BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 17304, 28 March 1913, Page 2

BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

STATUTORY MEETING The adjourned statutory meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board held at Bluff yesterday was attended by Messrs R. A. Anderson (chairman), A. F. Hawke, W. Ronald, A. Bain, T. Fraser, G. R. Waddell, T. Gilroy, and T. Green. The annual balance sheet, examined by the Controller and Auditor General for the year ended 31st December, 1912, and returned duly certified to, .was adopted. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. The following report on the year's operations was submitted by the Chairman (Mr R. A. Anderson) : In submitting the annual statement of accounts for the twelve months ending 31st December, 1912. I would point out that the year has been the first one for a long time in which little expenditure, outside the ordinary, has been incurred. The balance due on account of the reclamation wall was paid, and no new work of any importance has since been undertaken. The current year promises to be an equally quiet one as far as outgoings .are concerned, and, as the revenue should at least come up to, and may probably exceed, that of last year, it should show a substantial credit over expenses. REVENUE. It is indeed gratifying to be able to say that the Income for the year just closed Is the largest in the history of the Board. The gross receipts 349 3s 8d are almost entirely from ordinary sources of revenue, only £314 9s being classed as extraordinary. The previous year, 1911, was one in which certain causes operated to keep down the income, and £34.457 was the total amount received. The year 1912, therefore, shows an increase in receipts of £1892. The increase for the year Is well distributed over most of the sources of Income : Pilotage dues, £319 : port charges, £495 ; berthage dues, £SBO ; wharfage dues, £312. The only heading showing a decrease is that of towage dues, £93, duo to the gradual elimination of sailing ships from that section of the world's trade which affects our port. Outside of the few barques which are engaged in the guano trade, sailing ships seldom come into Bluff. Among the subsidiary services undertaken by the Board, the Stewart Island service shows an Increase of £ll7, and water service £284, due to the number of large steamers requiring water during the year. EXPENDITURE. Turning to the expenditure side of the account, the outgo for 1912 was £26,626 13s 6d, but as £BSO of this represents only a book transfer to the Fire and Marine and Accident Fund, it may be said that the expenditure was £25,776, or well within the amount of income received. Of this amount, £13,161 was paid on account of the ordinary charges for salaries, maintenance, etc., and the balance on account of harbour works, being—Dredge Murihiku, £7,144 ; reclamation account, £2,300 ; Lobnitz plant and working, £1,581 : boring and blasting, £1,388. The total amount spent does not vary much from that of 1911, when It was £25,548. Comparing the several items with those of 1911, there is a decrease in the repairs account of the tug of £548, and in salaries of pilot staff £214. As the Board decided to limit the Fire and Marine and Accident Insurance 'Fund to £IO,OOO, It only became necessary to transfer £BSO from the General Account, being about £570 less than the usual contribution. It was also the off year for election expenses, showing a saving of £l3l. I might explain that the item £493 for maintenance of electric light covers two years current, a settlement for 1911 having been held over pending the arrangement of a fresh contract with the Company. Necessary repairs at pilot station account for Increase of £53 ; and to powder magazine, £3B ; while the fact that the Board is ,now doing practically the whole of its own repair work, where possible, to dredge, tug, rock-breaker, etc., accounts for an Increase of £193 In maintenance of blacksmith’s shop. The administration of the Engineer’s department has been In course of transition, and instruments have had to be obtained, which accounts for increased expenditure under that heading. Under the heading of WORKS, the dredge Murihiku has been responsible for apparently an increased expense of £2,585, compared with 1911, but owing to the delay in receipt of new tumbler and shaft from Home, it was found Impossible to dock the dredge until the first week In 19J2, and consequently the coat of overhaul was not charged in 1911, but charges for overhaul in 1011 and part of overhaul in 1912 came Into the accounts of the latter year. To extend the scope of the dredge's work, further mooring chains were also bought, costing about £3OO. Taking an average of the last three years, the working expenses run out at £6OOO per annum. £576 has been paid on Capital Account of the Lobnltz rock-breaker. This amount represents the cost of a new 15-ton pricker, a heavier one having been found necessary. Maintenance of the same machine has cost £1,005. On reclamation account, £2,307 has been spent, £I,BBO of this being balance of W. Hlnchey’s contract for wall. £l9l was also the cash outlay on breastwork wharf erected to facilitate the dredge’s discharge on to reclamation area. Boring and blasting