OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 7

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

A special meeting of tho Otago Harbour Board was held on the 15th; presentMessrs J. Loudon (chairman), Larnach, Oal braith, Russell, Tait, Campbell, Walker, Moller. Dickson, MP., Bridger, Wilkinson, and Captain . Sundstrum. Tho annual review, submitted by the chairman, stated, inter alia:—The effect of tho war has been to materially reduce tho revenue, and as our obligations have to be (and have been) fulfilled, it was found necessary to devise means whereby this could be done without going further into debt. This has been accomplished in three ways:—(l) By curtailing, as far as possible, expenditure on works payable out cf loan moneys; (2) by cessation of dredging; wnicn is referred to later in this memorandum; (3) by an increase in certain 'export and ship dues. The receipts and expenditure for the- year show a marked reduction on the figures of previous years, but they approximate closely the estimated figures, and- aro a clear indication that, despite,, all that the war has meant to the trade of tho port, the revenue has been remarkably well maintained, more than fully covering tho year's expenditure. Tho receipts from various sources were £91,964 in 1915, £104,243 in 1916, and £92,556 in 1917. Under the head of expenditure (he 'total in 1915 was £116,380, in 1916 £94,110, and in 1917 £83,105. In September the board participated in the Liberty War Loan to the amount of £15,000, this sum being a portion of tho plant renewal and depreciation reserve funds. It has expended the sum of £4OOO on loan works during the year, principally on the Leith canal and south endowment. There is still- an available balance of over £IO,OOO in tho No. 6 loan (£150,000). The imports and exports for the year have been ouito remarkable, reaching a total of some 3"84,0O0 tons. While this is a large drop from the 1916 figures, it compares favourably with the average (443,438 tons) for the preceding five years. A statement of values disclosed that imports and exports in 1907 (exclusive of coastal trade) amounted to £4,027,461; in 1914, £4,175,061; in 1915, £4,553,417; and in 1916, £5,321,766. The figures for 1917 were not available. The report continued: —It is needful to again repeat that these values arc somewhat misleadinp- as to the trade of the port, on account "of tho increased (war) prices, arid the true trade will be found in the actual tonnage of cargo handled. The shipping of the port has been seriously affected, principally by the war and the New South Wales strike; but we have consolation in the fait that matters might have been very much worse. The docks continue to be a severe handicap on the finances, the accumulated deficit at December 31 havimr reached the formidable sum of £10,148, which will require to bo met out - of the harbour fund. Five thousand was voted towards this deficit in December, 1916, and will be credited when certain adjustments are made as between the harbour fund and loan accounts. The deficit for the year is £2564 4s lid, towards the reduction of which the Union Steam Ship Company is liable for £IOOO, leaving a net deficit for tho year of £1564 4s lid. The dock dues received during 1917 totalled £3752 18s sd; rents from endowments, £1369 fos 6d; electric crane and sheerlegs, £627 10s; slip dues and other sources, £2Bl lis 4d. To the total ordinary receipts, amount ing to £6031 10s 3d has to be added the board's' contribution of £IOOO and a further £IOOO for which the Union Steam Ship Company *is liable, or a total of £BO3I 10s 3d. Tho ordinary expenditure for salaries and wages (£2431), repairs, coal, stores, interest (£4747), sinking fund (£750), and other charges amounted to £9582 12s. to which has to be added £7B lis lid, expended from loan account on sundry works, giving a total of £9661 3s lid. The unexpended balance' of loan moneys is £2797 Is. During the year 33 vessels of 157,892 tons gross (22 of these were Union Steam Ship Company's steamers, totalling 122,357 tons, which were taken as transports) wero clocked in the Otago Dock, and 36 vessels of 31,275 tons gross in the Port Chalmers Dock, making a total of 69 vessels of 189,169 tons gross —i decrease compared with the previous year of 10 vessels, - representing a total tonnage of 42,294 tons gross. Consequent, on tho condition of the altars of the dock, it is necessary to effect repairs, and a preliminary sum of £SOO will be placed on the estimates for 1918. In March the board received a communication from tho South Island Dairy Association asking if it would be prepared to erect a cheese store either at Duneclin or Port Chalmers. It wae docidftd to place sections Nos. 1, 10, and 11 in block LXXIV, in the vicinity of the Victoria wharf, in the market for lease, at a reduced rental, and these having been secured by the Otago'Dairy Producers' Cool Storage Company, a commodious store is now tinder construction. To facilitate the handling and storage of cheese coming forward for shipment m the meantime, arrangements have been made to set apart a portion of R shed. A joint report by the resident engineer, consulting engineer, and harbourmaster with respect to the general condition of the upper and lower harbours showed that, although dredging has been discontinued since May, 1916, tho maintenance of depths, alTcompared with former years, was practically unaltered. Slight shoaling had taken place at the Victoria and Kitchener street wharves, and at two points in tho Victoria Channel; but provision will bo made in the estimates to commence dredging early in the year, with tho object of removing this siltation. It is anticipated that a few months' dredging will complete all that is urgently required. It is also proposed to instal an occulting light at tho Dunedin end of tho Victoria Channel, to enablo tho lights of the town to be moro quickly distinguished than at present; also to extend the North Spit training wail some 400 ft, with the object of maintaining the depths of tho channel at the entrance. Tho matter of North Otago produce being shipped from Canterbury ports owing to cheaper rates than those obtaining between North Otago and Port Chalmers, received consideration, and representations were made to tho Minister of Railways to readjust the railway tariff so that North Otago produce might be shipped from Port Chalmers as heretofore; but thd Minister advised that there could be no reduction in tho current rates. Tho following is a summary of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for tho year ending December 31, 1918:—Surplus as at December 31. 1917, £11.996; estimated revenue, 1918,_ £71,745—"t0ta1, £83,741; estimactd expenditure, £81,215; estimated surplus, £2526.