FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 60, 29 March 1881, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

♦— Frisday, March 25, 1831. The Board met at 2 p.m. Present — Messrs Gray (Chairman), Thynne and Russell. Mr Easton applied for leave of absence, which was granted. The minutes of last meeting were confirmed. Mr A. Gray was re-elected Chairman of the Board. CORRESPONDENCE. Letter read from the Deputy-Harbour Master, suggesting that the Board should have the fairway cleared of any logs or other obstructions. No action taken. Letter read from Otaki Highways Board, declining to grant any sum towards survey of river. Letter read from Falmeraton Borough Council, agreeing to pay £10 towards surrey of river, upon certificate being received that the expense had been incurred. TELEPHONE TO THE HEADS. Letter read from central Telegraph office, Wellington, as follows : — " Wellington, January 31. "In reply to your letter of the 25th instant, in which you ask to be informed whether any cheaper mode than the ABC telegraph could be adopted for placing your office in telegraphic communication with the Manawata hea Is, I beg to inform you that communication by telephone would be equally satisfactory and reliable, and that the cost would be about thirty pounds less than the instruments mentioned in your letter. --C. Lemon." The Chairman explained that the above letter was in reply to one he had sent by direction of the Board, asking what the cost of a telephone service from Foxton to the heads would be. In the previous letter it was stated the co3t of an ABC telegraph would be £190, and as the telephone service would be only £30 less, it would still be £160. Mr Thynne said he could not see why the cost should be so great. Xo resolution passed. SURVEY OP THE RIVER. Letter read from Messrs Barr & Oliver *° the Chairman, as follows : — " Wanganui, March 18, 1881. " Referring to the conversation our Mr Barr had with you on the subject of survey of the bar at the mouth of the Maaawatu river and report upon the practicability of improving the same, we would be glad in the eveut of the weather during next week being favorable for the soundings, to execute same and make report free of charge t<> your Board, except in the matter of proriding men and boat. We do not expect chat for the purpose for which you wish it viz., a general report upon the practicability of the work and the probable cost, that the survey (with calm weather) would occupy more than three days or so. Three men with such assistance as the pilot coulrf •j;ive, when his duties would allow it, wouM be sufficient. It would be necessary tha they and our Mr Barr should stay at th- 1 Pilot Station, so aa to take advantage of the beat times of the tide. If the works proceed we would expect to have the furthnr surveys to execute, and the preparation of the necessary contracts at the usual rates.— Barr & Oliver, C.E.'s." Mr Russell thought tho Board should not compromise itself by agreeing to put .ill works in Messrs Barr and Oliver's hands, especially as there was no need to »et o- (frails survey, the local bodies ha\ ing made liberal grants towards the co3t. Opinions were also divided in Wanganui as to the merits of the harbor works which were executed under Messrs Barr and Oliver. He would prefer seeing competitive designs invited. Mr Thynne agreed with the last speaker that the Board should not commit itself to any one person, but should retain th<right to say who should or should not do the work. He thought the idea of inviting competitive designs a good one, anil would propose the following motion— " That competitive designs be invited for the deepening of the Bar and improvement of the river up to the wharf, with plans and estimates of cost ; that Mr Blackett be •isked to act as judge ; that the same be advertised for one week in one paper in Wellington, Christchurch, aud Dunedin ; the designs to be sent in by the first August next." Secondod by Mr Russell, and carried. CLAIM FOR ©CMPEX3ATIOV. Mr Russell moved, " That tho Chairman *end in a claim of £009 for loss of water j frontage caused by the now railway work" alongside the Maaawatu river, in terms of the Public Works Act, 1876, and the District Engineer's letter of 21st April, 1880." V Seconded by Mr Thynne, and carried, •w THE WHARF. Mr Thynne said he thought the time had come when the Board should again urge upon the Government the importance of handiug over to it the wharf. A considerable amount of correspondence had taken place with the Government in reference to this matter, and in 1878 they offered to hand over th« wharf to the Board if the latter would undertake the responsib'lity of maintaining the pilot staff. At that time tho business done at the port wouH not warrant the Board in undertaking a responsibility of nearly £500 per annum. Since that date the trade ha<l developed to such a decree that they could safely otter to maintain the pilot service if the Government would hand over the wharf. In making this request, they couM cite the case of Wellington, where the Government had handed over to the Harbor Board the railway wharf. He would move— "That the Chairman address the Government and point out that as the iucreased trade would now justify the Board entertaining the proposal made through the Secretary of the Customs in March, 1878, they would now undertake the duties requested if the wharf is handed over ; that as the Government have acted in a similar manner to tho Wellington Harbor Board, this Board trust* that, being without any endowment, the Government will accede to their request." Seconded by Mr Russell, and carried. The Chairman read a number of letters received from the Government at different times, regarding this matter. He was disposed to urge it again on the Government. Mr Russell doubted if they would sue. seed, but thought it wu their duty to try, t

as it was a great hardship that the only wharf at the port of Foxton should be in the hands of the Railway Department, which of coarse paid more attention to securing large profits than providing for the public convenience. " APPOINTMENT Of SECRET A)M. Mr Russell thought the time Jt»d come . when a Secretary to the Board jjshonld be appointed. Hicherto the Chairman had done the whole of the clerical work grat&L but he thought as they were doing publio work and had a small revenue they should appoint a Secretary. He believed Mi? W. G. Robinson would be willing to do the work at a small salary, and would therefore move, " That Mr W. G. Robinson be appointed Secretary to the Board, and that the Chairman and Mr Thynne arrange with Mr Robinson as to duties and salary." The motion was seconded by Mr Thynne, who said he thought that in view of the probability of the Board's business increas* ing such an appointment was desirable. The Chairman said he put the motion with very great pleasure, as it relieved him of a considerable amount of work. Motion carried. XEW MEMBERS. The Chairman said tha seats of two members nominated by the Governor — Messrs London and Cook— having become vacant, it would be necessary to suggest to the Government two other gentlemen to be appointed to their seats. Mr Russell thought that the Mayor of Palmerston should be appointed to one of the seats, as that district was deeply interested in the port. Mr Thynne thought such an appointment would be an excellent one. The Chairman remarked that Feilding was represented by the County Chairman. He considered Mr Linton would make a very good member. Proposed by Mr Russell, and seconded by Mr Thynne, and carried, "That the Board request the Chairman to recommend Messrs J. Linton and J. W. Gower to the Governor as suitable persons to hol^ the J seats formerly held by Messrs T. U. Cook and F. Loudon." This concluded the business, and the Board adjourned.