Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12257, 3 July 1909, Page 3

[ Wangassus Harbour Board.—Chairman's Report. .^ .— . ■ ■ TO THE MEMBERS OF THE WANG ANI7T HARBOUR BOARD. GENTLEMEN,— In presenting my Report for the year ending December 31st, 1908, I have again to congratulate you tn a record advance in the trade of the Port and the revenue of the Board. The accounts submitted to you show the very large increase of £1838 14s. 5d over the year 1907. The receipts from wharfage for the year 1907 were £5922 15s. 3d, and for the year 1908 £10,504 155., that is an increase of £1582 9s. 9d. for the year. The receipts from Pilotage, Ship and Port Dues for the same years were £1453 15s. Id. and £1565 Is 9d., showing an increase of £111 6s. Bd. Receipts from Reserves were £1227 10s. 6d and £1372 Bs. 6d; increase £141 18s. Total increase, £1838 14s. sd. Bank Account.- —At the end of the year 1907 the Board owed the Bank £39,891, but had a credit to its Current Account of £368 Bs. 7d. On December 31st, 1908, the indebtedness was- £44,011 ISs. lOd, so the I actual indebtedness had increased by £12,489 7s. sd. Loan.—Just when all the legal formalities were completed in connection with the raising of the loan of £100,000, the unfortunate American financial crisis took place and upset the money markets of the world. Since then the Board have been endeavouring to get the loan placed at 4% per cent. The Board first tried the Financial Institutions doing business in New Zealand, but without success. The Board then arranged with the Bank to try the London market, but were again unsuccessful. The Bank then advised that if the Board would agree to 4% per cent, they thought the money could be raised in Australia. The Board agreed. The Bank tried Australia and again failed. The Board have therefore been reluctantly compelled to agree to a 5 per cent. rate. The Bank has now arranged to have the loan underwritten in London at 5 per cent. The currency of loan 21 years, issue price to be £101; but in the event of a higher price than £101 being tendered for the loan, the Board will get the benefit of the increased price. Improvement Works. —The cost of plant and works for improvement of the Harbour are as follows: — Dredging and Snagging, £4192; South Spit Training Wall, £1248 13s. Bd.; works at Castlecliff in connection with extension of the Mole, £3742 Bs. 2d; Works at Quarry, £3655 10s. 2d. Repairs to Plant, £149 15s. 6d.; engineers' commission and salary, £1044 os. 10d.; Stone Punts, Tip Trucks, Pile-driver, Cranes, and other plant, £5040 Bs. 6d.; Tug Togo, £1409 Is.; Office Buildings and Furniture (engineer's department), £162 os. 9d.; Accident Insurance Premium, £203. That is a total of £20,847 6s. Id. As the Board's indebtedness to the Bank has only increased £12,489 7s. sd, the difference, £8357 18s. Bd., has been provided out of the ordinary revenue of the Board. All works for the improvement of the Port have made good progress during the year. The Board, finding the arrangement with the Engineer, Mr Leslie Reynolds, was very unsatisfactory, he being unable to visit Wangahui often enough to properly supervise the various works, decided, after conferring with Mr. Reynolds,, that it would be better to appoint a Resident Engineer. Advertisements inviting applications for the position were published in Australia and New Zealand. There were a large number of applications for the position, Mr C. H. Howorth, C.E., being eventually appointed, Mr. Reynolds retaining the position of Consulting Engineer. That arrangement has proved to be entirely satisfactory, Mr Howorth having proved himself an energetic, and capable officer. Vhe dredge has been kept steadily going during the year, and in less than four months will have completed the third cut right through the Flats. When that is completed there will be a navigable channel 200 feet wide and 16 feet deep at H.W.S.T. All works at the Quarry have been completed, and cranes erected, and everything is now in good working order, and stone, in suitable sized blocks, and of excellent quality, is being obtained. The repairing and raising of the training walls between Landguard Bluff and Wanganui is progressing steadily, and up to date 1500 lineaLfeet of wall has been completed. The South Spit Training Wall has been completed to a length of 2600 feet. This is the point to which Mr. Leslie Reynolds recommended the wall to be taken at present. If