FOXTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3739, 8 January 1907, Page 3

FOXTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The ordinary meeting of the Foxton .Chamber of Commerce was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present — Messrs P. Heunessy (chair), M. Perreau, J. Hall, E. Healey, G. W. Morgan, G. Gray, T. Rimmer, M. Walker and R. Moore.

The minutes of the previous meeeting were read and confirmed Correspondence was received from :—The Marine Department, Eands and Survey Department and Mr John Stevens M.H.R. Mr Hall said he hoped the Chamber would seriously consider the establishment of a properly constituted Harbour Board, as the inconvenience suffered of late, through unsatisfactory harbour facilities, proved the urgent necessity ot a Harbour Board in this town.

The matter was referred to Mr Morgan who said that after looking up the Acts he found that some of the amendraends kill the original Acts, and, the problem was a more difficult one than anticipated, but he thought that their duty was first of all, to decide on a rating area over which a harbour rate could be levied. After the rating area was decided on, the various public bodies would require to send delegates to a conference held for the purpose of confirming the area. He thought that they would need to receive endowments from the Government to ensure the success of the proposed Board. He further stated that he would need some little time to go through the Acts relating to the affair. Mr Moore asked what steps they would have to take to secure the endowments referred to.

Mr Morgan repliecTthat no steps were necessary, and that the endowments would have to come purely and sirnply as gifts. Mr Hall thought they should leave the Harbour question over tor next meeting, pending Mr Morgan’s enquiry into the Acts. He also added that the question was one of great moment and should be given serious consideration. He then asked the opinion of the Chamber re the advisability of laying down a light line to the beach.

Mr Morgan opined that the great objection to the scheme was that the suggested tramway would only be required at certain times of the year, and that, in consequence, would not be remunerative.

Mr Hall suggested that, in the event of the Harbour Board not being formed, a company could be organised who could lay down a line to the beach and erect a wharf at the heads, and vessels failing to cross the bar, could unship at the mouth of the river, and the cargo could be conveyed to Foxton by train. Mr Hall, who is a recent arrival in Foxton, was apparently under the impression that the bar was situated further inland than is really the case. On being questioned on this point, and shown the impracticability of his scheme, he admitted that he did not know where the bar was, and concluded “lam beat.’ ’ A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.