RECORD ESTABLISHED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 11

RECORD ESTABLISHED

NEW PLYMOUTH SHIPPING GREATEST TONNAGE OF SHIPS. DREDGING WORK CONTINUED. The net and gross tonnage of all ships that visited the port of New Plymouth last month constituted a record for the port, reported the harbourmaster, Captain O. F. Mclntyre, at the monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday. The figures for, the period under review exceeded the record established in March, 1928, by 3064 tons net and 3073 tons gross. V Thirty-five vessels called at the port during the month, the aggregate ton-. .< nage being 94,780, reported Captain McIntyre. The imports amounted to 9295 tons and the exports to 8838 tons, the total port trade being 18,133 tons. The amount of Government coal landed was 474 tons. Nine overseas vessels visited the port, details being as follows:— Port. Hunter (8284 tons), draft 20 ft. lOin; FilefjiH (7616 tons),. 18ft. 9in;. Cumberland (10937 tons), 24ft. 3in; Port Auck-. . land (8308 tons), 23ft. 6in; Port Victor (7280 tons)', 20ft. Bin: Peebles (5260), 16ft. 3in; Trojan Star (9001 tons), 24 ft. 3in; Port Curtis (8287 tons), 20 ft. 6in; Kumara (7960 tons), 22 ft. IOIn. ■ The harbourmaster’s report was very encouraging said Mr. Bellringer. The shipping was very well maintained, there being a record tonnage. If all the ships arrived as scheduled this month, there would be an average of two ships a week for March and April. MAINTENANCE OF PORT. Maintenance work was done on the Newton King Wharf, reported the foreman of works, Mr. J. ’Hawes. One moor- . ; ing pile was driven in the Moturoa wharf. A further section of the 'inshore end was opened up and repairs were being carried out. The breakwater was inspected from time to time and was found to be in good order. One coastal and five overseas vessels made use of the crane which worked 143 J hours exclusive of standing time. The dredge Pari tutu was occupied the greater part of < the period bucket- < dredging on the eastern side of the Newton King wharf. The first cut was cbm- , pleted on April 2, ahd the second cut was commenced on April 3. It was necessary oh four days to transfer dredging operations from bucket-dredg-ing at Newton King wharf to sandpumping at the inner end of_the sand bank. The need for this was caused by a south easterly wind blowing the soot from the dredge fires on to the wharf during the loading of meat into overseas ships. The following are the dredg- ( ing returns for the month: By bucketdredging, eastern side of; Newton King Wharf. 17,500 tons; by pumping inner end of sand bank 10,400 tons; total 27,900. ' ■ ’ , The maintenance of electrical and water services was attended to and bolts and ' other ironwork were made ’ for wharves. The dredging gear was repaired. The No. 1 crane was overhauled and repaired as time permitted. Marked bricks and wood blocks were being dropped in the sea at several places- along the foreshore and' at the point where the dredge dumped the material taken to sea. This was done to ascertain, if possible, the direction of the sand drift. . The road' leading to the oil refinery was attended to. The outlet drain from the Hongi-Hongl lagoon was cleaned out. A fair amount of second hand plant and timber was sold. In reply to> a question Captain McIntyre said that all the essential dredging would be finished by the end of? May. It was estimated that the present cut on the eastern side of the Newton King Wharf would be completed at the! end of the month. It should not take long to dredge the berth. ' A gift of £3 3s was made to the Seamen’s Rest committee. The chairman said the committee had done very great work. j Those present at the meeting were Mfessrs. *C. E. Bellringer (chairman), E. Maxwell, C. H. Burgess, D. J. Malone, H. C. Taylor, J. H. H. Holm, W. T. Wells and J. T. Campbell.