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

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1920, Page 4

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

The annual report of the 'chairman of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, presented at Friday's meeting, contains the usual information, differing only from its predecessors by the addition of last year's statistics and a brief reference to the raising of £16,300, part of the £300,000 loan authorised by the ratepayers under the Act of 1918. The engineer (Mr. Blair Mason) also submitted a report, and he is deserving of commendation for the full and lucid statement, which gives a comprehensive epitome of the work done during the past; year. It is satisfactory to learn that the revenue for the year exhibited an increase of £2,268 5s lid. Although the imports decreased by 1047 tons, the exports inci*eased by 13,710 tons, chiefly due to the loading of produce on six overseas liners to the extent of 4470 tons. The total of the Board's ordinary revenue waß £14,421 15s, of which wharfage J produced £8671, berthage £3,501, and port charges £IO2B, the largi est vessel calling at the port being the Whakatane, 8875 tons gross, and the smallest the Tukua, 19 tons. The working account shows a nett profit of £8,819 9s 7d, an increase of £3814 15s 6d over the previous year, but it will be noticed that the report makes no mention of the expenditure side of the account except in a few instances, an omission that might well have

been avoided, for as much, if not more, interest is taken in the outgoings as in the revenue. One of the most gratifying statements in the report is that which refers to the steady growth of the sinking fund, which has now reached a total of close upon £40,000. It is a pleasure to refer to Mr. Blair report, which amply demonstrates the good work carried out by dredging the fairways and widening the swinging basin to 650 ft, thereby giving plenty, of turning room for the larger vessels visiting the port. The initial work connected with repairs to the plant, and commencing on the operations at Moturoa Island, appears to be highly satisfactory, the firing of the first tunnel bringing down 3500 tons of stone, while that on New Year's Day dislodged 15,000 tons. At this rate it will not be long before good headway is apparent, and shelter increased appreciably. The purchase of. an additional locomotive was certainly good business, and shows that the engineer is determined to push the work forward with the utmost possible speed. In view of the outlook with regard to a considerable increase of the trade of the port as soon as it is known to be absolutely safe for all large steamers, the sooner the work is finished, or even directly shelter is beyond question, business should grow by leaps and bounds. The adverse factor at present is the shortage of labor and materials, but it is to be hoped this will be overcome, as also the freight scarcity in respect of hardwood timber. The Railway and Public Works Departments are still holding up the rer clamation works by failing to settle their plans as to the land required for-railway works. Pressure should be brought to bear on these authorities to expedite matters, so that work can be carried out and the Board derive advantage therefrom. The utilisation of the Board's reserves, as sketched by the engineer, looks well on. paper, but whether the residential areas on the sand hills will be a < source of profit must be left for the future to decide. There is a refreshing spirit of progress discernable throughout Mr. Blair Mason's report that should stimulate the Board to progressive methods. Possibly a new era may dawn when the Board's offices are located on its own property. Pew people adequately realise what the full effect of the completed harbor works will have on the town and district, but the day is nearing when the port of New Plymouth will be a scene of very considerable activity, needing only a fast express service on the railways to Wellington and Auckland (via Stratford) to be the coping stone of progress.