A RECORD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1913, Page 9

A RECORD

WELLINGTON'S BUSY PORT. FIGURES F,OR~ JANUARY. From time to time during the month which closed yesterday evidence was given of a very heavy shipping traffic in and out of Wellington. What is termed the loading season has been in full swing, and the number of oversea, or foreign^ boats handled constituted a record. Wellington's reputation for being a busy oversea port has been more than upheld. Year by year the waterfront is becoming busier, and the new figures which have just been established will surprise nobody who has been watching tho progress made by the district. As far as shipping traffic is concerned, no previous record in tho history of the port conies anywhere near the record established last month. Captain Johnson (harbourmaster) supplied a Post reporter with figures to-day which show that duiing. the .nontb, the pilots and tho staff handed 66 oversea or foreign vessels, with a net tonnage of 271,855 tons, which is 20,747 tons above the next best month, and therefore easily a record. The busiest week was from the 19th to tho 25th, when the oversea tonnage handled was 129,639 tons. This was also a record week for all shipping. On the 20tli there Were no fewer than 48 vessels in port of a tonnage of 102,079 tons. The figures for the week, giving to total number of vessels in port each day, are as follow : —

It will bo noticed how very regular tho traffic was during this week. Tho big rush of shipping has been very capable dealt with by the Harbour Board's staff, and not the slightest mishap has occurred in berthing any of the big boats. The storage accommodation has been severely taxed, and, although thero has been some congestion, it has not been of a serious nature. On one day during the month, all the loading berths were occupied, and tho Nairnshire had to wait some time in the stream for a berth. This, it may be 'pointed out, would not have happened had the Athenic sailed at her appointed time. However, when tho Nairnshire berthed she commenced loading immediately, and her departure was not unduly delayed, This only went to show what splendid facilities 'for quick loading exist in Wellington. All the board's staff has had a busy lime, but it has been quite equal to the occasion.

Date. 19th 20th 21st , 22nd 23rd 24th 25th JM< O. 01 t Vessel 34 48 45 42 39 43 26 Is. ' Tonnage. 67,379 102,079 99.654 93,601 92,391 92,417 80,530