BLUFF HARBOUR

Southland Times, Issue 21849, 28 October 1932, Page 4

BLUFF HARBOUR

MEETING OF BOARD. TRADE DURING SEPTEMBER. At the monthly meeting yesterday ■of the Bluff Harbour Board there were present Messrs M. N. Hyndman (chairman), R. A. Anderson, A. H. Aitken, W. B. Dixon, J. A. Hamilton, W. Hinchey, C. S. Longuet, W. J. A. McGregor, W. A. Ott, P. Reid and G. Wraytt. Before the main business was commenced Mr D. E. S. Mason, the board’s engineer, who has just returned from England, gave a short address on his observations abroad and on new tug matters and on shipbuilding in general. At the conclusion of Mr Mason’s address he was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of the chairman. Proposals for new buildings were submitted to the board by its officers. It was decided before doing anything further in the matter that the engineer bring down finalized plans showing the requirements of the board for future buildings. On the plans being submitted the board will decide what buildings are to be proceeded with in the meantime. The engineer submitted a proposal for the installation of a filtration plant and additional pipe lines to tap the supply of water coming from lands lately acquired by the board. It was decided to ask for further information, the whole scheme to be considered by the board at its next meeting. A communication was received from the Bluff Borough Council dealing with the matter of water supply and town reticulation. It was decided that the council be advised that the matter of water supply and filtration was under consideration and that as soon as the board’s proposals were finalized the council would be advised and negotiations could be entered into in connection with the town reticulation. The Southland Allied Building Industries applied to the board for a donation to their organization’s funds, and it was decided that the application be declined. A letter was received from the Commodore of H.M.S. Diomede thanking the board for courtesies and facilities extended during the vessel’s recent stay at Bluff. Secretary’s Report. The report of the secretary (Mr H. C. Gimblett) stated that the total receipts from all sources were £3106 13/6 as against £4023 3/3 for the month of September, 1931, giving a decrease of £916 9/9. The following figures show the receipts for September, 1932, those for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses:— Wharfage dues £1367 2/6 (£1893 6/6); Ships charges £1368 12/10 (£1245 18/11); miscellaneous £370 18/2 (£BB3 17/10). The total receipts for the yearly periods ending September 30 are similarly shown: Wharfage dues £16,477 5/1 (£16,830 3/10); ships charges £15,907 5/7 (£17,914 4/5); miscellaneous £6504 15/11 (£7lOB 12/10); loan moneys, etc. £13,000. The net return from ordinary sources after deducting extraordinary receipts is:— 1931/1932 £38,889 6/7; 1930/1931 £41,853 1/1. The result of the year’s working as against estimated receipts (shown in parentheses) is as follows:—Wharfage dues £16,477 5/1 (£16,000); ships charges £15,907 5/7 (£17,060); miscelaneous £6504 5/11 (£5292). The increase over the estimate is £537 6/7. Outstanding accounts at September 30 last week: Wharfage dues £lOl7 15/11; ships charges £441 10/11; miscellaneous £483 0/7; endowment rentals £1528 6/8; a total of £3470 14/1. The expenditure for the month has been £2356 7/10. The position of the board’s account at closing time on September 30 was:—Balance as per pass book £1859 1/2 and outstanding cheques £179 10/11, a total of £2038 12/1; less deposit not entered by bank £l4 11/6, showing a debit balance of £2024 0/7. Cargo tonnage totals for the month show an increase of 389 tons when compared with the corresponding month of last year. The totals for September, 1932, are:—

The main lines of imports were:— Coal 346 tons, fish 57 tons, fruit 180 tons, motor spirit 906 tons, sugar 375 tons, timber 64 tons, miscellaneous 2452 tons. Exports were: Beans and peas 58 tons, butter 53 tons, cheese 454 tons, fish 93 tons, hemp 90 tons, frozen meat 1761 tons, milk products 171 tons, oats and oat products 677 tons, potatoes 248 tons, frozen rabbits 291 tons, seeds 60 tons, tallow 213 tons, timber 285 tons, wool 290 tons, sundries 670 tons. The following figures show the trade of the port for the last 12 months as against the corresponding periods in the years 1931 and 1930: — To 30/9/32:—

Trade for the month was quiet both as regards imports and exports, but Bluff as the port of Southland has for the past year shown a marvellous increase in export trade, the total for this year showing an increase over 1930, the previous best year, of 9781 tons. Overseas import trade declined 6833 tons on last year’s totals, but at time of writing the wharves present a busy appearance, two overseas vessels being in port discharging approximately 9000 tons which more than compensated for the loss on last year’s overseas import trade. The report was adopted.

Coastal. Overseas. Total. Tons. Tons. Tons. Imports 3468 912 4380 Exports 1915 3499 5414 5383 4411 9794

Coastal. Overseas. Tons. 20,437 55,511 75,948 Total. Tons. 51,204 75,177 126,381 Imports Exports Tons. 30,767 19,666 50,433 To 30/9/31:Imports Exports 36,716 17,680 27,270 44,803 63,986 62,483 54,396 72,073 126,469 To 30/9/30:Imports Exports 35,032 20,803 64,372 45,730 99,404 66,533 55,835 110,102 165,937