H.—ls.

The tug " Mana " was only required once to tow a vessel from the port, but was utilized on several occasions in dragging for submerged objects. Running repairs to the dredges and plant kept the workshops staff fully employed. The following statement shows the coal trade, shipping, and financial statistics of Westport Harbour for each year since the Department has had control of the port : —

An examination of this statement discloses that the Harbour was a heavily losing proposition when the administration of the port was transferred from the late Harbour Board to the Department fifteen years ago. In 1921-22 there was a deficit of over £38,000, which was substantially reduced in the two succeeding years. From 1924-25 to 1930-31 inclusive there was an average annual surplus of £2,563 16s. lid., but during the past four years the abnormal depression in the coal trade has undermined the finances of the port. At present the revenue is sufficient to meet minimum workingexpenses and interest on loans, but is unable to provide for sinking fund. The bunkering trade continues to improve, but cloes not bear comparison with what it was in pre-depression years. The number of vessels which called at Westport for bunker coal during the past eleven years is as follows : —

Port dues on ships calling for bunker coal have been reduced to a minimum, with the object of encouraging this trade as far as possible. Karamea Harbour. —Owing to the alteration of the course of the river at its mouth, the port is not now workable. Little Wanganui Harbour. —Owing to the lack of sufficient floods and to adverse sea conditions, the entrance at times shoaled sufficiently to interrupt working, which is only possible during spring tides. Since the a.s. " Fairburn " was wrecked 011 the Westport Breakwater, the harbour was not used for a short period, but another vessel is now taking up the trade. Oharito Harbour. —The Okarito Harbour Co. has continued to develop this harbour, and in doing so completed the construction of a timber training-wall north of the proposed entrance straight out from the present wall. A cut was made in the shingle-bank, but all efforts to close the present entrance and open a new one have been unsuccessful. The company erected .a dam in the north channel of the lagoon, but this was unsuccessful owing to the nature of the underlying strata ; various other temporary measures, such as the erection of scrub groynes, have been tried, but so far without success. The present wharf was demolished and a new wharf commenced. It is now the company's intention to temporarily abandon the project of a new entrance and build a wharf to suit the present entrance.

4

Net Tonnage T of Year. of Shipping „ , , P , Expenditure. Revenue. Financial Result, entered. * Ooal sm PPed. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1921-22 .. 273,706 480,873 [ 63,950 1 10 25,836 19 3 Deficit 38,113 2 7 1922-23 .. 332,401 573,487 50,738 17 5 38,700 8 1 „ 12,038 9 4 1923-24 .. 275,762 442,070 46,619 111 42,285 7 4- „ 4,333 14 7 1924-25 .. 334,827 556,669 44,666 14 0 50,378 11 0 Surplus 5,71117 0 1925-26 .. 386,669 552,949 51,909 4 11 57,539 12 11 „ 5,630 8 0 1926-27 .. 459,670 637,165 52,769 12 6 62,976 13 10 „ 10,207 1 4 1927-28 .. 466,021 623,256 65,828 1 7 65,909 8 1 „ 81 6 6 1928-29 .. 458,712 604,778 68,871 13 0 64,214 5 6 Deficit 4,657 7 6 1929-30 .. 479,623 625,835 64,877 10 5 66,274 17 3 Surplus 1,397 6 10 1930-31 .. 352,228 513,503 53,436 16 9 53,013 2 11 Deficit 423 13 10 1931-32 .. 234,936 336,873 46,803 2 4 34,602 12 9 „ 12,200 9 7 1932-33 .. 223,936 282,163 40,974 8 9 30,516 6 1 „ 10,458 2 8 1933-34 .. 240,132 280,080 39,783 7 4 30,886 13 9 „ 8,896 13 7 1934-35 .. 253,041 291,449 39,011 8 8 30,773 2 5 „ 8,238 6 3 1935-36 .. 260,111 295,067 40,298 17 9 30,891 0 7 „ 9,407 17 2 I

Year. Number of Vessels. Quantity of Bunker Coal taken. Tons. 1925-26 .. .. .. 20 1926-27 .. .. .. 44 1927-28 ..... .. 51 54,993 1928-29 .. .. .. 54 54,083 1929-30 .. .. .. 57 61,546 1930-31 .. .. .. 24 25,969 1931-32 .. .. .. 10 7,637 1932-33 .. .. .. 7 6,872 1933-34 .. .. .. 14 12,703 1934-35 .. .. .. 21 16,376 1935-36 .. .. .. 34 20,647