HARBOR SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2116, 26 June 1907, Page 4

HARBOR SCHEME.

THE APPROVED STATEMENT t (fthe Gisborne) Harbor Board sat in couunittoo yesterday morning to take ovidonoo and arrivo at definite information concerning the probnblo m'croasod revenue derived, and saving offootod, in connection with the outer harbor. Present: The Mayor (chairman), Messrs. W. Sievwriglit, E Harris, W. D. Lysnar, J. Whinray, and G. Mattliowson. After.close upon two hours’ committee work, the Board resumed. Tlio, revised statement to accompany the Enabling Bill was reported as follows: Estimated incroasod rovonuo to bo derived from the proposed work: Annual saving in river expenditure after allowing ovor £2OOO to bo still oxpondod upon river, £OOOO (attired to read £5000); prosent revenue from ships £SOOO, may bo incroasod if nocossary to £IO,OOO, to be in lino with ohargos of otlior ports, £SOOO (unaltered). ~ Direct saving:—Total cargo lightered last year, 39,618 tons; deduct, say Nelson Bros, (as they would still have to lighter), 5726 tons; lighterage, 5s per ton on 33,892 tons, £8173 (unaltered). Total imports last yoar, 16,3/9 tons; say 10,000 tons imported from outsido of colony, saving varying from 15s to 22s per ton, say at 17s 6d. per ton through being landed at Gisborne, instead of at other centres, £8750 (altered to 9360 tons, and the saving to £8562 10s). Incidental iucroaso: —Extra revenue from Tauwhareparao loaso when it falls in, in four years’ time, say, £SOOO unaltered); oxtra increase of revenue (last year’s was £2179); say at ratio of £2OOO per annum in next four years’ time, £BOOO (unaltorod). Grand total, £41,223 (reduced to

£40,035 10s). . . air. Xiysnar, in moving tho adop r , tion of tho statomont, considorod sat- j isfaotory work had been done. He did not agree with tho saving on tho river would only be £SOOO, but would let that stand. The only other item affected was that tho direct cargo was reduced from 10,000 tons to 9350 tons to tally with official information. He recognised that it was hotter not to overstate tho position, and held that tho figures answered all argument. Tho final figures were only intended, he pointed out, as an indication of the revenue that might be expected. Mr. Matthewson seconded. Me considered it was a very fair estimate: if any item was overstated the margin allowed on "th© others would more than counterbalance it. • Mr. Harris briefly supported the motion. The Chairman considered the estimate was incorrect. In his opinion tho estimated saving of £17,000 on direct shipments was wrong. Also nothing had been put down showing the increase of expenditure that would be necessitated to work the new port. Ho considered the estimate entirely misleading. Mr. Sievwriglit was of the same mind. Could they expect the Government to accept such “bubbles” of estimates? It was preposterous, and would simply kill the Bill. Mr. Lysnar expressed surprise at the chairman’s remarks, adding that he apparently did not understand the position. “It was misleading to say no provision was made for administration and carrying on the now harbor. Take £IB,OOO interest off the £40,000, and there was still £22,000 left for administration. The chairman lias not gripped the position,” ho remarked, heatedly. The Chairman: Get on the house-

Mr. Lysnar: You go there, and I follow. It was you got on the housetop first. It is not right to say we ha vp no provision for administration. The Chairman: We will seo later on. Mr. Lysnar argued that the statement only showed increased revenue. It did not disturb the present revenue or administration in any way. The present administration expenses were still provided for. They had not only so provided, but (allowing £SOOO saving) still left £3ooo_ or £4OOO a year to expend on the river. It must be remembered that last year close upon £9OOO was so expended. (To the Chairman): “I can’t understand why you should take up this attitude. What is your reason, and what is your object.” He challenged the chairman to show that after pro-

viding for interest and. sinking fund there was not plenty of margin for administration expenses. Mr. Sievwright: I rise to a point of order. Are we to be dictated to by Mr. Lysnar and not allowed to call our soul our own ? The Chairman: That is the question. It seems so. Mr. Sievwright (to Mr. Lysnar)': You have no right to talk to us in that manner. Wo may bo right or wo may bo utterly wrong, but we are entitled to express our own opinions.

Mr. Lysnar said he wantod to show they took a wrong stand. There was a balance of £22,000 after providing interest and sinking fund. The Chairman said he wished to emphasise his point. Mr. Lysnar seemed to assume, when quoting the figures, that the Board would reap the benefit of the £17,0Q0 saved in direct cargoes., But this was quite wrong. The saving in wharfage and lightering did not come into the Board’s pocket; it was simply a saving to consignees. How could it be argued that this was revenue to the (Board ?

Mr. Sievwright: The fact of the matter is that the whole thing is slipshod. We don’t know where we are.

