PORT OF PATEA

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1935, Page 9

PORT OF PATEA

LIGHTING SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL. MASTERS REPORT FAVOURABLY. The new lighting system on the walls and beacons at the port of Patea were switched on on November 30 and three vessels had worked out on them, reported the harbourmaster, Captain W. E. Barnes, at the monthly meeting of the Patea Harbour Board yesterday. The masters of the ships reported favourably on the system but recommended that the power of the lights should be reduced. The signal station was in good order. Shipping had not been bad considering the weather, reported Captain Barnes. The bar was workable on 11 days with westerly and southerly weather. There were 18 arrivals during the month ending November 30. The dredge was occupied clearing the silt and snags brought down by the last fresh. Fairly good soundings were taken on the bar on November 16. There had been a slight increase in the width of the crack at the end of the western wall. The eastern wall remained unchanged. Boring at the end of the wall would commence at an early date. The imports for the month were 413 tons compared with 307 tons last year, while exports were 1649 tons, compared with 2644 tons last year. The approximate value of the exports' was £96,020 for October, 1935, and £156,200 for October, 1934. Those present were Messrs. A. Pearce, W. Back, S. Blake; G. H. Meuli, W. H. Watkins and W. H. Southcombc.