H.—ls.

The following statement shows the coal trade, ship Ing, and financial statistics of Westport Harbour for each year since the Department has had control of the port:—

It will be seen that the finances show a satisfactory year under the circumstances, and it is clear that the coal-export trade is the predominating factor in the financial success, or otherwise, of this harbour from year to year. With a still further expansion of the coal exports all charges—including working-expenses, interest on loans, interest on advances from the Consolidated Fund, and sinkingfund payments —should be met. The Department still encourages the bunkering of vessels at Westport by reduced port dues on vessels calling for bunkering purposes only. The following summary shows the number of vessels which called at Westport for bunkering purposes only since 1927-28, with the quantity of bunker coal taken :—

Kaipara Harbour. —A full-time Harbourmaster is in charge of this port, which is controlled by the Marine Department. This vast harbour requires a great deal of attention to lights, buoys, &c., and during the year a new and up-to-date launch for this purpose has been built in Auckland to the specifications prepared by technical officers of the Department. The Harbourmaster also acts in the capacity of Customs officer. Picton Harbour. —At Picton the Harbourmaster controls the harbour and foreshores and acts as Customs officer, and his services are required for the pilotage of the intercolonial vessels which frequent this port from time to time. Repairs to the Harbourmaster's residence and general maintenance of the harbour facilities have been carried out during the year. Harbour-wobks. The following work in connection with minor harbours has been carried out during the year : — Awanui Harbour. —Siltation of the upper tidal reaches of the Awanui River was seriously interfering with navigation, and to enable shallow-draught vessels to regularly work the tides dredging work was carried out with a Sauermann slack-line cableway excavator. Altogether some 13,500 cubic yards of silt was removed, and this improvement enables vessels to maintain regular sailings without difficulty.

5

Net Tonnage T of Year. of Shipping ~ , ,. 6 , Expenditure. Revenue. Financial Result, entered. Ooa sni PPea. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1921-22 .. 273,706 480,873 63,950 1 10 25,836 19 3 Deficit 38,113 2 7 1922-23 .. 332,401 573,487 50,738 17 5 38,700 8 1 „ 12,038 9 4 1923-24 .. 275,762 442,070 46,619 111 42,285 7 4 „ 4,333 14- 7 1924-25 .. 334,827 556,669 44,666 14 0 50,378 11 0 Surplus 5,71117 0 1925-26 .. 386,669 552,949 51,909 4 11 57,539 12 11 „ 5,630 8 0 1926-27 .. 459,670 637,165 52,769 12 6 62,976 13 10 „ 10,207 1 4 1927-28 .. 466,021 623,256 65,828 1 7 65,909 8 1 „ 81 6 6 1928-29 .. 458,712 604,778 68,871 13 0 64,214 5 6 Deficit 4,657 7 6 1929-30.. 479,623 625,835 64,877 10 5 66,274 17 3 Surplus 1,397 6 10 1930-31 .. 352,228 513,503 53,436 16 9 53,013 2 11 Deficit 423 13 10 1931-32 .. 234,936 336,873 46,803 2 4 34,602 12 9 „ 12,200 9 7 1932-33 .. 223,936 282,163 40,974- 8 9 30,516 6 1 „ 10,458 2 8 1933-34 .. 240,132 280,080 39,783 7 4 30,886 13 9 „ 8,896 13 7 1934-35 .. 253,041 291,449 39,011 8 8 30,773 2 5 „ 8,238 6 3 1935-36 .. 260,111 295,067 41,480 16 9 30,891 0 7 „ 10,589 16 2 1936-37 .. 257,506 345.507 41,785 2 7 34,300 11 1 „ 7,484 11 6 1937-38 .. I 288,621 425,779 48,263 2 11 41,206 17 3 „ 7,056 5 8

Year. Number of Vessels. Quantity of Bunker Coal taken. Tons. 1925-26 .. .. .. 20 1926-27 .. .. .. 44 1927-28 .. .. .. 51 54,993 1928-29 .. .. .. 54 54,083 1929-30 .. .. .. 57 61,546 1930-31 .. .. .. 24 25,969 1931-32 .. .,. .. 10 7,637 1932-33 .. .. .. 7 6,872 1933-34 .. .. 14- 12,703 1934-35 .. .. .. 21 16,376 1935-36 .. .. .. 34 20,647 1936-37 .. .. .. 23 22,039 1937-38 .. .. .. 31 24,824