HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 972, 28 March 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Foxtou Harbour Board was held last evening, there being present: Messrs Hennessy (chairman), Stiles, Tolley and Nash. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Wilson, Gardner and Wood. The annual balance sheet was read, and, together with the Chairman's report, was adopted on the motion of Mr Nash seconded by Mr Stiles. kivkr ijghting. In discussing the Chairman's report the matter of the charge for lighting the river was dealt with. It was explained that prior to the formation of the Board the charge for this work was paid by the ship-owners and that the small increase in pilotage was not sufficient to cover this. It was unanimously resolved that the fee for lighting the river be 20s per boat, or if two or more boats are on thes ame tide a minimum of ros per boat. WHARF CONTROL,. The ordinary meeting of the Board followed. The Chairman explained, respecting the proposed deputation to the Minister of Railwa3's regarding the proposal to take over the wharf, that the main question appeared to be that of agreement as to rating area. It was decided that the interview with the Minister be not proceeded with. Mr Nash agreed that it was of no use to go to Wellington without a defined plan. He also expressed a decided opinion that it was the Board’s function to ask the Minister for Railways to make a definite statement, the Board then to frame a bill to submit to Parliament, and each representative to place the matter before his own people, showing the advantages of purchasing the wharf. Mr Tolley explained what had been done in his district. The residents seemed hostile to the proposal to include them in a rating area. secretary’s report. The secretary reported as follows : “The amount to credit at bank at last meeting was 16s; siuce then the following amounts have been received and placed to credit: Pilotage £56 9s 6d, wharfage £7 7s 6d, rent of sections 15s 3d, rent of wharves £3, rent per receiver of revenue 8s qd, total ,£lsl os 7d. The expenditure since last meeting has been ; Accounts passed for payment £7O ns 6d, harbourmaster Ist March ,£l6 13s qd, re Gray half cost boundary fence £27, rail freight engine £1 1 os 6d, total ,£lls 15s qd; credit balance at date ,£424 is 3d. The balance of grant of ,£250, viz., £62 10s, has yet to be received and rents ,£8 15s are overdue. The correspondence siuce last meeting has been mainly departmental in respect to elections under the amending Act and which it is thought is now fairly understood. The West Coast S.S. and Trading Co. complain of the difficulty of unloading coal from vessels into coal bins. The river has been sounded and it is found a gravel ridge has formed about ten feet from the wharf; on each side of the ridge is deep water. The general manager of railways has been written to iu respect of this. The lessees of the Signal Station Reserve have furnished a report as to the condition ot boundary fences, comprising about 50 chains in all, needing about 224 chains of wire, and have been asked to give a price tor putting these in order. In compliance with instructions at last meeting a report has been prepared in respect of beach sections. The Crown Lands Department has remitted to the Board’s credit £'29 8s qd as rents collected on sections in the Sanatorium portion of the reserve, and supplied a list of tenants. There do not appear to be any compulsory building clauses, in the leases. One lease has expired and the tenant desires a renewal. Most of the leases are shown as expiring in 1918' and 1921.” —The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Nash, seconded by Mr Stiles. Accounts totalling £213 8s 6d were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows :—■ From West Coast Steam Shipping and Trading Co., in reference to sand ridge opposite coal bins. On the motion of Mr J. A. Nash, seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved that the West Coast S.S. and Trading Co. be advised that the matter of removing obstruction opposite coal bins has been referred to the Marine Department, and that the matter of wharfages will be held over for consideration of new Board. From the Returning Officers of Palmerston N., Levin and Pending, asking that the necessary steps be taken fur the election of members. The transfer of a section from Te Wharangi Hall Committee to Mr Robert was agreed to. A transfer from Davidson Bros, to Mrs Wilson was agreed to, subject to the conditions of lease being complied with. A sub-lease from M. Perreau to O. Clelaud was approved. An application from W. Devine for a new lease of Sec. 14, Sanatorium Block, on the same terms as foreshore leases was approved. The matter of repairing boundary fences at the Signal Station Reserve was left to the Chairman an-’ Mr Stiles. BEACH SECTIONS. A report on beach sections and other reserves was submitted showing that the conditions of

lease as to buildings on seven sections in the first sale, and six in the second sale, had not been complied with, and that rents on five sections were still unpaid.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Stiles, seconded by Dir Tolley, that tenants who have failed to carry out the conditions of lease in respect of buildings be called upon before next meeting to show cause why their leases should not be cancelled, and that if no response is made it be a iecommeudatiou to the new Boan. to immediately cancel such leases. It was further resolved, that a final notice be sent out to those tenants who have broken the terms of their lease by nonpayment of rent, that unless such rent is paid within 30 days steps will be taken to cancel the lease and offer same for sale. Mr Nash moved and Mr Stiles seconded, that the harbourmaster be appointed an inspector under the Board, and that he be supplied with a copy of the leases at Te Wharaugi, and that in the event of non-fulfilment on the part of the lessees, he at once notify the secretary of the Board. The motion was carried. Only one tender was received for the right of cutting firewood at the Round Bush. This was from R. N. Speirs, at ,£25, and was declined. HARBOURMASTER’S REI’ORT. The Harbourmaster reported as follows 'The bar is getting in a very bad state again; there was only fift on bar at high water neaps, and there will be only 9ft at high water springs; the river is good from the bar right up to the wharf. Seventeen steamers crossed inwards, and the same outwards, up till the 24th of March. It was resolved, on Mr Nash’s motion, that the Wanganui Board be asked to allow its engineer (Mr Howorth) to confer with the F'oxton members of this Board at, Foxton in respect to the condition of the bar. BEACH HOAD. On the motion of Mr Stiles, seconded by Mr Tolley, it was resolved that the Manavvatu County Council be written to, asking them to push on with the formation 01 the road to the Beach, so that it may be ready fur traffic in the coming summer. The Chairman was authorised to procure a small boat for use in connection with the launch. THE COMING EEECTION. It was resolved that the first meeting of the new Board and the election of Chairman be held at Palmerston N., on May 2nd, at 1.30 p.m. Mr Tolley announced that it was not his intention to seek reelection. The Chairman, on behalf of the Board, thanked Mr Tolley for the interest he had taken in the Board's affairs, and wished the Board’s appreciation to be recorded on the minutes. On the motion of Mr Stiles, seconded by Mr Nash, it was unanimously resolved that the Board’s appreciation of the valuable services rendered by the Chairman, Mr Henuessy, be placed on record.

Mr Nash also referred in complimentary terms to the work of the Chairman. Although they did not always see eye to eye it was a healthy sign that the alTairs of the Board were being dealt with with the best motives, and in a manner acceptable to public men. Mr Tolley endorsed the remarks of Messrs Stiles and iNash, and hoped it would not be long before the Board could invite him to celebrate the taking possession of the wharf.

A vote, of thanks to the secretary (Mr W. Bock), was carried unanimously.