PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

Patea Mail, 7 May 1941, Page 2

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The ordinary monthly meeting of the I’atca Harbour Board iwas held on Tuesday, Mr. F. Parsons presiding. ■The Peturnig Officer notified the reelection of Mr. A. J. Gibbs and Mr. V. 11. Watkins 'to the board. Messrs Glcnny’s Ltd. wrote enclosing a cheque for £3l/IS)/- for royalty on shingle from September 30th.— Received. The Marine Department wrote stating that the leading lights of the port .mst I;e extinguished as soon as possible. — Received. The Marino Department wrote stating that Mr. F. Parsons had been elected to ■(■ho board for a further term of three years from April 30th.— Received. Mr. G. B. Saunders, Grey mouth, wrote offering 100 tons of 40lb rails mostly in 24ft lengths.— Received. ‘The chairman reported limit the export trade of the port had’exceeded that of the previous year. The dredge had been extensively 1 repaired and was now in first class order. It should not bo necessary to spend much on it for repairs for some years. During the year the drodgemastcr, Mr. A. H. Mercer resigned, Mr. W. Ricketts being appointed in his place. Extensive maintenance work lum been carried out on the eastern breakwater, and has proved very satisfactory. Protective work has also been undertaken in Maim Bay as well as work on the western wall, A new wharf shod lias replaced the old one, and Ihe dredge wharf frontage has been repaired. Owing to the extensive maintenance work and increased cost, of operations to keep the port workable, it --was not pcrmissable to transfer the usual revenue money to the interest .and sinking fuhd account, and consequently a rise in the rate ■Luck from one sixth of a penny to one Rfth of a penny hr -the £ was necessary. It is hoped that when the maintenance work is finished the rate ai 11 be reduced. All the board’s reserves have been inspected and where necessary buildings repaired. During the, year Mr. Naismith Fresigned his position us a member, Mr. Ramsbottom being elected in his place. The chairman, in conclusion, expressed appreciation of the co-operation by '■mini members and, staff during the year. , . Tho that, receipts in the General Account exceeded paymen Is during the year by £415, even (.hough considerable sums had been spent on dredge repairs and maintenance work on the breakwaters and port protection. Ratepayers have responded well in the matter of payment, of rates, and rlie Ha worn collector continues to do excellent work. * Very few weather hold ups of shipping occurred during the year. The number of boats entering the port was 171 as against 142 last year, and the tonnage of produce shipped exceeded (hat of larq year by over 4300 tons. The leases that expired during tho year were all renewed at advanced rents. No leases expire during the present year. The secretary thanked the chairman ami members for assistance during the year.

The chairman said from the end of September last the late chairman had not been able *to take an active part in the board’s work, .and it fell to Ins (the speaker’s) lot to carry on with the work then in hand. Good work had been carried out and when the work on 4ho (Western wall was completed there would not be the need for much further expenditure. If the port were maintained in good order it would benefit both the “board and the shipping company on whom the board largely relied for its revenue. Tho success of the port meant the success of the shipping company, and vice versa. The chairman thanked members for their assistance during the period he had occupied the chair. The reports wore- adopted. Captain Barnes said the reports (were Hie best that had been presented during the past ten years. The success of the port was largely due to Hie good wdrk that had been carried out during the past 12 months. He thought he was safe in saving that- a smaller amount of produce had 1 eon railed than during the past fourteen years. ’The chairman said receipts for 1 930/ ■lO had been £3070, and expenditure £2902. In tho following year, 1940/ 41 the receipts were £4040, and expenditure only £2207, which was very satisfactory. The harbourmaster reported (hat shipping conditions wore bad during the month owing to continuous strong westerly winds and-heavy sons. There were ten arrivals and 12 departures during tho .month. When weather conditions permitted good progress had been made in the manufacture of blocks. To date 00 blocks had been made and IS placed over the seaward side of the wall,