have been an expensive item, £1,389 having been spent during the year, though this Includes a stock of three tons of guncotton, detonators, etc., which has not yet been used. Owing to the fact that operations can only be carried on under favourable conditions of wind and tide, this work is found to be very expensive ; still it is of the utmost importance that the rock should be broken up and all the depth of water possible secured. The new light tower at Stirling Point has been completed, the charge for this year being £l3B, and the new telephone system installed for the increased efficiency of the pilot service cost £l4l, besides some poles and other material and labour supplied by the Board. Repairs to wharves cost £336, a small account in actual outgo, but the Board has been drawing upon the piles, timber, and yellow metal which have been In stock. THE BALANCE to the debit of the General Account is £8,904, showing an increase of £2BO for the year, and after allowing for the credit of reserve fund for Fire, Marine and Insurance Fund of £IO,OOO, the actual cash balance is £l,lOO. The policy of the Board for many years past has been to carry on all new works, besides maintenance and dredging, out of revenue, and this system has maintained the Board in a very strong financial position. There is no necessity to make any departure in this respect until the work of new wharf building commences. Year by year the assets have increased in value owing to capital expenditure from revenue, and after providing for ample depreciation, and deducting liabilities, the surplus now /lands at £167,807. THE BOARD’S LOANS of £70,000 fall due at the end of December, 1913, and after allowing for the accumulated Sinking Fund of about £44,000, the difference of £26,000 will require to be raised Negotiations to this end are in progress, and although the money market is not too favourable, no difficulty need oe expected in obtaining the required anioent. At the pre!!'.’)* time, we are paying out every year a sum of £3,900 for interest, and contributing the balance required for Sinking Fund purposes, £125, making £4,025, and if the renewal of debentures for a short period requires the payment of * per cent, this will absorb £1,300, resulting in a lessened expenditure ol +2,700 per annum. Further, the rents from reserves amount to £535’, and this sum could either be reserved for loan repayments or come Into receipts for general purposes, so that the Board’s surplus revenue should be increased by about £3,200 per annum. In comparison with other Boards, Bluff Harbour stands in a most favourable position ; with good shipping facilities fully up to requirements, a first-class dredger and rock-breaking plant, and all the necessary adjuncts for a port of its size, a debt of £28,000 must be considered a very small one Indeed. FIRE AND MARINE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE FUND. The Board dc-citled for the year 1912 to adopt the suggestion of last year that the fund should ne limited to £IO,OOO, and this only necessitated a transfer of £BSO from the. General' Account. The transfer in the ordinary way would have

been about £ISOO, The payments on accounts of accident in 1912 amounted to only £lO 2s 4d. SINKING FUND. The Sinking Fund has Increased during the year by £2417 and stands at £41,339. STEWART ISLAND SERVICE. The mail service to Stewart Island has been carried on during the year with the Board’s steamer, and although she Is not the most suitable boat for the purpose, yet considering the small revenue whicli accrues from this service, the parties concerned are well served. The passenger returns show that the vessel made 64 trips, that 3100 tickets were issued, single and return, and much the larger proportion of these were Issued at the holiday season when cheap excursion fares were in vogue. The receipts for passengers show an increase of £74 and for cargo £42 over those for 1911. The Board tendered in response to the advertisement of the Post and Telegraph Department for a renewal of the mail contract for three years from 31st December, 1912, and the tender was accepted by., the Department. . WATER SUPPLY. The i Board’s reservoir was equal to the demand made upon it for the existing town services and for the shipping. The revenue was £1245 19s lid for water, and £l2 5s for meter rents. The increase for water over 1911 was £284, being by far the largest income from that source, and was due to large quantities of water required for steamers. The Income from the town supply remains about stationary. During the years,. and following upon notice given to the Campbelltown Borough Council that the Board would cease to supply the residents with water after January, 1913, negotiations have been opened with the Borough Council for the acquisition by it of the town supply, but at the end of the year they had not made much progress. SHIPPING. The year just closed was a record one for shipping, 403 vessels of 612,520 tons net having entered and left the port, as against 307 vessels of 548,084 tons for 1911, being an increase of 96 vessels and 64,436 tons or nearly 12 per cent, in tonnage. Comprised in the 1912 figures are 6 sailing ships of 3767 tons. The increase in vessels consisted chiefly of small craft