C—l.

The slip will require about 60 ft. of the centre groove renewing before very long. I find the Teredo is attacking a few of the totara piles, but as yet not to any great extent. If this had been a favourable season for grain, the store would not have been large enough for the requirements, as it is almost blocked now. I would therefore urge the necessity for putting an addition to the present building before another season. The storage dues derived from use of same would, I think, cover interest on its cost. The groins near the slip have been the means of accumulating a considerable bank of shingle on the foreshore, aud this has effectually maintained the reclamation that has and is being done for storage from being scoured away by the sea. I should advise that these groins be kept in repair, and be made good whenever the sea has made breaches to them. The amount of unpaid accounts due Landing Service to 31st March, 1897, is £115 10s. I have entered all charges that I have so far received from Land Office against the port in my working-expenses statement, and should there be any further charges it will have to be charged against, or carried on. J. Sinclair, Harbourmaster.

\ . Return of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1897. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ a. d. Merchandise .. .. ~ .. 600 12 7 Wages .. .. .. .. .. 455 14 3 Timber .. .. .. .. .. 139 10 2 Stores .. .. .. .. 28 19 0 Posts .. .. .. .. .. 213 0 Roadworks (boatmen's wages for time at) .. 207 11 4 Sundries .. .. .. 29 4 4 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 133 7 9 Storage .. .. .. .. 48 14 3 Passengers .. .. .. .. 418 0 £825 12 4 £825 12 4 J. Sinclair; Harbourmaster.

Statement of Classified Merchandise, &c, imported and exported during Period Ist April, 1896, to 31st March, 1897. Inward Cargo. General merchandise .. .. 1,192 tons 9cwt. Coals .. .. .. .. 275 tons 15 owt. Flour .. .. .. 143 tons Fencing-posts .. .. .. 636 Sharps .. .. .. 70 sacks Timber .. .. .. 230,060 ft. Bran .. .. .. 98 „ Sundries and parcels .. .. 485 Oatmeal .. .. .. 73 „ Passengers .. .. .. 57 Pearl barley .. .. .. 10 „ OutwardlCargo. Wool, in bales .. .. .. .. 2,483 Potatoes, in saoks .. .. .. .. 28 Wool, in bags .. .. .. .. 45 Cheese, in crates .. .. .. .. 63 Skins, in bales and bundles .. .. .. 129 Butter, in boxes .. .. .. .. 31 Wheat, in sacks .. .. .. .. 2,063 Eggs, in boxes .. .. .. .. 3 Rye corn, in sacks .. .. .. .. 25 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. 407 Pease, in sacks .. .. .. .. 82 Passengers .. .. .. .. .. 47 Grass-seed, in sacks .. .. .. .. 44 J. Sinclair.

Statement showing how Expenditure was apportioned each Month.

J. Sinclair, Harbourmaster.

104

1896-97. Shipping. Casual. Coal and Oil. Road-works. Totals. £ s. a. 38 5 7 44 4 3 24 19 1 23 18 11 32 17 3 26 16 9 40 16 7 30 3 5 52 7 10 44 16 6 30 1 7 36 17 10 £ s. a. & s. a. 1 16 0 3 9 0 2 15 0 15 0 3 8 0 15 0 2 10 0 2 0 0 3 9 0 2 15 0 13 0 3 4 0 £ a. a. 19 2 6 5 16 7 24 12 6 30 11 5 23 9 10 20 U 3 18 5 11 16 12 2 5 19 1 7 17 10 17 1 11 17 7 4 £ s. a. 59 4 1 56 18 i 52 6 7 57 10 10 63 1 2 49 0 0 64 17 3 51 12 7 69 0 3 57 8 10 48 6 6 62 18 2 Lpril day one uly Lugust .. September )ctobec .. November December 3 '8 6 1 15 6 3 6 1 0 4 0 3 4 9 2 17 0 7 4 4 1 19 6 anuary .. February tfarch 5 9 0 Total .. 28 19 0 426 5 7 29 8 8 207 11 4 692 4 7