OTAGO HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26214, 26 July 1946, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night. The deputy chairman (Mr H. S. Watson) presided. and there were also present Messrs W. Begg. S. B. Macdonald, F. E. Tyson. G. F. Booth, J. H. Duncan, R. S. Thompson, L. F. Evans, J. Preston, and J. G. Jeffery. Sheds for Tally Clerks A request was received from the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Tally Clerks’ Union that portable shelters should be provided- in the sheds at Dunedin for their use.—lt was decided to defer the question for a month pending investigation of conditions in northern ports. One-ton Mobile Crane It was reported that advice had been received that a one-ton mobile crane ordered from England was now|on the water and should arrive on the Brisbane Star about the middle of next month. Cranes for Port Chalmers The chairman reported that the two cranes for the George street pier, Port Chalmers, now being built at Port Chalmers, should be completed about the end of the year. f Arrivals in Port The harbourmaster. Captain F. MacDonald, reported that during the month of June, 24, vessels aggregating 68,392 tons arrived in the port, compared with 2S vessels (41,829 tons) in June of last year. For the nine months ended June 30, the arrivals numbered 185 vessels (381.840 tons), compared with' 204 vessels (257,093 tons) in the corresponding period last year. During the month pilotage was provided for 23 vessels (99,582 tons), and the tug Dunedin steamed 185 miles. The report was adopted. Dredging Operations The-resident engineer, Mr A. C. Swanson,' reported that during June the dredge Otakou removed 15 loads of material, a total of 21,720 hopper yards. Of this amount, 8400 hopper yards were deposited at sea and 13,320 hopper yards at the dredge Vulcan for pumping into the 30acre area at the south endowment. The report , was adopted. . ’ Wofk on the Mole The resident engineer reported that heavy seas during the week June 10 to 17 had seriously interfered with the tipping of stone at the outer ehd of the mole. All work on the structure had been stopped due to dangerous conditions, and plant brought back to safety. The structure had sustained some damage, the two outer bays being forced out of alignment and tie rods broken. Twb additional piles were driven in the outer pier, and the stagirig straightened up. Two new piers were also driven, bringing the total to 17. Five piers have yet to be constructed to complete the work. Owing to a long run of heavy weather the outer work has become ihcreasingiy hazardous. . In reply to a question, Mr Swanson said that, as a result of favourable weather more recently, the work was now progressing better, and if present conditions continued it should be possible to complete the work in another four or six weeks; r Revenue and Expenditure The treasurer (Mr J. Renton) reported that the total' revenue for June (excluding transfers '.from reserve funds) was £24.697, compared with £26.818 in June of last year, and for the nine months ended June. £150,161 (£124.610). Expenditure for June was £15,950 (£14,903). and for the nine months ended June £144,858 (£134,418). The bank, balance at July 15 of the board’s general account was £ 787 (dr.),. against which there 1 are accounts for payment totallingj approximately £3500.- Expenditure out of the £400.000 loan totalled £1044 for the month, making a total of £8652 for the nine months. . .. . . ..

The report was adopted. Overseas Exports

The chief executive officer, Mr J. Renton, reported that overseas exports for June totalled 4177 tons, comprising the overseas cargoes of four vessels; The tonnage for the month was 12,100 tons less and for. the nine months'33,Boo tons more than for the corresponding, periods of-last year. The total- for the nine months, 67,197 tons, was a record for the period, principally as the result of the record shipment of 131,000 bales of wool, which exceeded the wool shipped in any one year/ (The tonnage for'June, 1945, included 13,100 tons of war supplies.) Total cargo in and out for the nine months was 329,532 tons (Dunedin 248,834 tons, Ravensbourne 17,151 tons,- Fort Chalmers 63,547 tons), which was 53,400 tons more than for the corresponding period of last year. This was the highest total recorded since 1938-9 (389,840 tons). The report was adopted.