The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1914. THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 171, 19 January 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1914. THE HARBOR.

The chairman's annual review of the Xew Plymouth Harbor Board's operations; presented to Friday's meeting of the Board, makes, as usual, interesting reading. Though the year has not by any means been a favorable one for commerce anywhere in the Dominion, the trade of the port shows an increase, not very large, it is, true, but 'nevertheless gratifying in view of the unusual adverse, circumstances. The, Hoard's revenue increased by £1152. The working account showed a net prolit of £8970, or £lOlO greater than was the case, the year before. The Board's finances have been considerably improved by the increase, in the land revenue, due, no doubt, to the conversions from leasehold to freehold that ; hiive taken place as a result of the, new I land legislation. The increase amoimt!ed to £1544. The dredges have done [ excellent work, as the figures adduced by Mr. Connett attest. The cost in the case of the >big dredge has increased, but thatl was to be expected in view of the more difficult dredging it has been called upon to do, and the longer hours that have been worked under the arj rangements entered into in September. I No mishap of any moment has occurred I ti. tho dredges during' the year, which fact speaks well for the care and attention given by the staff. Tliii tables dealing with the imports and exports of i the port are interesting, exhibiting, as j they do, a steady growth of trade. In I liMM the total was 58,455 tons; last year it had swollen to 92,407 tons. This j year the increase should be, more markI ed. The port will be ready for the | Heme boats, one of which, as a matter I of fact, has already been chartered, and | will arrive here in a few months. The establishment of a regular service will follow, providing we are sufficiently wide-awake, and insistent. The; harbor has undoubtedly a good future, before it, I and must become, before very long, the gateway for the whole, of the -province of Taranaki. The interview with Mr. Marchanf, the Hoard's consulting engineer, which we published in lust issue, should reassure anyone at all doubtful of the harbor's future. Ho j has no doubt at all about it. He shows ! that the harbor is in a position at the, present moment to berth large vessels. When tire first big boat entered Tirnaru there was not, be s*id, half as good a harbor as there is at Xew Plymouth today. Mr. Mii reliant was quite satisfied that the Rimutaka, had it come here during the strike, could -lrave been berthed in safety. The shipping companies are very exacting in their demands, otherwise large boats would have been here before this, but with their rquirements met, as they will he in the course of a few months, there is no reason why the oversea boats should not early in the spring call at Moturoa.