NAPIER HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 713, 12 January 1910, Page 6

NAPIER HARBOUR BOARD.

V STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. : .(From Our Special OorresnondentJ '■ 1 T ...Napier,-January: 11..v. In placing the annual statement of : accounts for the past year before' tho Napier Harbour Board, the-chairman'(Mr. U; Vigor Brojvn, M.J?.),:says:; A ->vave.,of depression affected Napier and, district, among others, but I am ,glad to mention that .the exports, have been-greater than •lor: any. previous;, year/ -;.A feature which accounts, for the decreasedrevenue durin™ 1909.is that'for 1 over five mouth's : passen--ger! vessels did -not berth: at .the .breakwater owing: to .the. Glasgow Wharf: en-' largement being :. under" :>way, resulting' in, a shortage- of: over: .£9OO .in :fenders,' hawsers, and ■ shed - dues, without- taking into : consideration attendance and Overtime charges.: I' think, also, no'doutt the' Main: Trunk railway assisted somewhat in .the decrease in. imports, ,more - especially' •oil account of the' striked Now South Wales causing a . .good 'deal. : of . Taupiri coal being, railed to HawkeVßayi- 'I'confidenUy expect, that the'acquisition of ; the: •Hanay.'atu hue more than - counterbalances any/little' diversions, -as • we'ishould-/get• trade at least, as far asVthe v Paliiatua or •Woodvilledistricts.,' In : facti...l ahiV : in--, formed that. several| hnndred .. bales .'of/ wool offered at'the recent sale: were railedfrom Pahiatua, :and .this is wool : that'undei\ condihons prevaUing, for years-past" went. through other: ports. Existing loans amount to \£500,000," against- which • • wo . hold. sinMrig -'funds.Vbt -leaving net . at arid ••'the.capital value of the Napier harbour, rating district in 1900 was =£7,908,733,. and. in I '. 3.0U9 the,.value upon' s which our. rate was collected. amounted' to '".£13,944,052, the, valuation going' lip year.,by year in tiiQ -interim; Thebreakwater /was" extended .24 .feet during the year, but blocks are laid, ahead -for 'about ; in addition, which' can be for; «C 253. The i total length of the. finished portion, not 1 including the "84 feet, .is . 2830 feet.' : The debit balance on January 1,-1800; was <£44581, and _at : December- 31 £14,818, /an' fincreaso ot e£10,137, accounted for riiainly by. the largo.expenditure;on Glasgow: \Vharf'and' other.- items./' -The' r principal-'-items of ex.penditUre out .of revenue account - that' should be provided for out; of loan money are:; Breakwater,;.i£slS7; Glasgow; -Wharf : enlargement,; *,£14,248; : • expenses on rail-' way and . lighting loan poll, ; and expenses incurred in dredging", the. original harbour . bottom, and harbour-reports,' v totalj- . .£21,531. The revenue, exclusive of rates, • and Goyernniont - grants, and the tonnage of shipping 'aud 'cargo (not counting livo.' stock);- •. were :~190lj: : . Tonnage,' 801,927; imports, exports, •revenue; :«£25,<159.". 1907: Tonnage/823,249;-' .imports,- ;^£105, 399/ exports, «£80,27ti; revenue, .£33,135. ;1908:.Tonnago; '879,975; i'ni- , ports, <£117,424; exports,' revenue, 1909: Tonnage, 598,345; imports, X*94,979j.'exports, :dC89,476;--revenue/ cS3C,491; The rents from .endowments amounted ;to f£2778. 35.,' the previous best year .being ; 1908, when 18s. ' lid.' was received. , The year 1910 should' show: a : corresponding increase,*. , v/ : v .