Mr. Matthewson said that at any rate the £17,000 was a saving to the district. The Chairman: It is included in the £40,000 statement as a saving to the Board. At this rate we will never get done. Mr. Lysnar, after checking his figures, agreed that lie had made a mistake in including this item. The correct figures, (at bedrock) increased revenue £25,000, less £IB,OOO interest. The £17,000 should, however, be shown as a saving to tho people. Mr. Sievwri-'ht: I won’t stand this much.longor. Let us get some finality.

Mr. Lysnar enlarged on his point that the administration funds were not interfered with by tho scheme. Allowing for ever-thing there would be £IO,OOO for administration. Mr. Matthewson, as seconder of th e motion, added that he was quite satisfied with the financial outlook, and he was not an unduly sanguine man. Considering the progress the district was making the estimates were most reasonable; there would be a largo increase in trade. Ho considered that the ratepayers would not have to bear a fraction of a farthing in extra rating. The statement was adopted, the chairman and Mr. Sievwright dissenting. Tlie latter gentleman asked that it be recorded he objected to the figures as being unauthenticated and fanciful.

As to further stops to bring the Bill before Parliament, it was stated that tho solicitors already had instructions to advertise it, and forward it within the legal time. Mr. Lysnar mentioned the committee had checked the revised Bill. Mr. Matthowson (to Mr. Sievwright): If you are not satisfied we can appoint another committee. Mr. Sievwright: I am contont to let it go at that. Tho question of tho Tolaga petition was mentioned.

Mr. Lysnar said the wliolo rating question had been threshed out when the Bill was approved. “We can’t touch that now,” he added. The Chairman remarked that these peoplo wore called upon to pay increased rating as compared with the old proportionate rating. Mr. Sievwright said they could not go into that now.

Mr. Lysnar held that tho approved Bill disposed of tho question. The Board adjourned without further discussing the matter.

POVERY BAY TRADE. FIVE MONTHS’ FIGURES. The substantial trade through the port of Gisborne is exemplified in the following trade return, courteously supplied us by tho secretary of the Harbour Board (Mr J. W. Witty):— EXPORTS. January:—l,762 boxes butter, 34, 881 carcases .mutton, 24,114 carcases lamb, 105 tons loewt meat sundries, 226 cases preserved meats, 204 casks pelts, 421 casks tallow, 23 casks casings, 324 hides, 1400 sheepskins, 924 tons manures, 10,230 bales wool, 559 sheep, 10 cattle and horses, 441 sacks grass seed, 90 sat'ks maize, 21 sacks chaff, 50 sacks potatoes, 1 ton 7 cwt honey, 403 cases or sacks fruit, 451 tons miscellaneous goods. February: 1008 boxes butter, 63,159 carcases mutton, 16,228 carcases lamb, 44 tons 19 cwt meat sundries, 72 cases preserved meats. 332 casks pelts, 697 casks tallow, 38 casks casings, 6000 sheepskins, 61 tons manures, 7219 bales wool, 44 pockets wool, 1,537 sheep, 27 cattle and horses, 1,888 sacks grass seed, 94 sacks maize. 105 sacks barley, 24 sacks linseed, 50 sacks chaff, 76 sacks potatoes, 15 cwt honey, 164 cases or sacks fruit: 387 tons "miscellaneous goods. March: —966 boxes butter, 14,488 carcases mutton, 6,648 lamb 61 tons 1 cwt meat sundries, 435 cases preserved meats, 108 casks pelts, 214

casks tallow, 10C2 hides, 5511 sheepskins, 1634 tons manures, 2,029 bales wool, 352 pockets wool, 6155 sheep, 22 cattle and horses, 558 sacks grass sect], 25 sucks .maize, 195 sacks barley, 92 sacks chaff, 50 sacks potatooes, 3 ton 7 cwt honey, 315 cases or.sucks lruit, 2.0 boxes soap, 357 tons miscellaneous. April: 598 boxes butter, 26,110 carcases mutton, 14,783 carcases lamb, 286 tons 9 cwt meat sundries, 246 cases preserved meats, 268 casks pelts, 239 casks tallow, 67. cask casings, 786, hides, 20 tons manure, 2,290 bales' wool, 1571 pockets wool, 2459 slioop, 7 cattle ana horse, 374' sacks grass soed, 25 sacks niaizo, 410 sackß barloy, 12 sacks chaff, 25 sack potatoes, 1 ton lionoy, 273 cases or sacks fruit, 265 tons miscellaneous goods. May : —97 boxoß butter, 6469 oaroases mutton, 8144 carcases lamb, 260. tons 18 cwt moat sundries, 101 cases preserved meats, 48 casks, polts, lot ens'ks tallow, 420 hides, 61J tons manures, 419 bales wool,. 8 cattle and horses, 297 sacks maize, 405 sacks barloy, 156 saokß chaff, - 1 ton 10 owt: honey, 40 boxes soap, 262 tons miscellaneous goods. Total for fivo months of 1907: 4431 boxes buttor, 144,107 carcases mutton, 69,917 carcases lamb, 749 tons 2 cwt meat sundries, 1,079 casos preserved meats, 960 casks pelts, 1,722 casks tallow, 128 casks casings, 2,79.. hidos, 12,911 sheepskins, 4054 tons manures, 22,187 bales wool, 1967 pockots wool, 10,710 sheep 74 cattle and horses, 2,9244 sacks grass soed. 531 sack niaizo, 1,121 nodes barley, 24 i sacks linseed, 331 sacks chaff, 201 , sacks potatoes, 7 ton 19 cwt honey, 1,155 cases fruit,6o boxes soap, 1,722 tons miscellaneous.