and is more particularly due to the presence in the vicinity of several fleets of Norwegian whalers, operating from Paterson Inlet and Preservation. These small steamers came Into port for coal and provisions on 41 occasions. Under the Harbours Act these vessels make use of the port, but pay no dues, and it is a question whether in the present state of the industry, and considering that they are foreigners exploiting local waters for gain, legislation should not be sought to bring whalers Into line and make them contribute towards the upkeep of the harbour. TRADE OF THE PORT. The volume of trade centring In the port computed in tons amounted to 144,418 tons, being an increase of 8787 tons. Transhipments overside are not included and there, have been frequently cargoes of coal transhipped from colliers into ocean-going vessels. Increases occur hn imports of coal, 2398 tons; merchandise, 1370 tonsi manure, 972 tone; timber, 206,090 super feet, and sheep, cattle and horses. Exports record increases in wool, 3044 bales: grain, 2369 tons; cheese. 399 tons. Decreases are shown in merchandise, 534 tons; miner- , arls, 1031 tons, and frozen meat, 768 tons. The boom in export of horses to Melbourne collapsed, and 257 fewer horses were exported in 1912 than in 1911. The shipping strike at Home in the second half of the year materially reduced the imports of general merchandise, which would otherwise have been delivered. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. The value of imports through the Customs amounted in 1912 to £676,963, against £545,783 In 1911, an increase of £130,180. The value ’of exports was £1,413,029 against £1,294,402 for 1911, an increase of £118,627. REVISION OF BY-LAWS AND STANDING ORDERS. The Board’s By-laws were last revised in 1899, and it was necessary that they should be brought into harmony with jthe- legislation comprised in the Harbour Amendment Acts, which have been to a certain extent the outcome of the work of the Harbours 'Association of New Zealand. A committee of the Board has been in the revision for some lime, and an amended set of By-laws and Standing Orders, which were considered and adopted by the Board, came into force on the Ist January last. The amendments consisted chiefly in modernising the provisions for harbour regulations in accordance with the powers granted to the Board, and it may fairly be said that we are now in possession of By-laws up-to-date. HARBOUR CHARGES. The scale of charges Is embodied in the 'Board’s By-laws and except In one or two minor, and one important, particulars, the Board did not, in the present state of its finance, deem It wise to alter the present tariff, but prefered to leave it to a future date, when its policy as to the maturing loans, and works extension, have been definitely settled. The important item referred to was the maximum charge. This charge was devised some 10 years ago to Induce the shipping companies to bring Bluff shipments direct Instead of transhipping from other ports and thus save shippers heavy charges. The object has been attained, but as some doubts have always existed as to whether this charge did not contravene the spirit of the Harbours Act in giving a preference to vessels of large tonnage, and as this conditions have now changed in that these vessels are not only carrying larger quantities of cargo, but are, also arranging for inward and outward loading in the one call at the port, It was decided to abolish the maximum charge and place all vessels on an equality In paying charges on the net tonnage scale. LEGISLATION AFFECTING HARBOURS. Owing probably to the change of Government nothing has been done to Implement the recommendations made by the last Harbour Boards’ Conference Into legislation, beyond a short amendment of the Harbours Act designed to enable boroughs and town districts not otherwise having representation to bo joined to their respective counties —and some local provisions. The Minister may be expected to deal with the matter in the coming session. DIRECT SHIPMENTS. I would remind members that about ten years ago, at the instance of the Board, a meeting of merchants was called in Invercargill to influence direct shipments to Bluff, and as a result the Southland Importers’ Association was formed. This body has been active and persistent in Us efforts to concentrate the Import trade of Southland at Bluff, and it is interesting to note the progress that has been made, as the following figures will show; —

Tons. 1904 - .... 3230 1905 5785 1906 .... .... 5099 1907 - .... 7123 1908 - .... 12,041 1909 8749 1910 12,573 1911 16,572 1912 18,706 SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS. Very gi’eat Inconvenience, delay, and loss have been caused during the year by the inability of the Railway Department to provide sufficient trucks for the discharge from shipping. While it is recognised that the Department cannot be expected to keep a supply for extraordinary traffic, still it is hoped that the representations which have been made will ensure such an increase in the available rolling-stock that this serious drawback to our port will to a large extent be obviated. REORGANISATION OF PILOT SERVICE. During the year this work has been completed by the instalment of a telephone exchange by which al' members of the staff can be called at the shortest possible notice. The Board is now in possession of an organisation which may be said to be equal to that of any harbour in the Dominion, and during the past year all the piloting work has been carried out without any hitch or casuality of any kind. The lighting at the Stirling Point lighthouse has been improved and intensified and the best class of Morse signalling lamp has been obtained and the night-watchman enabled to send or receive communications to and from vessels bound for the port, or passing and desirous of communicating. The advantage of this system in enabling masters to report .their positions

