole of the people in the Wellington Province. There was one representative of payees of harbour dues on good, two of payees of harbour dues on ships, four of the city of 'Wellington, two of the TTutt and Makara Counties, two of the Mnnawatu district, two of Wairarapa, and one Government nominee. The Mnnawatu nominees were representative of the city of Palmerston North, the boroughs of Feilding, Foxton, Otaki, Levin and Shannon, and the counties of Horowheiiiun. Mnnawntu. Knirnnga. Oroua, Kiwitea and Pnhangina. The speaker did not think that there could be any more democratic representation than that. PAST CHAIRMEN. Mr. Eliott said that the past chairmen of the board were among the most prominent men in Wellington. The first chairman was the late Mr. W. H. Levin, and other notable holders ol the office wore Messrs E. Pearce. John Duthie. Sir Harold Beauchamp, Messrs. Nicholas Reid. Win. Cable, T. K. Macdonald. Sir T. M. Wilford, Messrs. Robt. Fletcher, C. E. Dnniell, Maurice Cohen, Hon. J. 0. Cobbe and Sir Charles Norwood. During the last three months, no fewer than three of these ex-chairmen had passed away. The chairman of the board was ex-officio chairman of the Harbour Boards’ Association. The 'Wellington Harbour Board was the largest in the Dominion, having a total staff of 1289. In Port Nicholson there was an area of roughly 20.000 acres, and the rise and fall of the tide was about 2ft. Gin. to 4ft. Gin., compared with that, in Auckland of Bft. to 10ft. The entrance was 3600 feet at the narrowest, and there was a deep water channel of 1000 ft. There was very little fall in the tide compared with other ports, mid this made it one of the safest in New Zealand. PORT’S ADVANTAGES.

One of the chief advantages of the port was the close proximity of the wharves to the main commercial buildings. Tn Australian and other ports the wharves were some distance from the citv.

Dealing with the cargo aspect, Mr. Eliott said that for the six months to March 31, 1939, the imports from English and foreign ports decreased by 6 per cent, and from the coastal and Australian ports increased by .9.2 per cent. In coastal cargo the main item in the increase was in cement—7sß6 tons. General cargo transhipments decreased by 14.5 per cent, principally in butter, cheese, wool and fruit. The assets of the board amounted to £3,340,426, consisting of wharves, sheds, tugs, land, buildings, do_ck, plant.’ etc!, and the liabilities £1.270.128. leaving a surplus of £2.070.298. Sinking funds were £788,752, while depreciation written off amounted to £46.764. The annual revenue was £628,241. HUGE DOCK.

Thero were ten city wharves and eight elsewhere, witli a depth of np to 46ft., Mr. Eliott proceeded, and tliere were 85 stores with over 11 milion which acted as a wharfinger, which floating dock was 584 ft. by 87ft. broad bv 35ft. high, and could take vessels up to 18,000 tons. The Wellington hoard was the only one in the Dominion which after as a wharfinger, which meant receiving cargo _ from ships’ slings, sorting, stowing in sheds and giving deliverv. For that reason it was rather difficult to make comparisons with other ports. In regard to import restrictions, the board had suffered since Julv and the revenue had dropped, said Mr. Eliott. The Centennial Exhibition authorities had approached the hoard to see if the Miramar or Burnham wharves could be used for a ferry service to be run to relieve the congestion on the roads during the currency of the Exhibition.

Mr. Eliott also referred to new buildings and other improvements which the board had in view for the future. On the motion of Botarian W. S. Carter, the sneaker was accorded a vote of thanks. Visitors welcomed were Messrs. W. H. Walker (Hastings). W. L. Fitzherbert, and P. .T. /Lee (Wellington).