FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1391, 27 April 1915, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Foxtou Harbour Board was held at Palmerston N. on Friday afternoon. Present: Messrs F. Heunessy (chairman) F. E. Jenks, T. J. Clapham, J. A. Nash, B. R. Gardener and E. R. Holbeu. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer submitted the following report: “The following is the statement of accounts, receipts and expenditure since last meeting. £6oo has been placed on fixed deposit with the Bank of New Zealand for twelve months at y/i per cent. Receipts. —Balance December 23rd, 1914, ,£602 iSs rod ; pilotage, ,£97 os 9d ; river lighting, £ig xos; rents, ,£l3O 2s 6d ; rent of telephone, ,£3 5s ; river license, .£1 ; lease forms, .Ss; and contributions to road, .£2l 15s od, a total of ,£876 os id. Expenditure. Harbour-master, ,£66 13s qd ; assistant, £b 13s 6d ; benzine and kerosene, ,£9 12s 8d ; secretary, ,£2O ; members’ travelling expenses, .£4 15s Sd ; rent of telephone, ,£6 ros ; legal expenses in connection with petition and Bill re wharf, etc., .£26 5s yd; Foxton Borough, ,£l2 10s ; Chairman’s honorarium, ,£25 ; postages, telegrams, etc., ,£8 13s qd ; and accident insurance, £7 5s 3d ; total, ,£195 7s 6d. leaving a balance of ,£6BO 12s 7d, ,£6OO of which is placed on fixed deposit, and ,£BO 12s 7d to the credit ot the current account at the Bank of New Zealand.”

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUM, RRI'ORT. The Chairman reported on last year’s work as follows: — “The principal work during the year has been in connection with the acquisition of the wharf, and I had sincerely hoped to be able to report that at last the Board’s efforts bad been successful. It is well known the many interviews with, and deputations to, Ministers in this connection, but I think I can safely say the matter is nearer an adjustment than has been reached before. An order of reference has been submitted, a formal protest has been lodged, and it is now only waiting the opinion of the Solicitor-General as to the legality of the various points in the order. The working of the port cannot be improved under existing arrangements, and the handicap of the whole district is growing more serious daily, and it is difficult to suggest what further steps can be taken to relieve it. The total gain in income for the year is only £sg. The shipping, through some unexplained reason, fell from 198 vessels in 1913 to 176 in 1914, and the tonnage from 25,099 tons to 21,366 tons. The river and bar have been no more difficult to work than in previous years, and it looks as if large quantities of coal are being carried by rail. The slump in the hemp rparket may also account for less shipping, f thank all members of the Board, and members of other local bodies,

for the help given in trying to reach finality in the. matter of the wharf, and hope the next annual report will show a settlement has been reached, and that the district has at last received its just rights.” Mr Nash said the Board had a good deal to thank the Chairman (Mr Hennessy) for in connection with the agitation for the acquisition of the wharf. He had put in a great deal of time on this matter, and he earnestly hoped that something definite would be arrived at in the very near future. It was regrettable that such a great hardship should be placed on the Board in attempting to obtain its just rights. He assured Mr Hennessy that the Board appreciated his efforts and thanked him very much. Mr Hennessy returned thanks for lhe kind reference. In his efforts the secretary had been a very valuable help to him, which help he appreciated very much. He had hoped that they would have been able to induce the Railway Department not to be so exacting in the order of reference in connection with the arbitration. They were now waiting lor the opinion of the Solicitor-General as to whether the matter could be legally submitted to arbitration. The Railway Department was very loth to make any move at all, and were trying to block the matter in every way. It was most unfair that the people of the district should be penalised for the sake of the railway revenue. He had the opinion of more than one solicitor that the Board had a very good chance of a satisfactory arrangement being made, and be earnestly hoped it would not be long before the Board got its rights. Mr Nash said he had not lost sight of the excellent services rendered by the secretary, who was continuing in office at great inconvenience to himself in order that something definite might be arrived at. He thought that some recognition should be shown, and moved that a bonus of ,£ls 15s be granted Mr Bock, The Chairman seconded the motion, saying that he knew that Mr Bock was continuing as secretary at great inconvenience, and his only object in doing so was to further the interests of the Board. Mr Bock thanked the members for their appreciation of his work, but said he would prefer that the matter should be held over. Mr Gardener favoured Mr Bock’s suggestion. The wharl matter was not settled yet. It was much better that Mr Bock should continue until the matter was finally settled, and he hoped that the Board would then be in a position to show its appreciation in a proper manner. The motion was withdrawn. The Chairman said he was satisfied that the wharf question would be settled within two months. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Nash, the treasurer’s statement was approved, and the payment of accounts amounting to £1 95 7s 6d was confirmed, and the balance-sheet to December 31st accepted subject to audit. The transfer of section 7 from C. T. Flyger to M, Walt was approved, and the sale of lease of section 64 to Methodist Church Trustees cancelled. The letter from Mr R. MoMurray, liquidator ot the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co., Iffd., offering the Company’s wharf and lease to the Board tor £1,500, which had been held over from the previous meeting, was brought forward, and it was decided to reply, stating that the offer could not be entertained. Mr R. McMuiray also wrote asking for a refund of £57 paid as wharfages, as the amount had also to be paid to the Railway Department, He stated that the Board promised to refund same if a refund could not be obtained from the Railway Department. —The minute in connection with this matter was turned up, which showed that before a refund could be claimed it was necessary to get a declaratory judgment on the matter, and this had not been obtained. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Holbeu, seconded by Mr Jenks, that Mr McMurray be informed that the Board cannot comply with the request for a refund until a declaratory judgment is obtained. The annual meeting of the Board was fixed for Tuesday, May nth, at 2 p.m,, at Palmerston North, •