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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

The Hokitika Harbour Board

The Hokitika Harbour Board . Members for the year 1905: Messrs G. A. Perry (chairman); M. Pollock, A. W. Bock, J. Toomey, and the Hon. J. Holmes, M.L.C. (elected by the burgesses of Hokitika); W. Rose (Collector of Customs), T. W. Duff (chairman Westland County Council), and J. Mandl (Mayor). Captain G. W. Bignell is secretary and harbourmaster. The Hokitika Harbour Board came into existence in the year 1876, when the shipping facilities were in a crude condition, though the importance of the scaborne trade had compared very favourably for many years with that of other seaport towns. The Board has grappled with the difficulties of a bar harbour, and has provided many necessary improvements for shipping, by means of a loan of £10,000. At high tide there is from eighteen to twenty feet of water at the wharves, and at the bar, according to the state of the river and tide, from eight to twelve feet. The length of the training wall and breastwork is 2003 feet on the north side, and on the south side the training wall is 451 feet in length. The length of the wharf is 900 feet, and the signal station stands on the north training wall. The principal export from Hokitika is timber, and about two million superficial feet were shipped from the port during the year 1904. The offices of the Board, which were erected in 1880, are situated on the wharf at Gibson's Quay.