Port Whakatane May Be Replaced By New Boat

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 20, 10 February 1948, Page 5

Port Whakatane May Be Replaced By New Boat

"■ Port Whakatane, the harbour launch that has served this port faithfully and well for many years, may be replaced if the Harbour Board can find a more suitable vessel. On Friday the Board decided to start making preliminary investigations with a view to acquiring a suitable hull, possibly from the War Assets Realisation Board. The idea is to get something with a wider beam and a greater passenger capacity.

boat estimate of £2OO makes provision for the purchase of a new 12£ft dinghy. In Miscellaneous Expenditure £I,OOO, is provision for sealing Strand Right-of-Way and Car Park £521.

The interest and sinking fund payment will show a reduction this year which has been brought about through the repayment of the capitalised interest renewal loan. The next loan to mature will be the Conversion No. 2 Loan of £11,500, and indications are that the sinking found by maturity date, April 1950, will be sufficient to repay the loan in full. It will be remembered that to ensure this, the Board last year authorised an increase in the annual sinking fund payment to £413 7s. Public debt as at the 30th September stood at £57,283 Is 9d. The current year will see a reduction in the debt of nearly £5,000. This figure does not take into account accumulated sinking funds, Conversion Loan No. 2, which at the 30th September 1948 will amount to over £IO,OOO.