AUCKLAND'S BUSY PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 6

AUCKLAND'S BUSY PORT.

MANY VESSELS BERTHED. NEED FOR CENTRAL WHABF~ ... , • ' '. • , \ - • ' ; A statement concerning the skipping trade of Auckland was made to the Har- ; bour Board yesterday by • the' chairman, >-- Mr. J. H. Gunson. " ' Mr. Gunson , said . thai yesterday morning, accompanied by the acting-harbour- ;, master, he paid a visit of inspection to'-, | all the board's wharves. The shipping ■ tonnage in the port constituted a-record, ■■■'•■> there being berthed at the main wharves 11 large oversea and interccSoniai vessels of 53,440 grosei tons ; while there were 34 local coasters of 4486 gross L tons occupying \- : berths at the wharves'.,. Further., there •:, were in the •stream and dock six vessel* of, • x 7163 gross low. making a' grand tote* of. | 51 merchantmen and trading vessels iaJ port of 65.089 gross 'and . 41,276 net tons. • In addition, a large number of vessels left "fl port on Monday. • The acting-harbourmaster had been aba ; to 'adequately, meet all demands made for. 5; accommodation, notwithstanding the ilax&'fit, that the western side of the -Queen; Street | Wharf was not yet available.-•• There 1, Was j: i every, reason.to anticipate that the board M would successfully tide • over.• the i present %\ period, during which it was anticipated there might be ' difficult;- .• jh •', finding jig bertha accommodation; ; :: wriv.g to the * transition stage Of the hoard's • works' ;.-vi but, with the western'side' o' the' Queen 1 Street Wharf ; available in 'Ae very it(?ar " future such, a possibility would be en- " tire* obviated _, ; - .; . ialil^M "In view, therefore, of the Tapid increase of the port's shipping, the -j boardj£j must not rest inactive, but' in. accordance with a recent "resolution the quest-ion of constructing the central wharf at the; earliest possible date should be taken in. hand," | concluded Mr. Gunson. "The works's of A"' the board are in every way in a satisfac-V tory condition. ■ At • no' time has : work ';-: been carried on with such rapidity and 'satisfaction ■as.- in the- past .: 12 months. :'■ We have been able to : seize the position | and carry on wo»rks in a way • thairpast : boards have not'been able to do." i