WESTPORT ITEMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 12062, 5 January 1907, Page 7

WESTPORT ITEMS.

m ■ (Per United Press Association,). WESTPORT, January 5. Advices received from London state that the Westport Railway and Naval Company of London, to work the colliery area known . as " Cook's Lease," in the Weatport district, has been successfully floated, and that money for the development-, of the mine was available at any time and would be placed in the bank at the discretion of the New Zealand directors. The Agent-General in London .had informed members of the comSny that he was satisfied with its bona es,~ and. was <]uite prepared to cable confirmation to Government if necessary. The Westport Harbour Board receipts for 1906 totalled £83,698, and the expenditure £64,949. In 1885, the first year of the Board and the inauguration of works, the total revenue for the year amounted to ,£BIO7. The past year's (1906) actual receipts amounted to JC70.897, being an increase of nearly nine times m much as in 1885. The coal output in 1885 was 7809 tons. Last year (1906) it was increased to 617,608 tons, or nearly eight times more than 1885. The tonnage of shipping dealt with in 1885 amounted to about 120,000 registered tons. During 1506 the tonnage dealt with aggregated 575,222 registered tons, the increase in this case being nearly five times as much. The Board recently reduced the port charges on coal shinned for hungering purposes. The flat lands along the sea coast are being taken up with a view to boring for coal at low levels.