PORT OF OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 13

PORT OF OTAGO

IMPROVED REVENUE RECORDED CARGO HANDLED ALSO INCREASES A substantial improvement in revenue and the volume of cargo handled, the figures falling little short of those of the 1929-30 pre-depression year, was reported for the eleven-monthly period to the Otago Harbour Board at its monthly meeting last night. There were present:—Messrs J. B. Waters (chairman), W. Begg, I). Copland, 11. Duncan, F. E. Tyson, D. F. H. Sharpe, T. Scollay, R. Harrison, J. Smith, J. Preston, R. S. Thompson. The receipts for the eleven months ended August 31 were £160,390, comEarative figures for previous years eingl934-35, £144,135; 1933-34, £133,342; 1931-32, £121,261; 1929-30, £166,103. The cargo handled in the same period totalled 385,520 tons, the imports being 259,191 tons and exports 126,329 tons. The grand totals in previous years were : _1934-35, 353,906 tons; 1933-34, 314,698 tons; 1931-32, 277,831 tons; 1929-30, 391,424 tons. KAIK WHARF. Following a report by the engineer, the Standing Committee recommended that, owing to its condition, the Kaik wharf be removed, so as to avoid any risk of accident. Mr Sharpe said he presumed the piles would be drawn to prevent a repetition of the incident in Deborah i Bay when an eight-oared boat had struck a submerged pile. The Chairman: It is our intention to save all the timbers. The recommendation was adopted. RATTRAY STREET CRANE. The board adopted the Standing Committee’s recommendation for approval of the report of the engineer advising that, in connection with the extension of the crane rails on Rattray street wharf, it was proposed to adopt the trolley wire system instead of trailing cable for operating the crane. .. , , , Mr Copland asked if the overhead system was in vogue at other ports. Mr Thompson replied that ■ the engineer had reported it to be the more preferable system. BIRCH STREET WHARF. The board approved of the report by the engineer and harbour master with respect to the proposed track work, etc., on the Birch street wharf, as proposed by the railway engineer, aitd in which tney advised that they were of the opinion that the proposals as indicated on the plan submitted by the railway engineer were satisfactory. TENDERS ADOPTED. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, the board adopted the report of the sub-committee advising the acceptance of the tender of Messrs Hislop and Gibson for a Morris eight two-door saloon ear, and the tender of the Westport Coal Company Ltd. for Westport Coalbrookdale coal delivered at the hulk Broxton. Three tenders for the supply of round and flat iron were received, and the .lowest —that of £l7 a ton by the Iron and Steel Company—was accepted. VACATED LEASE. A report on the property opposite the board’s store recently occupied by Tonkin and Co. was submitted by the valuer (Mr G. Simpson), and it was decided to offer the building for sale for removal. DUES ON FLOUR. The following letter was received from the flour millers of Otago:“ We the undersigned flour millers of Otago would ask the board to give sympathetic consideration to our request that the harbour dues on flour should bo reduced from the present rate of 3s to Is 6d per ton, thus bringing them into line with those charged on wheat. The recent reduction on wheat without • a corresponding reduction on flour resulted in a hardship to the millers and placed us at a disadvantage with our northern competitors. Under the wheat regulations we buy our supplies f.o.b. and sell our flour on the same basis, and in the event of the flour being sold for delivery per rail and therefore not incurring the wharf dues we have to make a refund of tho amount of these to the ■ Wheat Committee. Consequently it will bo seen that while we receive as f.o.b. a rebate of Is 6d per ton only on wheat, we are charged at the rate of 3s per ton on a large portion of our sales of flour. Our chief competitors are the Oamaru mills, and we understand the charges at this port and throughout Canterbury arc the same for both wheat and flour. The quantity of flour shipped through this port is small—we understand, approximately 2,000 tons annually—and we do not know of any circumstances which may cause this to be increased.” The letter stated that a deputation of millers would be prepared to give the board any further information it might desire. The Chairman suggested that the letter should be referred to the secretary for a report. It might be necessary also to obtain the quantities of oatmeal and other milled cereals exported from the wharf, because they all came under the same category. Such a report could be considered when the board discussed other claims for adjustment in the dues. Replying to a question by Mr Copland, Mr Waters said the matter of the allocation of wheat in Otago was not'within the province of the board. He knew quite well the millers’ version of the matter, and also that Mr Munro, M.P., was making inquiries on behalf of the Minister in charge of the subject. Mr Copland said that if they received a deputation from the millers they niight be given some interesting information, and the Chairman said that if the millers wished to interview them they would be received. He did not think, however, it was necessary to put them to that trouble. Their secretary had already made a partial examination of the position, and the quantity of flour was not all that had been stated. It was decided to instruct the secretary to draw up a report. SHIPPING RETURNS. The following is a summary of the arrivals during August:— Arrivals. —Dunedin: Coastal, 30 vessels (17,786 tons) ; intercolonial, 4 vessels (7,975 tons); overseas, 11 vessels (44,274 tons) : a total of 45 vessels (70,035 tons). Port Chalmers: Overseas, 4 vessels (27,117 tons). The departures from Dunedin and Port Chalmers were :—Coastal, 30 vessels (19,047 tons) ; intercolonial, 6 vessels (8,033 tons) ; overseas, 15 vessels (80,202 *> tons); a total of 50 vessels (107,282 tons). On account of weather conditions at tho entrance no soundings were taken. From the Mole to Port Chalmers the least water at low water was 30ft. Victoria Channel was still maintaining a low-water depth of 20it Oin.

ENGINEERING WORKS. Tho report of the engineer (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie) for August stated: — Dredging.—The Otakou dredged a total of 18 loads (41,400 cubic yards) from Victoria Channel, the whole of the material being deposited at the dredge Vulcan and pumped into the south endowment reclamation area. Leith Canal.—Excavation; Tho removal of the earthwork ramp leading into the new canal at Harbour Terrace was completed. The excavation of the, section below Anzac Avenue was continued during the month by means of the Butler crane, the spoil being deposited on the adjacent land clear of construction work. The present wall section is to be continued below Anzac Avenue bridge as far as the foundation proves satisfactory, after which sheet pile construction will be adopted. Timber piles are to be driven on which to found the new wall. The pile driving gear has been transported to the site ready for an immediate commencement of the work. Concrete work; The portion of tho wall and floor of the new canal left unfinished at Harbour Terraco to give temporary access was completed, thus finishing the construction of tho canal from Forth street to Anzac Avenue bridge as far as is possible at the present stage. . . . Bowen Pier Widening —The driving of the raker piles and fitting of caps and walings was continued, and a commencement made to fit and fasten the raker piles in position and place deck beams. Relief Works.—Relief workers were engaged in the formation of Fryatt street, between Bauchop and Halsey streets, and also in the erection of retaining walls for reclamation purposes at the south endowment area. The report was adopted.