FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1029, 12 August 1911, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

SPECIAL MEETING. The Harbour Board held a special meeting at Palmerston North on Thursday, when there were present:—Messrs P. J. Hennessy (chairman), W. T. Wood, J. A. Nash, Harford, W. Barber, Gibbs and Gardener. The chief business before the meeting was the consideration of the proposed Empowering Bill to be put before Parliament. SANATORIUM LEASES. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Belt, A. Burges, J. Anderson and W. Devine, waited on the Board and asked that the terms of their leases of sections at the Sanatorium, Foxton Beach, be reconsidered. They suggested that the present leases be cancelled aud Iresh leases granted them of 33 years on the same terms as the river frontages. Alter discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr Nash that the matter be referred to the Foxton members aud the secretary, who are to meet the deputation on the ground on the 14th instant. HARBOUR BOARD EMPOWERING BILL.

Copies of the proposed Bill having been circulated among members it was taken as read. A letter was read from the Board's solicitor in respect to the procedure necessary in connection with lodging the Bill for inspection and advertising same. Mr Wood gave an explanation of the procedure to be followed in placing the Bill before Parliament. Mr Nash reported on the discussion of the proposal by the Palmerston Borough Council, which was in favour of the Commission, but objected to the allocation of rates. He thought the whole county of Horowhenua should be included. The Chairman stated that portion of the County had been left out advisedly, because outside of Shannon and Levin very little, if any, benefit would be derived by the residents. Mr Gibbs stated that they did not want to alter the proposed Bill now, as for one thing, time would not admit of it. Mr Gardener agreed with the action that had been taken, and he considered that by taking in Levin and Shannon the object of the Board would be met, particularly as the other part of the suggested district was so sparsely settled. Personally he was satisfied that the leading townspeople particularly were in favour of the proposal.

Mr Harford said that in his absence from the meeting the proposal had not been properly submitted to the Feilding Borough Council. He had interviewed a great number of ratepayers in Feilding and they were, with very few exceptions, thoroughly in accord with the proposals. He personally supported the proposal and he did not anticipate any strong opposition from either the Borough Council or Chamber of Commerce. Mr Gardener said he was of opinion that the whole matter was a question for the people themselves, and not for the local bodies to determine. They knew what local bodies were, and he could not see why they should control the destines of a district m such a matter as this. The whole question he thought should have been placed directly before the people by way of public meetings. Some councillors, he said, would not even consent to the expenditure of a half-penny stamp in the cause of progress. Mr Wood said the Bill should go before the House as it stood, and if amendments were thought desirable it could be made there. After some further discussion it was decided on the motion of the Chairman seconded by Mr Wood, that the proposed Bill as submitted be approved and copies be lodged in the Magistrate’s Courts at Palmerston North and Foxton, and duly advertised as required by the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, and that Mr Newman M.P., be asked to submit the Bill. It was resolved that Messrs Guthrie, Buick and Field M’s.P., as legislators interested, be asked to confer with the idea of securing the passage of the Bill. They will also he met in confrence in Wellington by the Chairman. LEASE OF FORESHORE. In connection with Mr Hopwood’s application, read at last meeting, tor a lease of portion of the foreshore near the wharf on which to build a bulk store, the Chairman reported that Mr Hopwood was not prepared to pay wharfages to the Board and the Railway Department. It was decided that pending the adjustment of wharfages no foreshore be leased. HARBOURS ACT AMENDMENT. A letter was read from the Secretary of Marine, asking for suggestions of any amendments necessary to the Harbours Amendment Act, 1910. It was decided to leave the matter over until the meeting of delegates of the Harbours Conference. There was no other business to be transacted and the meeting terminated.