OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18761, 15 July 1924, Page 8

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

THE JUBILEE CELEBRATED.

INCREASING DEPTH OF PORT.

The. jubilee of the Otago Harbour Board was celebrated last week at a dinner attended by ninety representative guests. In the course of a speech the chairman of the board, Mr. D. Larnach, said the progress of the harbour, city and district would be rven more remarkable in the future than in the past. The past was a challenge to the present board, and those who might follow, and the response to the challenge was assured. One of the oldest members of the board, Mr. Louden, said it seemed to him that if they were to maintain the port of Otago as a first-class Dominion port, that was, that the harbour should be capable of accommodating as a first port of arrival or last port of departure the largest vessels trading to the country, it was imperative that an increased depth should be obtained to Port Chalmers at any rate. The present position was that vessels drawing 30ft. could be safely handled at Port Chalmers and at Dunedin 22ft. He thought that the suggestion of the late engineer, Mr. J. B. Mason, was for an objective of 40ft. to Port Chalmers, but in conversation with people interested in shipping matters, he gathered that if they had 35ft. in the lower harbour it would meet all requirements for many years, it being stated that tho indications were that the draught of vessels would not be increased so far as the New Zealand trade was concerned.