the desired deflection of the current is obtained, additions to the wall will be unnecessary; if not, it will be necessary to extend further. The channel along the wall and to a point 1000 feet beyond is highly satisfactory; but it has not yet had the effect of directing the whole of the water through the banks at Cagllecliff, although there are indications that it will do so. The Punt Wharf and line to the mole have been completed, and crane erected. The tipping of rubble at the mole has been started and run out 240 feet beyond the old mole, and the staging carried out 360 feet. The tug Togo has been purchased for towing the the stone punts, and has proved herself well up to the work. The channel is now well lit, seven Wigham's patent lamps having been set up in place of the old lamp 3. Everything is now in order for carrying out the extension of the moles and all the gear and arrangements have proved eminently satisfactory. A small nursery for raising seedlings of pines and plants, suitable for planting drifting sands has been started at Castlecliff and is making good progress. Tenders. —-The Board have accepted Tenders for the supply of Tasmanian and Australian hardwood for a new wharf at Castlecliff, and tenders for piles and beams for the mole staging; also a tender for a third large stone punt. Tenders were called for a 500 feet extxension to the Wanganui Wharf, and have, since the end of the year, been accepted. Cost of extension £5220. Imports and Exports.—There has been a large increase of the Imports and Exports as indicated by the increased wharfage. The principal increase in imports over the previous year is:—General goods 10.374 tons, coals 4628 tons. Timber also shows a large increase; but sheep have .declined from 24,843 to 1457. The principal items of export which show an increase are:—Live sheep 3763, carcases frozen mutton 18,973, carcases lamb 23,216, quarters beef 3 021, wool 5497 bates. The total imports and exports for the year I have attached to the Report. I have again to report, as I did last year, that the Officers of the Board have given their best services, and attention to their various duties. Gentlemen, —This is the last meeting of the present Board. We have now been two years in office, and I think the residents of the town and district have every reason to be satisfied with the progress of the works for the improvement of the Harbour during that time. The trade of the Port for the year 1908 shows an increase of 25 per cent, over 1906. That is a most satisfactory advance for two years, and shows that the business of the district is beginning to feel the effect of the opening up of the interior lands adjacent to Wanganui. There is every reason, to expect that the increase of the trade of the Port will still continue and probably at an accelerated rate, and I hope that nothing will occur to mar the bright prospects of the future of Wanganui. . IMPORTS 1908. EXPORTS 1908. General Merchandise . 48,867 tons General Goods 4,028 tons * Coal 28,597 tons Coal 776 tons Bricks 48,800 Cattle (alive) 1,522Posts ........... 27,200 Sheep (alive) 6,462 Palings -'..■. 42,700 bundles Frozen Mutton 67,102 carcases Sheep . 1,457 Frozen Lamb . 81,252 carcases Boats 8 Bales Wool 30,496 Cattle . . . . 2 Bales Skins 432 Timber . . . 2,604,800 super feet. Pigs (frozen) 386 Bales Wool 1,410 Sacks Hides 2,133 Bales Sheep Skins . . 203 Timber - 2,531,900 super, feet Vehicles 14 Boxes Boned Meat (frozen) 168 Horses' 6 Tallow and Pelts 3,435 casks Quarters Beef (frozen) .. 11,868 Crates Meat (frozen) .... 7,790 Casks Runners .<. .' 116 Calves (frozen) 61 Cases Tinned Meats .... 1,222 Ballast 396 tons Bags Kidneys 2 Vehicles 10 J. B. MURRAY, \ _„, Chairman. How to obtain the Combining 4 Nickel Plated Requisites, consisting of: PIPE BOWL CLEANER TOBACCO PRESSER PIPE STEM CLEANER MANICURE FILE with Leather Case suitable for vest pocket. Post 25 "HAVELOCK" Tag^ taken from "HAVELOCK" Dark or Aromatic Plugs or 25 "HAVELOCK" Seals, taken from "HAVELOCK" Dark or Aromatic 2-oz. Tins or 25 "HAVELOCK" Labels, taken from "HAVELOCK" Mixture, 2-oz. &. 4-oz. Tins To "HAVELOCK," Box No. 183. C.t'.O., Wellington, with your fail name and full address plainly written enclosed In tho envelope, end a "HAVELOCK" Smoker's Companion will be postedto you THIS OFFER SS QPEN FOR A LIMITED THE QWiM '■ ■..~—— 1 |, „,„ mm ,„„ minim II llimi.il » Ml. _, II»MI« MiHJJ.lU]|iiJj.i.j- t j.L^_ , „._„..„ I