OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD'S OPERATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD'S OPERATIONS.

THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The following .is the annual address by the Chairman of the Otago Harbour Board (the Hon. H. Gourley), delivered at tho meeting of the board on January 26:— Gentlemen,—l have again the privilege of addressing you with referenoe to the operations of thei board-during the past year and the present position "Of the hoard's affairs. The year 1903 closed with a credit balance of £21,-588, and after -providing, for all - departmental chaTgcs, . interest, dredging, increased wharf and shed accommodation, and reclamation works, the year 1904 has closed with a oredit;- balance' of £22,153. Of this credit balance, .£17,968 was in the hands of the board's bankers to meet the coupon interest due on January 1. The annual accounts. submitted to you will show that the ordinary revenue for the year amounted to £75,739—an increase on tho ordinary revenue of last year of £1883. The ordinary expenditure was £75,175—an increase on last year's expenditure of £3026. - This extra amount- is accounted for by tho exceptional expenditure on new works, including the .new shod and the extension of Victoria wharf,, with the necessary reclamation for. approaches.. Tile alteration made in the ejeport rates, during tho year lias rcsultol in a diminution in tho export revenue of £888 for tho six months. In rents, the net increase was £53 on that of the previous year, tho annual rent roll at tho end l oi the year standing at £9700.

During the year the beard took into consideration tho dues collected- on our staple lines of exports, and thought it wise to make substantial reductions, principally on grain, wool and skins, and 1 frozen meat. Grain was reduced from Is 3d to 6d ■ per ton, wool from Is to 9d a bale, and frozen lamb and mutton from Id a. carcase to 6d a ton, or less than £d a carcase. It was also decided that tho maximum charges for lierthago should not exceed £15. I liavo had a comparative statement and analysis prepared, which shows that under the old rates the export revenue for the year would havo amounted to £5432 17s 3d, and under tho new or present- rates to £3491 10s 7d, representing a dccreaso from this source of about £2000. The reduction of the maximum charge for berthage represents a concession for the six months of £286, and if taken over tho whole year would,havo shown a decrease of £426 compared with what would have obtained at the former rate. Assuming the volume of our trado for this year to be similar to last, the remission in dues from theso two sources will amount to about £2400. In July, 1902, the charges on vessfcls for port charges, pilotage, and harbourmaster's fees wore amended and limited to a maximum of £200 on any ono visit, representing a concession of about £1600 a voar. This, taken with the reduction of last year, makes a substantial concession of at least £4000 per annum as compared with 1902 on theso items alone. Tho total tonnago of shipping entered during tho year was 882,037—an increase of 79,646 tons over last year. Tho board's bonds arc still, I am glad to say, in favour with investors, tho sale last year having realised a premium of £10 per 100, which inust_ bo very, gratifying to the board as showing tho faith of tho investing publio in- the board's operations and financial position.

Tho principal works carried out during the year have been dredging, reclamation, and additional shed and wharf accommodation. The Victoria wharf has been extended 250 ft, and dredged to 20ft at low water. A now shed, 180 ft by 75ft, was erected, with the necessary reclamation and road formation and metalling. The dredging has included the straightening and deepening of the Victoria channel, and tho. formation of a swinging basin opposite the Victoria wlmrf. Tlio condition of the Victoria channel is satisfactory, and lias proved itself negotiable by largo vessels such as the Delphic and Rimutaka, which lately graced the writers of our upper harbour, much to tho satisfaction of tho Dunedin public and the board. Tlio latest reports indicate that a comparatively small amount of dredging will cusuro a depth of 18ft at low water in the Victoria channel, thus enabling tho direct cargo steamers from Homo fo berth regularly at tho Dnnedin wharves at. a saving to importers of 3s 6d per ton. During the year Dredge 222 has been actively engaged dredging for 10 months, and during that timo lifted 4-71 loads, or about 381,000 cubic yards of silt, all of which, with the exception of a load dumped at, sea, was dejiosited alongsido tho Vulcan and pumped on to the hoard's endowment at Pelichet Bay and tho Flat. The Vulcan, in addition, lifted about 7600 cubic 'yards of soft ground in the vicinity of tho wharf, making a total of about 388,600 cubio yards dealt with, at a combined cost 'for wages, stores, repairs, and all charges, of under 3d per cubic yard. The Priestman grab dredge has also been'doing good work since July in removing silt from tho .berthage i of the steamers' basin. About 11,600 yards wero lifted and deposited. on tho flat at Stuart* street at a total cost for 'wages, | stores, repairs, and all charges of about 9d per cubic yard. In Juno last a survey of tho channel at Harrington Point was made by our engineer, also soundings taken of tlio ontrance waters for comparison with bis former survey of 1903. These have lately been repeated, and show that tho deep water channel is still maintaining its width and depth. Tlio navigable channel at tho entranco lias a minimum depth of 36ft at low water, with least width "of 750 ft tlio mole light. The narrow channel inside Harrington Point shows signs of improvement, and still maintains a least depth of about 30ft at low water. Alterations have lately been effected in the marking of this portion of tho channel by the substitution of piles for buoys, and tho placing of a red cone lighted buoy on the north-east wlgo of the middle, bank. These alterations mark tho availablo doep water, and render the channel easier of navigation. Tlio ,tug steamer Plucky has been provided with a now boiler, new decks, and overhauled in ovorj- part, and is now in a thoroughly efficient condition for tho services required of her, and should remain serviceablo for many years to come. The tug Koputai has had 'tho boiler repaired and certificate renowed at the formor pressure for another 12 months. The past year has been marked by two incidents of a painful nature. In Februarylast a visit of tho members to the board's quarries at the Heads to witness tho firing of a blast was attended with sad disaster, resulting in tlio instantaneous death of a valued member of tlio press, Mr F. A. Joseph, tho Times representative, and in tho wounding of others, In May last tho board sustained a great loss in tho unexpected death of our lato secretary and engineer, Mr .T, 11. Rawson. During tho. six years that ho filled his important office the board and the publio had learned to trust him as a thoroughly safo and able man. As our chief executive officer, Mr Rawson carried out his duties with a firm but kindly hand., and always with satisfaction to the board. The years of his association with tho port of Otago wero years of progress and prosperity, and tho memory of his personality will not soon be forgotten by us. Consequent on the death of Mr Rawson amplications were called for tho vacant office of secretary, treasurer, and engineer. Mr J. Blair Mason, who had acted as our engineer since May, was elected by the board to fill tho vacant oflico. I would lib to express my own —and, I feel sure, the board's—entire confidence in the ability of our engineer and secretary. Mr Mason's management of tho board's affairs shows that in him we havo an efficient administrator, which, combined with his extensive acqunintar.ee' with marine matters and engineering, assures us that tlio business of the board will continue in the futuro to l)o conducted as satisfactorily as in tho past. ■ In conclusion, allow me to congratulate members on another year of successful work, and to thank (hem for their courtesj to myself and their earnest attention to the board's affairs. I have also to place on rccord my appreciation of tlio efficient and zdalous services of tho board's staff. In this connection tho harbourmaster should bo congratulated on the very satisfactory manner the pilot servico and other branches of his department have been conducted during tho year. The immunity from accidents evidences tho close attention to duty paid at.all hours by; Captain M'Callum and his officers, - and entitles them, in my opinion, to the sincere thanks of the board. At the statutory meeting of the Harbour Board on the 9th inst. tliij Hon. Hugh Gourley was unanimously re-elected; ohairman. • '