Whakatane News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 393, 30 November 1932, Page 6

Whakatane News

Our Own Correspondent)-

HARBOUR BOARD

FASCINE WALL MAKES IMPROVEMENT TO PORT PAST YEAR REVIEWED

(From

At the Whakatane Harbour Board's bi-monthly meeting held- on Monday, great '.satisfaction was expressed at the iffiprovement experienced in working the bar and river channel since ■ the completion of the fascine wall | and groyne on the western bank of the Whakatane River. A report placed before the board stated that the surroundings were now showing a consistent depth of about nine feet on the bar and about eight feet throughout the channel to the wharf. This, in face of the trouble experienced through shoaling during the winter, and despite the dry spring was cited as evidence of the wisdom of expending some £400 on this work; and gave to all concerned a feeling of confidence that no trouble would arise to deter the regular working of the port throughout the summer. Those present at the meeting were Mr. J. W. Sumner (chairman), Messrs. R. J. D. Brown, J. A. Mitchell, C. Tickner, R- Ruddick, C. G. Caisley, and G. A. Brabant. Apologies were received from Messrs. W. A. Boon and A. F. McGongan. This was the first meeting following the end of the board's financial year, September 30, 1932, and the annual report covering the year's activities occupied most of the board's attention.

Annual Report The report .states that all commitments, including £6243 10s for interest and sinking fund instalments, had been met and that the actual expenditure, excluding such items as repayments of loan moneys and unemployment wages, is £7768 or £92 below the estimate for the year. The 'actual revenue, again excluding loan moneys, unemployed wages refunds, ets, was £8370 or £180 above the estimates. The main items of revenue noted are rents of leasehold town sites, £1417 18s; wharfages, £2399 5s 3d, and general rates on property within the harbour area, £4500Cargo Details Interesting details anent the cargo handled at the port during the twelve months are shown. It is recorded that the cargo inward at 8018 tons was less by 324 tons than that for the year 1930-31, and that inward wharfage was less by £3 at £1554 9s 2d. On the other hand the cargo outwards at 7284 tons was greater by 1004 tons, and the wharfage increased by £146 10s to £844 16s ld. The net result then is jthat the cargo handled, inwards and outwards, has increased by 680 tons to 15302 tons and the wharfage charges have increased by over £143. This result in view of the prevailing circumstances reflects the district's progress towards full development. An analysis of the details disclosed that the main items tending to the decrease in the inwards cargo are a drop in' general cargo of 164 tons, in potatoes of 65 tons, and m artificial fertilisers of 361 tons. The most notable increase in imports was in benzine, which increased i'rom 2142 tons in 1930-31 to 2392 tons in 1931-32. In the exports the ehief inereases to be noted are general cargo from 2558 to 2659 tons; maize from 530 to 633 tons; timber from 137 to 158 tons, and butter i'rom 2955 to 3711 tons. The increase of 756 tons in the butter export again reflects the steady progress of the district. The report also disclosed"the fact that on a manifest tonnage basis the port of Whakatane is placed twenty-first of fifty ports listed in "The Local Authorities Hand Book, 1932."

Work During Year As regards the work carried ont during the year it is recorded that some three-quarters of the Commerce Street reclamation was completed at a cost to the board of £546. In addition some £700 was received for this work, and expended by way of subsidy from the Unemployment Board's funds. The board's l$iunch "Nick" has been extensively altered and overhauled, and the training walls, groynes, etc., have been repaired where necessary. The loan indebtedness of the board at September 30, 1932, is shown to be £99,650 against which are held sinking funds amounting to £20,083.