The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1902. AN INTERESTING COMPARISON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 25 April 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1902. AN INTERESTING COMPARISON.

. Some figures taken from the annual report of tho Napier Harbour Board make interesting reading when compared with the figures contained in the report of the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Fhe situation of tbe two harbours is very similar. Both are situated at the end or a railway frou the , Empire City. In both cases an unfinished breakwater has bten constructed for the projection of shipping and steamers connecting with the trains for Auckland. The revenue at New Plymouth for the year endiDg 31st December, 1901, was .£12,097 4s Bd, while that of Napier was £20,086. The totil number of vessels entering the port at New Plymouth during the year was 445, an increase of 30 on the previous year. At Napitr 638 vessels entered the port, an increase of nine oa tbe previous year. The total tonnage of the vessels entering New Plymouth daring the year was 193,020 tons, an increase of 15,799 tons on the previous year. At Napier the total tonnage was 523,688 tons, an increase of 63,408. The large difference in the total tonnage of ths vessels at Napiir' is accounted for by tbe fac* that ths large direct steamers which on this side load frozen meat, etc., at Waifara, on tbe other side load at Napier. This also largely account* for the greater revenue, as the port dues of the larger i number of vessels and the increased tonnage means vsry much larger port dues. At New Plymouth all the vessels were worked from tho wharf, while at Napier the report says, " It is interesting to note that each year finds a smaller number of vessels tendered." That goes so show that the bre»kwat"r ha* been of the gteatest value even in its incomplete condition. In 1899 no less tbaa 20 vessels were tendered, in 1899 10, and last year oaly 7. It is, however, when a comparison of ehe imports and exports is made that New Plymouth shows to advantage. We have slwajs been surprised at the enormous discrepancy between the tonnage of the vessels entering and leaving the port and the total tonnage of the imports and exports, but the discrepancy at Napier far and away exceeds that at New Plymouth. The itofcal tonnage of imports and exports at New Plymouth was 44,582 tons, an increase of 4174 tons on the previous year, while at Napier the total imports and exports were 23,196 tons, an increase of 4053 tons on the previous year. The details are:--New Plymouth: Imports, 33,611 tons ; exports, 10,971 tons. Napier : Imports, 18,031 tons; exports, 5165 tons. Napier, however, appeu-s to do a considerable trade in live stock, 98 horses and cattle being landed and 149 shipped, and 1556 sheep were landed and 36,704 shipped. No figures regarding live stock are given in the New Plymouth report, but excepting in sheep we imagine ;is good business is 1 b»inedone. The above figures show that ths New Plymouth harbour is cf prput benefit to the dis'rict, and t*at if a si ght improvement was nude, s j that ihe direct steamers could came *longsid-t the wb<rf, the revenue would bo hrgely increased, and still further! improvements nnd'rtafeen. Going back to 1896 tho ucesdof trade is leilly eno mous, but has b=>6D si gradual thac it has almos'. escaped notice. Since i.h«n the number of vessels has increased by 73, the aggiegate tonnaee by nearly 100,000 >ods; the import-, and expoits by 17,257 tons, the revenue from wharfage and dues alore having inwesed during the s*me p"ii'>d by no less thai £2839,