FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 834, 3 May 1910, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present: —Messrs Hennessy (chairman), Stiles, Nash and Tolley. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Wilson, Gardener and WoodBefore the minutes were con firmed, Mr Nash referred to the lapse of last meeting for the want of a quorum. This, he said, could have been avoided had a little more consideration been extended to members. Owing to the annua! school committee elections falling on the same night it was found impossible for the majority of members to attend, yet it was decided to hold the meeting and although it lapsed, ><ne member had been put to set i ms inconvenience and loss of time. Personally, he had done his best to meet the convenience of the Board and he thought similar consideration should be extended to Board members. —The Chairman said that the time of certain members of the Board was so taken up with other public affairs that it was difficult to arrange a meeting to suit the convenience of everyone. Messrs Stiles and Tolley were of opinion that as far as possible the convenience of a majority of the members should be considered when calling meetings.

MR WILSON DESIRES TO RESIGN

A letter was read from Mr J. G. Wilson asking for leave of absence from the meeting and stating that owing to the lapse of the last meeting he had been put to considerable loss of time. He added that owing to the meeting being held at night the tax was too much on his time and at the next meeting of the County Council he would ask that body to appoint Cr Barber in his stead. He concluded ; “I shall at all times be happy to second the action of the Board if my services would be of any avail.” On the motion of Messrs Stiles and Nash it was resolved to ask Mr Wilson to reconsider his decision, as the Board considers his services of great value, and that the Board regret the unfortunate circumstances attending the calling of last meeting.

Mr Nash said that Mr Wilson’s resignation from the Board would be a severe blow. He had been a regular attendant and his knowledge and experience were indispeusible. livery effort should be made to retain his services during a period when matters of vital importance to the Board were to be considered.

Mr Tolley said the Board’s concerns were of district rather than local importance and as Mr Wilson represented a large area of country his services should be retained. Mr Stiles endorsed the previous speakers remarks. The Chairman said no one appreciated Mr Wilson’s efforts more than he did and he should be sorry to lose his services on the Board. —Resolution carried. RKNT Ol' Ol'l'lCK. A letter was received from the Moutoa Drainage Board in reply to a resolution passed by the Harbour Board asking that the latter be not charged lor rent of office during past year. The Drainage Board could not see its way to forego the rent for the past year and asked for paymeutof same. —Mr Nash said the request by the Drainage Board seemed somewhat arbitrary seeing that no request had previously been made tor rent. —The rent, £S 13 4, asked for was passed for payment. I‘II.OT’S examination. A communication was received from the Secretary for Marine stating that the pilot passed the examination necessary to qualify him for his position, and requesting that the examination fee of one guinea be paid —It was decided to ask the pilot to pay the fee which was provided for by statute. by-laws. A letter was received from the Marine Department acknowledging receipt of Board’s by-laws, and pointing out that there is no power given to the Board under any Act to levy dues on goods landed on foreshore, and therefore doing so is illegal.—The Board’s solicitor gave an opinion on the above and pointed out the provision to which the Marine Department took exception as not being authorised by statute, is not prohibited by law. If the Department wish to disallow it they would publish a notification to that effect in the Gazette. The object ot iusertihg the by-law was to give the Board a footing in regard to the wharfages—Fetters received.

WEST COAST S. AND T. CO’S WHARH. The Marine Department wrote stating that the plans and specifications for the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co’s wharf, which had been approved by the Board, and which the Department had been asked to authorise will be dealt with as soon as complete plans are received from the Company. —Letter received. The Chairman staled that the wharf had been proceeded with and was nearing completion. BOARD DECLARED A PHASING AUTHORITY. From the Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that an Order-iu-Council dated sth March, declarthe Foxton Harbour Board a leasing authority within the meauof “The Public Bodies’ Leases Act, 1908,” was gazetted on March 1 oth.—Received. SIGNAL STATION. The Marine Department asked that when the erection of the new

signal staff was completed, it be communicated with in order that shipmasters he advised of altered position.—Received.

SECRETARY'S REPORT,

The secretary’s report submitted was as follows “ The amount to credit of the Board at the Bank of New Zealand as per pass hook is £is2 15s 3d ; against this has to be placed unpresented cheques 3.S 3d, leaving the net balance at following amounts have been placed to credit: —Pilotage lees, ,£3l 4s qd ; rent of sections, £26 9s 6d ; rent flax mill sites, £j ; total, ,£64 14s 3d. Accounts amounting to 15s qd are submitted to • be passed for payment. The tonnage of vessels piloted during the month totalled 2499 tons, as against 2446 for February and 2850 for January. The Harbour Master reported that the signal staff had been blown down in the recent gale, and was authorised to take immediate steps for its re-erection, and on his suggestion it has beep erected nearer the beach, together with the office, and the Marine Department notified. The cost will be about The Harbour Master reports in respect of assistants’ accounts that the January account included £1 12s 6d for lighting beacons and buoys for vessels working the river at nightjar 17s for February, and £1 los for March. Keen competition was shown at the recent sale of leases, sixteen being sold ; there were only fifteen unsold. The question of leasing the signal station reserve should be dealt with- Beyond the revenue from this and flax mill sites, the only other for the current year is pilotage.”

Correspondence was received from Mr Dufresue, asking the Board to sanction a sublease of part of his section to Mr W. Uawick- —Request granted subject to solicitor’s approval. From Mr Pegler, asking the Board to sanction a transfer of his lease to Mr Mayo. Agreed to subject to the solicitor’s approval.

The Chairman and Mr Stiles reported on their inspection of the Pilot Reserve, and it was decided to invite tenders for lease of same for a period of 10 years. Accounts amounting to ,£57 r s s gd were passed for payment.

The Chairman’s notice of motion re negotiations with the Minister for Railways re purchase of wharf was held over to be dealt with at a special meeting of the Board to be held at Palmerston.

It was moved by Mr Nash and carried that the Board wait upon the Minister in respect to the purchase of the wharf, and that all matters connected therewith be discussed at the special meeting. Mr Newman M.P., to arrange the preliminaries with the Minister, The reports were read and received.