Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1901. WESTPORT HARBOR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 April 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1901. WESTPORT HARBOR.

The balance-sheet of the Westport Harbor Board for the year ended December 31st is to hand, and from the document wo learn that the total revenue for the year was £35,688, of which sum £9,372 was for coal royalty and £23,725 for railway revenue on the coal line. Of the expenditure, £25,491 went for interest and sinking fund, £4,854 for departmental purposes, while £4 240 was carried to Works’ Account. The total indebtedness of the Board is £031,882, made up of £150,000 Government guaranteed loan of 4% due in 1925, and £470,000 4% due in 1903. The latter account is due to Government and will have to be renewed. The former • will bo extinguished by sinking fund prior to maturity. The accrued sinking fund is £35,296, the bulk of which is earning 3J per cent interest. The position is sound enough, the surplus

for the year being £4,210. The Chairman, in his report, makes the surplus £5,839; but, to do this, he excludes ordinary repairs on the Cape Foulwind railway, which, as they will bo re-occurring, should bo regarded as an annual charge and, therefore should not come out of loan. Turning to the Harbor Master’s report, wo find the average depth of water on the bar to have been 22 feet and in the river 194 feet, During the year 924 steamers and 21 sailing vessels aggregating 313,138 tons arrived in port, being an increase of 10,107 tons. The statement on the whole is satisfactory, and shows advancement and progress. As to future works, the Engineer says: “It is proposed during the ensuing year to commence the work of raising the eastern breakwater, and I think there can bo no doubt that this will, by conserving the river outflow, have the effect of deepening the water on the bar. I believe that some fear has been expressed that should this wall be raised as proposed it might interfere with the stability of the Bullcr bridge, but I feel confident that such would not be the case, but that the result of doing this work will be an increased depth on the bar of at least 2 feet and an enlarged discharge capacity.”