The Progress of Bluff Harbour

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 2

The Progress of Bluff Harbour

At the meeting^ 6f the Bluf! Harbour -Board yesterday; ' Sfr - ' A. Carmichael; chairman, safd. that as "this? »vould ha the last meeting pf the; Board as atip^ sent constituted, ho 'regretted, bein^ ridable, to . place before memliers a- copy -of the balance-sheet duly certified ii^dthe Auditor-General. Thb treasurer, however, had submitted to: him a ".. draft statement of receipts and expenditure, which showed that; the year's revenue would be ahout £22,500; which; /With a balance bl £1600 brought " . forward, would make the yearns ihcoirie about £24;10G. The increase of ordinary revenue over that of the previous year was therefore about £2450..

A new railway apuroacli had been partly built ab a cost of about £2590. On widening the wharves £6039 haid been expended, a 6: Well as £1158 on repairs still in progress", making a total expenditure in this- direction of £9782. Tire whole of \ ;this beeu paid out of revenue, lei^ng ance pf about £4000 to be Carried" forward; . •■f.'-> yy.yy. •'..;';> '■:'■:.■;•;• : yy : :y^ ■>■"

As anticipated^ there had been a large decrease, in -the' grain /traffic, as conipared with' the- previous year, though "_ dtho grain iexivorW compared favourably with those a>f. former ; years. There; y. ■'.-. were .increases' of 1265, tons of frozen . produce, 185, tons ■ ot ' merchaindise, 1488 '• bales of wool , and i nearly million feet .of timber. import '-) of manures ;V was nearly .doubleti;. the increase being* 7849 tons, and, owing to the drought in Australia,; 1 5.210 sheep were sent from the Blufiv The $nly < serious decline, .besides grain, was in cheese!; which showed a decrease of 752 tons.

As indicating ihe steady progress of the port from another" point, of- view, -it might be noted that during tiie -year 261 vessels of 408,756 tons net register had entered the i=harbour, being on increase of eight vessels and 32,047 tona over the figures f or "the .previous year.

As members were aware, power had been given the Board by the Legislature to borrow . to the extent of £50,000 for the purposie of dredgrihg and recldhia. tion. In tbe^meiuitiine enquiries: were being made for a." suitable; dredge,;; Cnnd would engage the attention of the

new Board

The Chairman concluded by acknowledging the courtesy -of _■' the members .-. and ■■': "the efficient help he had received fropi ibe stafl. ' : -ri — '■-^"■■''••'^" : '--v'\| ■' On the motion ,bt Messrs Mitchell and Watson, ; a r^wlution was entered in the minutes expressing appreciation ot "the BvyJcw or Mr Carajichael m thftinaw^