to their owners in different parts of the Dominion is too obvious to require comment. LIGHTING WHARVES. This matter has also received careful observation and attention, and considerable improvement has been effected in the system and power of lighting. A new contract has been entered into with the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company for the provision of electric current at a reduced rate. RECLAMATION. The contractor for the reclamation wall completed his contract at the beginning of the year. Work was then commenced on tTio erection of a breastwork wharf to accommodate the dredge when discharging into the area. Upon completion of the wharf, the dredge was able to pump the sand, lifted from the middle band, and put it behind the wall. The sand proved to be ideal stuff for the purpose, setting almost immediately. and the area is now nearly filled. The cost of filling that portion of the land belonging to the Railway Department will be paid for by the Department under arrangement with the Board. BLASTING. Operations were carried out during the early part of the year on the patch of rocks near .the fairway, and with most satisfactory' results,'showing an Increase in depth of water of about 5 feet. It Is proposed to continue this work during the current year. LOBNITZ PLANT. A new pricker, weighing 15 tons, was added to this plant and a great deal of valuable .work has been accomplished: the whole of the frpntage to the wharf has been gone over once and a start has been made to work a number of rock patches for the second time. DREDGING. The dredge Murihiku has been steadily employed during the year, the principal work being to take successive cuts oft the middle bank, thus Increasing the available water for manoeuvring vessels abreast of the wharf. The width/ has been increased by quite 200 feet, which is a very valuable help to shipmasters in navigating the turn from lightship to wharf. WORKSHOP. The appointment Of a mechanical engineer in June completed the arrangements by which the Board can do all the repairs to its various plants that do not require heavy machinery or dry docking. FUTURE BERTHAGE. A further step forward with this work has been made during the year, borings and soundings are being made and when completed, the Board should be In a position to decide the most favourable site for a new wharf. I am hopeful that before <.he end of the current year, a final decision will be arrived at and plans for the wharf approved. IN CONCLUSION I have to record my appreciation of the manner in which the staff have carried out their duties, and I also tender my thanks to the members of the Board for their kindly consideration at all times extended to me. MONTHLY MEETING. ' The adjournment was then moved, and the Board held its monthly meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. American Trading Company (Pacific Coast) asked for full Information in reference to the port. If everything were satisfactory they Intended to send their sailing vessels to Bluff. —Left in the hands of the chairman to reply to. The Corporation of Campbelltown wrote to the effect that the Corporation had decided not to enter Into an agreement with the, Board on the conditions offered by the latter in regard to water supply, and asked that the supply be continued until such time as the borough was able to construct Its own waterworks. —Referred to Harbour and Works Committee. J. Morrison, chief officer of the a.s. Moerakl, was granted permission, on the usual conditions, to sit for a pilotage exemption certificate for the port of Bluff. / ' ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s, report stated that during February the dredge removed 14,215 cubic yards, of which 4355 cubic yards were deposited on to the reclam--atiom and 9860 cubic yards at sea. bARBOUR AND WORKS’ COMMITTEE In regard to Messrs Klngsland and Fergnson’s application for a davit on the wharf, the Harbour and Works Committee reported that there was a davit on the wharf which the applicants would be given permission to use during the Board’s pleasure. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT.. The chairman reported that he had been in communication with the Public Trustee upon the subject of the maturity of the Board’s loans. —Received, and the chairman authorised to communicate with the manager of the Bank of Mew Zealand and report to the Finance Committee. FINANCE. Several applications for increases of salary were held over to the May meeting of the Board. Accounts amounting to £2827 11s lOd were passfed for payment. ,