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Otago Daily Times, Issue 11642, 27 January 1900, Page 6

The increasing prasperity of Otago is reflected in the statement of accounts of j the Harbour Board, of which Mr Gour- ' icjr, the chairman, gave a digest at the meeting on Thursday afternoon. A .substantial increase in the total tonnage of shipping entered at the port during the past year is evidence of a gratifying j expansion of trade. That the ordinary items of the board's revenue showed better returns than in the preceding year is the mere corollary of this. The figures quoted by Mr Gonrley have, however, a deeper significance than is implied in the fact that the revenue for 1899 was greater than that for 189S by- : even so large an amount as £8288. What is more important is the fact that on all the main lines of ordinary revenue the board's^ receipts were higher than in j '1897. The'board had an unfortunate I year in 1898. Its ordinary reveuue fell j off then to the extent of £2184. This drop has, however, been recovered, and, not only so, but the figures for' 1897 have been largely exceeded. In proof of this the receipts for the three past years in the larger items of the board's revenue' may fittingly be set out: 1897. IG9B. JR99 Pilotage £6,149 £5,134- £6,094 Port charges ... 4,331 3.959 ' 4,473 Dugs 35,285 31,616 38,866 Kenta 8,240 8,483 8,826 The increase in the receipts 'from .dues on goods is especially striking, and particularly so when it is remembered that during the past year the board reduced its rates oh one of the largest articles of export—that of frozen meat. In the j item of "incidentals," also, an increase in the board's revenue.to the extent of £2869 is shown. This includes a sum of £1250, which, representing the proceeds of the sale of the old offices, is altogether aw exceptional incoming, but is nevertheless legitimately included in tba» account, inasmuch a.s the cost of erecting i the new offices lias been defrayed out of reveuue. While the receipts for 1899 have" thus shown an increase which must be regarded as exceedingly satisfactory, j the expenditure of the board was £3082 j less than in 1898. This decrease is mainly accounted for by tlio fact that I in the latter year tho expenditure upon : works and repairs was unusually heavy. I The not result of the board's operations I for 1899 is that the excess of revenue over expenditure is £5238. This may , fairly bo accepted as an indication that j j the board has turned the financial cor- j ncr, and, token in conjunction with the ' bright prospects for trade find commcrco that at present exist, it renders opportune tho proposal of which Mr ■ jPercus }ji'.s given notice for the an-'

pointmeni of a committee to'investigate the board's position with the view, of increasing the accommodation that is provided at the wharves/ With the encomiums that Mr Goiirley bestowed on the work performed by the engineer and secretary of the board the public generally will gladly' associate itself. Notwithstanding the increased shipping at the we have during the past year been spared the constant reminder of the difficulties and alleged dangers of the navigation "of the Victoria channel. For this relief We have, it may be persumcd, in .some measure to thank Mr Rawson. It would be unjust to him to suppose that the improvement in the harbour which has taken place since his assumption of the office of engineer to the board 15 months ago is not traceable—partly, at all events —to the influence of his experience and skill in harbour engineering, and we have the direct authority of Mr Gourley for tho statement that Mr Rawson has " from time to time skilfully planned out a series of works for the board of such design as to .secure efficient and permanent results without' plunging into a lavish expenditure, and tlms. the requirements of tho harbour to cope with the increasing trade have been met." The improvement in the conditiou of thfi Victoria channel, which is of such a char* acter that Mr Gourley holds out the hope that in a few weeks' time, When certain shoal parts shall have beeu dredged, a minimum workable depth will be obtainable in the channel of about 17ft at low water spring tide; is very satisfactory. On all grounds, indeed, the year 1599 lias been one upon which the board can look back with a feeling of gratification.