RENIEW OF THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 January 1884, Page 6

RENIEW OF THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

To become satisfied of the steady increase in the trade and shipping of Auckland, it is only necessary to glance at the revenue returns of our Harbour Board. Four years ago, in 1880, the net revenue of the year from ordinary sources as £23,102; and for the year just ended it was £34,395. The increase on the goods wharfage alone was nearly £3,000; the export wharfage has doubled, and the shipping wharfage increased by £916. The Treasurer's report shows that the net revenue, exclusive of refunds, for 1883 amounted to £42,558 15s, an increase over 1882 of tII,SGS Iop; deducting interest from both the years under comparison, the increase for 18S3 is £3,856 11s Bd. Under the heading of assets and liabilities for last year, the revenue for 1883 was estimated at £33,000 ; the revenue actually received exceeded the estimate by £1,395 7s lid. This is very gratifying; and it is still more gratifying to know that, notwithstanding the responsibilities incurred on account of the big dock and other works, the Board feels its financial position sound enough to relinquish two sources of revenue, which are estimated as worth £4,000. In resolving to abandon the wharf tolls, and to charge wharfage on the registered instead of the gross tonnage, the Board not only affords a substantive pecuniary relief to the mercantile interests of the port, but gets rid of two of the most irritating taxes in the tariff. The statement of accounts more than justifies the confidence of English investors who purchased the last issue of £150,000 of the Boai'd's debentures at £101 12s 2d in London, realising to the Board £100 5s Id net in Auckland. The reduction in port charges, after reckoning for interest on this sum, is the best answer to those who questioned the wisdom of the Board in undertaking so large a liability on account of a dock which, although indispensable, cannot pay interest on its cost. The growing revenue • from rents, which last year yielded the sum of £9,242, will mitigate very materially the burden laid upon the resources of the trust by the charge for interest; and if • the revenues of the port maintain their present ratio of increase, further reductions will, in all probability, soon become possible. The Board's accounts are, as usual, rendered in a clear and explicit manner by the Treasurer, Mr J. M. Brigham.

There are only six newspapers published in Tasmania, and nearly a hundred in New Zealand. Why is a primrose like an umbrella?— Because at the touch of the spring it opens up. . '- i