OTAGO HARBOUR

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The mouthly meeting of the Harbour Board, held last night, was attended by Messrs W. Begg (in tho chair), It. Duncan, It. Walls, D. F. H. Sharpe, A. Campbell, W. R. Clarke, A. Smith, J. Preston, and It. S. Thompson. FINANCE. The statement of receipts for the IT months ended August 31 showed a total of £203,612, compared with for the same period in 1937-38 and £173,403 in respect of the 1936-37 period. The expenditure during the 11 months was shown as £195,645 for 1938-39, £192,385 for 1937-38, and £191,863 for 1930-37. T1)0 bank account was reported to be £21,461 Is 3d in credit. CARGO RETURNS, Tho return of cargo for the month of August and for the 11 months ended August 31 showed the following figures, those for the 11 months being in parentheses: —Imports: 1939, 24,170 tons (306,840 tons) ; 1938. 38,685 (329,526) ; 1937, 28,388 (291.139). Exports;: 1939, 12,581 (134.803) ; 1938, 8,717 (117,482) ; 1937, 8,892 (128,715). ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. The harbourmaster (Captain MacLean) reported that during the month of August 39 vessels, totalling 60,122 tons, arrived at Dunedin. Of those 27 wore coastal, four intercolonial, and eight overseas. At Port Chalmers five vessels (17,381 tons) had arrived, three being coastal and two overseas. The departures were: From Dunedin. 42 vessels, totalling 60,900 tons; from Port Chalmers, six vessels, totalling 29,546 tons. ASSURANCE TO EMPLOYEES. It was resolved that an assurance be given to employees of the board who enlist for service at home or overseas that their positions will he kept open for them and that they will not he displaced in seniority, and that the quesion of war allowance will bo given every consideration by the board. This clause is not to apply to those joining the board’s employ since January 1, 1939, to subsidised workers, or to those who are under notice that their employment has been terminated. BOARD’S LOAN. The Chairman reported in regard to the _ board’s loan that money was coming in freely and that over half the required sum of £33,000 had already been applied for. The citizens were assisting, and the chairman understood that the applications received represented almost entirely local money. As far as the board’s credit was concerned, said Mr Begg, it appeared to stand well in the estimation of the investing public. BEACH AT PORT CHALMERS. The Port Chalmers Borough Council wrote stating that on tho conclusion of tho reclamation work at Mnssel Bay' a considerable quantity of sand had accumulated at the east side of the foreshore at Port Chalmers, thus forming a bathing beach in the vicinity which was likely to become a popular resort. The council requested power to exercise control of the beach and to appoint a supervisor. The engineer reported that there was no objection to the request being granted, provided that no further liability to the board was incurred, and that ho groynes or other structures were erected without the authority of the board. The engineer’s recommendation was adopted. TENDER. The Standing Committee’s recommendation that the tender of Messrs Henry Hughes and Son, Ltd. (as recommended by tho engineer and harbour master) for one Echo Sounding machine at £578 Os be accepted was adopted. GENERAL. Tho Port Chalmers Rowing Club wrote asking tho board to undertake, at the club’s expense, tho erection of tho necessary staging, and alterations to the sea wall at Boiler Point, 'ihe engineer’s recommendation that the work be done was approved. The Standing Committee reported having considered a list of material required during the coming year which the engineer had suggested should bo purchased at once at a total cost of approximately £1,600 and recommended the purchase accordingly.— Approved, The Standing Committee, in tho matter of a communication from tho Dominion Fertiliser Co. Ltd. asking that the cost (approximately £520) oir tjie recent alterations to Bavensbourne wharf to permit of the installation of a conveyor be borne by the board as being an additional port facility, recommended that the request bo acceded to.—Recommendation approved.