GISBORNE HARBOR WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3511, 30 April 1912, Page 3

GISBORNE HARBOR WORKS.

, AN ANNUAL REVIEW. THE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. 0 A SATISFACTORY YEAR. MR. TOWNLEY RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN.

The work of Gisborne Harbor Board was reviewed by the chairman (Mr J. Townley) yesterday prior to his reelection to the -position for another year.

Mr Townley, in his annual report, said :

The year 1910 closed with a debit balance of £3994 12s 7d, and the expenditure for “Harbor Improvements, -1911,” including the last two instalments for the dredger “Maui,” wages “Maui,” “John Townley,” and general equal to £26,323 os Id; harbor maintenance account, including £5361 2s lOd, Tauwhareparao £9573 3s 9d; inter-

est account £10,718 8s 9d, amounted to a total sum of £50,609 10s 2d. The receipts for the same period were: Wharfages £17,085 12s lid; port charges £3,040 18s 8d ; Harbor Master’s fees £1,070 13s; pilotages £24910s 6d ; river iimprovement rate £394 15s 2d; berthage lighters £93 2s 6d; sundry accounts £659 0s 3d; rents £6202 Ils 3d; harbor improvements, 1911, £499 13s 4<l; nett interest on loan funds per Public Trustee £1,187 14s 3d; contractor’s deposit £200; and refunds £46 16s sd, amounting to £30,730 8s 3d, leaving a debit balance on the 31st

December, 1911, of £19,879 Is lid. The legal limit of bank overdraft for 1912 is £30,530 8s 3d. The “Maui” during the year 1911 has been constantly at work (except when prevented by. weather conditions and docking), and during this period she has cut from abreast No. 3 shed to the end of the breakwater, a distance of about 2500 feet, a channel 120 feet wide and 16 feet deep at low water. She lias also cut a similar channel from No. 3 shed up along the Town Wharf to No. 4 shed. During this 101 months she has cut, lifted, and deposited at sea 34,845 tons of solid papa rock, 82,260 tons of blue clay, and 83,105 tons of silt; a total of 151,210 tons. On the Bth July she left for Auckland and returned on the 19th August, having had a thorough overhaul whilst in dock. During the last twelve months the “John Townley” has been con-

stantly at work where most needed, and has also acted in the capacity of conveying spoil from the “Maui” and towing out the mud barges. The present river channel is very good, as is shown by the plan of sounding taken by Mr John L. King, which has been lithographed for distribution and is annexed hereto. The substitution of a river improvement rate in lieu of moorages has been fully justified,, the sum of £394. 15s 2d having boon collected, as against £l9 15s 7d received for moorages for the preceding twelve months. With the consent of the Hon. The Minister of Marine, the chief engineer (Mr R. W. Holmes) furnished the Board with a report, plan and specifications of 20(J feet extension to the breakwater, which it is hoped will he effectual in stopping the present range. In December a contract was let to Messrs Longlands and Co. to carry out this work. Regarding the Tauwhareparae Block, at the mid of January, 1911, a settlement having been arrived at whereby the lessees, Messrs Barker Bros, surrendered some 25,000 acres of land. The Board had the improved portion (some 8000 acres) surveyed and cut up into six blocks, the lcaess of which were sold on the 19th April, and most satisfactory prices were offered and accepted for the lot. A contract has been let to Mr King to cut up the balance of the block (about 17,000 acres) into sections suitable for leasing, and he is also laving out the roads necessary to give access to every section, and as soon as tlio levels are taken contracts will be let for road formation through the Block. No rate was struck for the year 1911. . , . For the year 1911 the total of imports were 74,294 tons, an increase of 4,687 tons, as compared with 1910. Exports. 32,142 tons, and of this quantity 58,147 tons was landed at tlio’ wharf direct without paying lighterage. The total tonnage of vessels, entered for the year 1911 was 6*0,101 tons, an increase of 42,073 tons as compared with 1910.

Mr Townley was the gentleman nominated as chairman of the Board, and he was duly elected to the position. „ , In returning thanks, Mr Townley said that lie thought tiie Board had proceeded on right- ana practical lines during the preceding twelve months. Th© shipping had increased, and there had been no complaints. Steamers could come into the wharf night or day and this was a great advantage. If tliev followed steadily on the same lines during the ensuing year the members should bo well pleased. He hoped they would continue to improve the inner harbor to the fullest extent and it would then answer for some time to come. He was very glad indeed that they had such a successful year.