FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 602, 27 November 1909, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

PURCHASE OF WHARF. COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S SUGGESTION. At the Manawatu County Council meeting on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr J. G. Wilson) made reference to the Foxton Harbour affairs. He stated that, after the visit of the Hon. J. A. Millar, they were given to understand that the Government could not see . its way to hand back the wharf. It seemed to him \the speaker) that there was no reason why the wharf should not be sold to the Harbour Board. The money could be borrowed for this, and it would thus enable them to carry out river improvements. The income at the wharf was about ,£2500 a yeat, and the cost of building the wharf was £> 20,000, but it should now be offered at a considerably reduced sum because of depreciation. Money could be borrowed on the security of the ratepayers at 5 per cent. Even if the interest and sinking fund and cost of collection amounted to ,£I2OO a year there would still be a handsome income for the board to improve the river. There would be, no necessity to collect a rale, for he predicted a further increase of receipts, and, therefore, if the ratepayers in the county agreed to the proposal, an arrangement between the Government and the Harbour Board to hand over the wharf would probably be arrived at. This was undoubtedly the best

course to adopt. He was against rating for the purpose of improv- , ine the harbour. If the wharf v?as under the control of the Harbour Board the income would pay for these improvements. It was of the utmost importance that the river should receive attention, as there was great possibilities for this harbour. Other councillors concurred, remarking that the possibilities of Foxton Harbour be too highly estimated. The feeling of the meeting was that the chairman’s suggestion should be at once taken up.