IMPORTS. , „ The following return shows the Poverty Bay imports for tho fivo months of 1907: , J aim ary:— 488,972 super toot timber! 4984 posts and house blocks, 20 tons lime, 1 cask cement, 95 bags cement 483 tons coal, 23 hoisesancl cattle, 914 sheep, coastal wool 2,922 bales and 72 pockets, 604 sacks grass seed, 48 sacks potatoes, 1,387 sacks oats, 1,027 sacks chaff, 268 sacks wheat, 161 sacks malt, 372 sacks bran and 1 pollard, 16 tons oatmeal, 239 J tons i flour, 100 tons sugar, 394 tons salt, 542 cases benzino and kerosene, 658 ; cases fruit; beer and stout: —70 hogs- \ heads, 263 oases, 7 kilderkins, 15 barrols, 2 kegs; winee:— 66 cases ; " spirits:— 612 eases, 31 quarter-casks, 7 1 octavo; miscellaneous goods 1801 " tons. „ 3 February: —328,330 super feet timber, 8004 posts and house blocks. 3 144 tons lime, 289 bags cement, 1,984 ‘ tons coal, 21 horses and catle, 974 3 sheep. 2,249 bales coastal wool, 862 1 sacks grass seed, 2 sacks potatoes, 1,850 sacks oats, 190 sacks chaff, 91 3 sacks wheat, 128 sacks malt, 128 sacks bran and pollard, 11 tons oatmeal, " 1194 tons flour, 63J tons sugar, 1244 1 tons salt, 604 cases kerosene and ben--1 zine, 573 cases fruit; beer and 3 stout: —95 hogsheads, 249 cases, 15 ? barrels, 1 keg; wines:— 40 cases; t spirits:— 318 cases, 4 quarter casks; 0 miscellaneous goods 2,014 tons. March : —32,976 super foot timber, '167 posts and house blocks, 124 tons 0 lime, 95 casks cement, 670 rbags cement, 453 tons coal, 25 horses and f cattle, 89 sheep, 501 bales coastal I oioo|, 83 pockets coastal wool, 142 sacks grass seed, 38 sacks potatoes, t 1995 sacks oats, 60 sacks chaff, 175 t sacks wheat, 120 sacks malt, 200 e sacks bran and pollard, 64 tons oatt moal, 150 tons flour, 81 tons sugar, - 84 tons salt, 980 case kerosene and v bonzine, 798 cases fruit; beer and T stout:— 47 hogsheads, 192 cases, 7 II kilderkins, 10 barrels, 2 kegs ;wines:— e 161 cases, 4 quarter-casks, 1 octave; :- spirits:— 421 eases, 14 quarter-casks, 7 octaves; miscellaneous goods 1,808 i- tons. April:— 489,074 super feet timber, I 4389 posts and house blocks, 1100 i- bricks, 724 tons lime, 146 casks ceme ent, 412 bags cement, 876 tons coal, i. 11 horses and cattle, 1,608 bales coasr tal wool, 648 pockets coastal wool, 54 sacks grass seed, 236 sacks po- >- tatoes, 2,305 sacks oats, 291 sacks I. chaff, 145 sacks wheat, 168 sacks •1 malt, 135 sacks bran and pollard, 64 r, tons oatmeal, 1184 tons flour, 814 tons is sugar, 654 tons salt, 1,207 cases bend zine and kerosene, 583 cases fruit; g beer and stout: — 58 hogsheads, 550 ,r cases, 15 barrels; wines:— 31 cases; spirits:— 405 casos, 35 quarter-casks, j 16 octaves; miscellaneous goods 1,433 I tons.

May:— 450,805 sutler feet timber, 3,265 posts and house blocks, 7390 tiles, 6 tons lime, 60 casks cement, bags cement, 1567 tons coal, 6 oattle and horses, 264 sheep, 308 bales coastal wool, 20 sacks grass seed, 941 sacks potatoes, 2,095 sacks oats, 149 sacks chaff, 86 sacks wheat, 46 sacks malt, 220 sacks bran and pollard, 164 tons oatmeal, 186 tons flour, 454 tons sugar, 12 tons salt, 674 cases kerosene, and benzine, 926 cases fruit; beer and stout:—4s hogsheads, 236 cases, 5 kilderkins, - 10 barrels, 1 keg; wines:—l39 cases, 4 quartor-casks, 5 octaves; spirits:— 340 cases, 12 quarter-casks, 15 octaves; miscellaneous goods 1,395 tons.