REQUIREMENTS AT THE HEADS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1074, 25 November 1911, Page 3

REQUIREMENTS AT THE HEADS.

DEPUTATION WAITS ON HARBOUR BOARD.

SUB-COM MITT EE TO

REPORT.

A deputation representing the householders at the Beach waited on the Foxton Harbour Board at their meeting on Thursday, to ask for assistance in having a jetty erected at the Foxton Heads, and also to provide a life boat, etc., with a view to safeguarding the public.

The deputation was introduced by Mr W T. Wood.

Mr Hoi ben said that the residents at the Beach had previously approached the Board in reference to a jetty, their object being to get a better class of boat used than was the rase at present. He referred to the recent tragedy and expressed the opinion that the accident would not have happened had a jetty been in existence. He stated that a meeting had been held recently when the question of erecting a jetty, etc. had been discussed, and an amount of Zjioo towards the cost of these improvements to minimise the danger to life was subscribed in the room. The residents uow asked the Board to assist them, and also to approach the Marine Department for a grant. The idea of those interesting themselves in the matter was that a jetty should be erected, a life boat provided, a bell erected to be used tor giving the alarm in case of an accident, also that some sort of signal should be provided for use as to when the river or bar are dangerous for boating. He hoped the Board would see its way to seud a deputation to Wellington to ask for a grant from the Marine Department. The jetty would be a good asset, and would increase the value ot the property at the Beach and could be used by excursion boats trading up ami auwn the river.

In reply to Mr Nash, Mr Hoiben said the suggestion was that the Harbour Board should assume full control 01 the jetty.

iue Chairman said that in the event ot 1 tic jetty costing ,£3OO or so the Board would find itself on the wrong side of the ledger.

Mr Holben believed that the Marine Department would make a contribution towards the cost and if they could get ,£2OO in this way it would not leave the Board much to pay. The Chairman said that according to the Harbours Act the Board was not allowed to expend anything upon the erection of a wharf or jetty. Then there was also the risk of a jetty, if erected, being washed away. Mr Dahl also spoke on behalf of the deputation and urged the necessity of doing something to prevent a recurrence of such an awful disaster as that which occurred recently. He was of opinion that the jetty would not cost more than ,£250 to erect. The Chairman suggested that the money required should be raised by public subscription, and said in such case he would be prepared to donate the sum of

Mr Gardener said that the question of the cost of a jetty etc., could not be considered, as it would require an expert to give a proper estimate. He said that in Palmerston people were risking their lives every day in the same manner as was done at Foxtou, and there they h»d not seen fit to make any great move in the matter. While he was in sympathy with the requests of the deputation, they must remember that the sections at the Beach had been .cased at a very low rental and it tiie Board assisted them in any way it would only be fair to expect that the amount so expended should be put on to the rents. However, before he would vote to commit the Board to any expenditure he wanted to have the opinion of experts as to the provable cost. Until then he was not prepared to siipj ort any definite requests, lie moved that a committee be appointed to consider the requests ol the deputation regarding the erection of a jetty, bell and tower and the providing of a life boat, such committee to report as to the cost of the items set out by the deputation ; the committee to consist of the Chairman and Messrs Globs, Nash and Barber.

Mr Nash seconded the motion and stated that he believed in helping people who were prepared to help themselves. He suggested that as soon as the committee had their report ready a special meeting should be held to deal with it. Mr Henuessy repeated that he did not think the Board had the power to spend money in the manner suggested. He asked if it wasn't a-fact that there was a good deal of speculation in sections going on. Mr Holbeu said he did not think

The Chairman said he was looking on the requests of the deputation purely as Chairman of the Board. At the present time the revenue from the Beach was only and as they were committed to an expenditure of ,£25 per annum on account of the Beach road, he could not see his way to support giving assistance to the deputation. Mr Belt saia he fell sure that a lot ol the people who visited the Beach would contribute if asked.

Mr Harford said there was a chance oi getting a grant, but the Board could uow do nothing uulil the report of the committee had beeu received He felt it was the wish of the Board to meet the deputation as lar as possible, but agreed with the Chairman that the Board could not use its ordinary

revenue on the erection of a jetty. Mr Wood said that the Chairman, although he was in sympathy with the movement, was looking at the Board’s finances. The deputation could rest assured that if the Board could do anything to assist them they would do so. The motion was carried and it was decided that the committee should meet on Monday, Dec. 4th.