NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 18, 20 January 1913, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD

AFFAIRS.

In the course of a review of the annual report of the New Plymouth Harbour Board’s annual report, the “Taranaki Herald” finds that it chronicles “steady progress at Moturoa, not so rapid as might be wished, perhaps, but still satisfactory. The number of vessels visiting tiro port and their aggregate tonnage are a little in excess of last year, though greatly less than five years ago. It must be remembered, however, that five years ago there was a daily service to and from Onehunga, which was reduced when the Main Trunk railway was opened to a bi-weekly service for the greater part of the year and tri-weekly during the busy passenger season. The trade of the port has increased during the five years from 72,256 tons to 91,940 tons. The growth of trade is entirely in imports, exports having kept at about the same level for many years. When, however, Home-going steamers load regularly at the wharf, as they will, we hope, next year, the export figures will increase very rapidly. Imports, too, are likely to show considerable growth, though there is not the same opportunity in this direction since about four-fifths of the import trade of the province is already done through Moturoa. A small proportion is likely to be always brought in through other ports, so that the expansion at Moturoa must chiefly depend on the natural growth of the trade of Taranaki. The ordinary revenue of the port shows a moderate increase. Here again the figures do not nearly approach those of four or five years ago, when the passenger traffic, now largely diverted, was a source of very large income to the Board. Nevertheless, after paying all working expenses, as well as the cost of maintenance of the wharf, and other charges, which were unusually heavy last year, there was a nett profit on the working of the port amounting to £7360, of which £4500 goes towards payment of interest on loan. The stability of the breakwater is such that fio great expenditure is required in maintaining it; indeed there is no reason to suppose that it will ever cost much to keep the mole up to its present high standard of officiency.”

Dealing editorially with the direct importation question, the “Herald” expresses the opinion that this will lead to a large accession to the Port of New Plymouth of imports which now reach the district through other channels. “The importations of basic slag and other artificial manures are 'growing rapidly and they will help to make up cargoes. Direct importation will also enable _New Plymouth merchants to greatly extend their field of activity and thus increase the volume of their trade. So there need be no anxiety on the score “of a lack of trade.for steamers,from London, The other condition attaching to Mr M'Millan’s promise is that the port shall be completed to the satisfaction of the marine superintendents. That is being done. Within three months the addition to the wharf will be completed. The soundings taken last month disclose an average depth at the wharf of fully 28 feet at low water spring tides for a length of about 700 feet, including the addition now being completed. This means nearly 40 feet at high water, and it can be increased a little by removing the sand which has accumulated since the dredge was working there last, which was about two years ago. At any rate, there is even now ample water at the wharf, for the large steamers arriving from London at Wellington are always several feet above their deepest draught. The only difficulty in the way is the depth of the fairway and the lack of room for swinging vessels. This is the work which needs to be pushed on with as rapidly as possible, so that there need be no hesitation on the part of the marine superintendents to recommend the companies to send their largest vessels.”