NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 October 1940, Page 9

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

DECREASE IN REVENUE REVIEW OF PAST YEAR CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT “I have to report that business on the waterfront during the past year has resulted in a decrease from a revenue point of view as compared with the previous year. Also there is a decrease in the tonnage of cargo received and consequently operations generally have not been as brisk as usual, but all remaining hands have been kept fully employed,” states the annual report of the chairman of the Nelson Harbour Board (Mr A. Gould), which was presented at the board’s monthly meeting. “The ordinary revenue, including the special rate, for the past year amounted to £37,850 10s 9d (plus £2,467 Is 8d Government subsidy under scheme 13) as compared with £42,035 5s 2d for the previous year, being a decrease of £4,184 14s sd. EXPENSES “The working and general expenses for the past year amounted to £36,089 8s lOd as compared with £37,532 2s lid for the previous year, thus showing a decrease of £1,442 14s Id. The sum of £1,377 included in expenses is due to repairing the damage to the entrance mole caused by a storm in August 1938 and is not an annual recurring expenditure. CARGO “Cargo received at Nelson and Mapua wharves totalled 151,563 tons as compared with 163,708 tons for the previous year. The decrease in the year of 12,145 tons is no doubt due to war conditions and import restrictions. Cargo exported over the Nelson wharves amounted to 42,678 tons as compared with 47,217 tons for 1939. The smaller quantity of fruit exported accounts for the decreased tonnage in exports over the Nelson wharves. SHIPPING “The shipping traffic has been fairly well maintained, a total of 872 vessels visited Port Nelson as compared with 943 vessels for the previous year. The registered tonnage of the vessels being 294,089 tons for 1940 and 323,777 tons for 1939. Eight overseas vessels visited the Port during the year including four oil tankers as compared with ten vessels for the previous 12 months. Also 78 ! vessels visited Port Mapua during the past year as compared with 96 vessels in the previous 12 months. GENERAL “In addition to the various activities mentioned in the departmental annual reports the work of reclaiming 5 acres of the harbour foreshore mud-flats at Port Nelson was continued by the Wanganui Harbour Board’s dredge “Kaione,” and the work was completed in February last. The dredge lifted the spoil from various parts of the harbour and deposited it with her pumping gear on to the area being reclaimed. The “Kaione” was then hauled up on the slipway at The Port and afterwards at Wellington for her annual overhaul and survey and was then returned to Wanganui and the charter terminated. Leases have been granted to the Vacuum Oil Company and the Texas Company for petroleum depot sites on I 4 acres and 1| acres respectively of the 5 acres reclaimed, at satisfactory rentals. NELSON AIRPORT “The work of erecting the administration building at Nelson Airport was completed in March 1940, and the building rendered ready for use when required. In October 1939 the Government commandeered the service planes, plant and equipment of Cook Strait Airways Limited for defence purposes and the company’s service ceased. In its place a service on a limited scale is being carried on by Union Airways Ltd. Preparations are now being made by the Air Department to use the airport lor an extension of the Air Force. It is understood that a General Reconnaissance Squadron of 230 officers and men with equipment will short-I ly be stationed at Nelson Airport. I “About 1000 tons of heavy rockj were brought across by scow from Astrolabe Roadstead and landed in place on each side of the mole, thus completing the repair work as recommended by the consulting engineer and at the same time strengthening the mole considerably. “A jetty has been erected on the harbour foreshore at the Nelson Fisheries Ltd’s, cool store site, Wakefield Quay, for fishermen to berth ineu* launches and land fish. This helps to relieve the congestion at the main wharves.” The chairman added that he considered the report very encouraging considering what the Board had passed through and what conditions were on the other side of the world. Members agreed that a very satisfactory condition was revealed by the report, considering existing conditions.