NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1916, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD'S REPORT.

The Harbor Board's annual report, which appears elsewhere in this issue, reflects the general disorganisation of trade consequent on the war. It was only to be expected tlmt the imports would show a considerable falling-off, owing to the need for general economy 011 the part of the public as well as to the curtailment of British trade. That there should have been a decrease of between fifteen and sixteen thousand pounds as compared with the previous year may be thought to denote a heavy falling-off in the purchasing power of the province, but that is not the case, one reason why the difference is so large being that orders for goods and farming necessaries could not be shipped from Home and abroad, the number of vessels available being insufficient for requirements. With regard to the decrease in exports, it will bo noticed' that tho amount is trifling—about £GSO—and the chairman explained that actually tho falling-off was only apparent, being due to a quantity of cheese having to be left in store every time a shipment was made, so that if the whole of the cheese had gone forward the exports would have shown an increase o ver the previous. year Naturally, the decreased trade at the port affected the Board's ordinary revenue, which was £157.1 less than for the preceding year, but it is satisfactory to note that the land revenue yielded an increase of .-Clii42 Is, the largest amount received since 189!). The importance of this revenue is apparent from the fact that at the. end of 1015 this account was £20,008, nearly all of which was earning Interest, being invested on mortgage, and tho remainder awaiting investment. The most gratifying statement in the report is that whieh deals with the improvement of the depth of the water in the harbor, which now provides 21 feet at low water and S3 feet at high water, thus being available for accommodating the largest steamer that i vi>its Sew Zealand—the Athenic—which | frequently visits Timaru, where the extreme depth was only 27 feet. Any 0 f the Home, liners can, therefore, be I berthed at Moturoa at the present time, ' and tUi* fact will be demonstrated to

good purpose when trade resumes normality after the war, while it will not be surprising if one or more of the Home vessels will arrive at the wharf in the near future—the sooner the better. The process of making the harbor safe for the large ocean steamers lis* taken a long time and involved a large expenditure, the balance of the, £300,000 loan, amounting to £25,000, having been satisfactorily raised during the year. The policy of the Board in keeping the wharf and its equipments in thoroughly safe working order is most commendable, and its expenditure thereon, though reducing the year's profits on the working account, must l>o viewed as a good investment. Although the profits decreased l>y £2528 the amount is, under the circumstances now prevailing, very satisfactory. Taranaki now has a port and harbor worthy of its importance as the most productive district in the Bominion, and the people of the province have good reason to applaud the excellent administration of the Xew Plymouth Harbor Board.