MISSION ABROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27518, 12 October 1950, Page 6

MISSION ABROAD

Return Of Harbour Board Chairman PURCHASE OF NEW TUG Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. The chairman of the Otago Harbour Board. Mr W. R. Clarke, returned to New Zealand in the Rangitiki today after five months spent abroad. Asked if he had interested himself in harbour matters while away he said: “Very much so.” Mr Clarke said he expects to report to his board next week. His principal harbour board interests while abroad were inspections associated with the purchase of a tug for Otago, new methods and materials in

harbour construction works, and up-to-date methods of dredging—an item which cost his board a good deal. He would not give details, saying he felt that he should report to his board first.

He said that in all his inquiries he had found harbour authorities and others most helpful. He had inspected the main harbours of Britain, and had also paid a short visit to the Shetland Islands. He was interested to find that among the principal industries of the islands were the export of talc-stone—-about 5000 tons a year—for the manufacture of face powder, and of a similar amount of serpentine stone, used for furnace linings. Sheffield firms were also boring in the islands for chrome and other miners.

lyirs Clarke said that in the Shetlands, New Zealand geography was better known than in New Zealand. Mr and Mrs Clarke will go south on' the steamer express tonight and will reach Dunedin on the express tomorrow.