H—ls

The average for the year of the " month by month " mean of daily high-water bar depths was 22 ft. 8 in., the best average depth since 1928. Nevertheless, the total coal shipments fell to 326,429 tons, the lowest since 1936. Restricted loadings due to bar conditions were rare, and the decline in coal shipments could be" attributed to a combination of—(a) Reduced output from the mines. (b) Shortage of shipping. (c) Large quantity of coal going forward by rail to the east coast. The first-mentioned factor is definitely a reflex of the war and subsequent years, when developmental work in the mines was necessarily retarded, but installation of larger and modern machines at the open-cast mines at Stockton, the construction of an aerial ropeway to convey the coal from the high to the low level, both of which are well under way, and, concurrently, the development of new coal areas should in due course undoubtedly increase the output of coal and thereby reflect a very substantial improvement in the trade of the port. The number of days on which, depth obtained on the bar at high water during the 3 r ears stated (ended 31st March) are as set out in the following table :

No overseas bunker or cargo shipments were made during the year. In respect to the same years this next table sets down the coal shipments for such years in relation to the mean of high-water depths for those years :

It will be noticed the extent to which coal shipments have declined since 1942. However the third factor is to be noted here. With connection of the Buller Gorge Railway to the South Island system in 1942, railage of coal from the Westport district to the

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Depth. 1931. 1939. 1942. 1944. 1945. 1946. 1947. 1 1948. 1949. 14'-16' 1 2 12 16'-18' 25 2 1 39 23 35 16 3 18'-20' 132 88 33 96 69 124 35 52 31 20'-22' 165 149 181 150 142 117 151 154 97 22'-24' 43 115 143 75 87 .62 126 116 ' 150 24'-26' n 7 5 43 24 51 13 77 26'-28' 1 1 2 3 6 •Over 28' 1 Mean for year 20' 2" 21' 3" 21' 9" 20' 8" 21' 4" 20' 8" 22' 2" 21' 2" 22' 8"

Year. Mean of High Water Depths on Bar. Total Quantity of Coal Shipped (Tons). 1931 1939 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 .. 1948 1949 Ft. in. 20 2 21 3 21 9 20 8 21 4 20 8 22 2 21 2 22' 8 513,500 426,400 487,500 401,300 402,000 ' 385,300 384,800 382,400 326,400