PORT STATISTICS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 152, 23 March 1921, Page 9

PORT STATISTICS

TONNAGE RECORDS

SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT

Interesting .statistics relative to the work of the port during the financial year ended on September 30 were contained in a report by the secretary which was tabled at the annual meeting of the Harbour Board. • . The report mentioned that in several categories the trade of the port in that period established records as to tonnage handled. The total tonnage of general cargo imports from the United -Kingdom and foreign ports was a record. They amounted to 194,716 tons, an increase of 67,632 tons, or 53.22 per cent., over the amount for the preceding twelve months General cargo imported from coastal and intercolonial ports also largely- increased and established a record. The total was 251,059 tons, an increase of 48,230 tons, or 23.77 per cent., over the preceding year. General cargo transhipments were 170,309 tons, an increase for fho year ot 2913 tons, or 1.74 per cent. In tho aggregate the general cargo imports and transhipments were a record, the total, being 016,084 tons. This is 118,775 tons, or 23.89 per cent.', more than 1918-19. Record figures were established in exports as well as imports. General cargo eent to colonial and coastal ports totalled 128,358 tons, which was an increase of 20,393’ tons, or 18.88 per cent, for tho year. The purely coastal shipping remained at a lower aggregate of vessels and tonnage than in pre-war times, although the cargo to be shipped hfid largely increased. Meats, tallow, pelts, cheese, butter, and other cargo shipped to English and foreign ports, exclusive of transhipments, were also a record. The total was 92,045 tons, an increase of 8737 tons, or 10.48 per cent., over tihe previous year, including transhipments, the cargo of the same classes amounted to 104,504 tons, an advance in the year of 11,994 tons, or 13 per cent Wool and skins shipped totalled 144,44., bales, a decrease of 99,447 bales, or 40.8 a per cent. Hemp shipments were 87./2O bales, an increase of 11,756 bales, or 10.49 per cent. Wool, ekins, hemp, and tow shipped totalled 232,162 boles, a decrease of 87,691 bales, or 27.43 per cent. lhe biggest total under this head since 1914 was in 1915-16, the figure being 335,604 bales. Of the total amount of wool and board stored during the year 124,358 bales, or 53.5 per cent, of the quantity Wellington. This was a decrease for the year of 2350 bales, or 2.84 per cent. Ihe board stored durign the year l-4,3a8 bales, or 53,5 per cent, of the quanhty shipped, and tho revenue from tins source was <£Blo2, compared wi X 17.215 in the preceding twelve months. The amount of coal passed over the wharves during the year' was -(5,181 tons, and the quantity transhipped was 184 230 tons, a total of 459,414 tons. This represented an increase of 1504 tons or .32 per cent. Imports of timber totalled 11 922 512 superficial feet, an increase of 1,369,583 feet, or 12.98 per cent, oyer the preceding year. A retrospect Rowing the imports in five-year periods showed that in 1906-10 the annual average importation of timber was 21,101,048 superfi<?The gross revenue for the year was X 399.450, as compared with X387,(-4—a record for the board. The total charges represented an increase of 12.1 per cen . Since its incephon the .^ Rrd J 1 " d pended X 6,214,437, of which X 350.000 was in repayment of loans. During the last financial year the expenditure wa«:~ Working expenditure and interest X.341,075- repairs and maintenance, X 33.3-5, capital expenditure, X 60.418; sinking funds, X 6150; total. X440,96<.