PATEA PORT TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1935, Page 9

PATEA PORT TRADE

LARGE INCREASES REPORTED. BAD WEATHER OF OCTOBER. The following import and export figures for - September, 1935, for the port of Patea, were reported to the harbour 'board this week, the figures in parentheses being for September of 1934:— Imports, 541 tons (147), exports 1943 tons (1020). The value of exports this year was £118,620, against £63,980 last year. The harbourmaster, Mr. W. E. Barnes, reported that owing to bad weather during October shipping had been held up at both Patea and Wellington by high winds and seas and heavy rain. The bar was unworkable on 12 days. A strong fresh ran down from the 29th to the 31st., and brought down a lot of silt. Further encroachments were made by this fresh at Aitcheson’s Point and the wharves silted up considerably. There were 11 arrivals and 12 departures for the month. The dredge worked when possible but was prevented at times from operating by strong winds and the fresh in the river. The poles for the lights on the walls were now erected but the electricians had been -hampered by the bad weather. Mr. T; J. Horwell, district engineer of railways, Wanganui, wrote that' his department would shortly be taking a small area of harbour board reserve. The land was required for a deviation. The harbour board’s lessee, Mr. Whitehead, had been approached and was agreeable to the department’s taking occupation, if required, before the necessary formalities were complete. He trusted that the board would likewise raise no objection as the work, which was for unemployed labour, was already under way. The nautical adviser of the Marine Department wrote asking for aviation purposes whether the board’s flashing light was visible all round and, if not, between what approximate bearings it was obscured.