FOXTON AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 10

FOXTON AFFAIRS

An important work in connection with the development of Foston as a port was foreshadowed at a meeting of the. lo ton Harbour Board yesterday, when reference was made by the chairman (Mi. P ,T. Hcnnessy) to the desirableness ot endeavouring to promote the erection of merchants of wharves and distributing stores along the north Bide of the nver. The cost of these could 1 bo recovered from the merchants by means of a series ot annual payments by the board, spread over n fairly lengthy period. As things were the board itself could not undertake, tins work on account of its limitod finances. In supporting the suggestion, Mr. Holben moved that a committee be set up to negotiate with applicants for storage sites. Mr. Holben went on to say that the chairman's suggestion was a very goo<l one, aud the biff merchants were undoubtedly anxious to make use ot the Wort, provided they couia got suitable ■sites for storage e/hedf and wharfage facilities. Mention was made by tiio chairman that the Vacuum Oil Company had, amongst others, written an application for a site. It would be a- big thing lor the port if this company was located at Foxton. On account of the high rfliW'ny freights it would pay the company to take full advantage of the port it sufficient facilities were offering. Mr. ,T. A. Nosh, M:P., ,was strongly cf opinion that the board ought to meet at Foxton and go over the ground before entering into any negotiations. Some definite scheme should be presented to applicants for, storage sites. Ho moved as an amendment that the board meet at Foxton with a. view of plans being propared of anv available sites for buildings. He commended the chairman's fcherne for providing wharves and sheds. Mr. Holben withdrew his motion in favour of Mr."; Nash's amendment, which was unanimously adopted. ( At tlio annual meeting of tho I'oxton Harbour Board yesterday the chairman, Mr. P. J. Hennessy,' submitted his annual report. In the course of this he said that lie Mvas again sorry to report an unfinished programme, but, nevertheless, considerable progress had been made. The board was to be congratulated oil tho splendid response given by tho district at the poll in reference to proposals for the purchase of tho wliarf and improving the port.' Arrangements were almost completed with the liailway Department, and money for payment for the wharf was ready to be handed ovor. The board could not push ahead as it would like to owing partly to the fact that tho Imlanco of the loan would not be available till six in<ktli6 after the war. The estimate of cost'ot an up-to-date' dredge suitable for the board's purposes was expected any day now from tho makers, and if satisfactory no time would bo lost in procuring one. He was informed that the dredgo would take a year to complete and deliver. Tho amount accrued for wharfage to December 31, 1918, was ,£3149. This would materially help the board in its efforts to develop the port. The district' could safely anticipate progress during tho current year in improved harbour facilities. Already applications were in for sites for distributing stores, and presently they would be before the board ,for consideration. A certain amount of reclamation work might have to be done-in order to get the best results in the matter of sites. There was a credit" balance at the bank of ,£4917. The board had decided to apply for a grant of ,£250 for river improvement, which had been on t.he estimates for a number cf year.?. This smn would bo expended in lighting the river.