RECORD CARGOES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 4

RECORD CARGOES

PORT OF OTAGO SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES BOARD’S FINANCES IMPROVE A total cargo of 59,361 tdns handled at the port of Otago during last month was a record, as was the total cargo of 319,573 tons for the seven months ended on April 30 last. These facts were revealed at a meeting of t'he Otago Harbour Board last night. The monthly total of 59,361 tons comprised 48,670 at Dunedin, 4351 at Ravensbourne and 6340 at Port Chalmers. The previous .record monthly cargo tonnage was 57,523 in November last year. The seven-months total of 319,573 comprised 242,207 at Dunedin, 23,116 at Ravensbourne and 54,250 at Port Chalmers. It was reported that “ this was substantially above anything previously recorded for this period.” Mr J. G. Jeffery observed that there had been no improvement in coastal shipping. , . . ,* Some of the overseas ships had brought big cargoes, as much as 3000 tons, and cargoes of similar size had been loaded, the chairman, Mr W. R. Clarke, said. Overseas ships were not yet arriving as often as the board would like, but he was optimistic for the future. Ha felt sure that more coastal ships would also call. The financial returns of the board for the seven months ended on April 30 last revealed an excess of revenue over expenditure of £17,734, compared with an estimated deficit of. £7OO for the period. The ordinary revenue for the seven months was £25,600 more than that for the corresponding period last year, and £17,000 more than the proportion of the estimate. It was stated that the sum of £4478 had been spent on the new shed and cranes for the Birch street wharf.