FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1575, 11 July 1916, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

1 COMMISSION’S REPORT. PURCHASE OF WHARF APPROVED. OTHER PROJECTS DISCOURAGED. The report of the Commission set up to inquire into and report as to the advisability of the purchase of the Foxton Railway Wharf by the Foxton Harbour Board, the connection of the Sandon tramway with the Main Trunk railway line, and the formation of a new railway line connecting Foxton with the existing lines at Levin or other suitable point, was pi’esented to the House of Representatives by the Hon. \X. H. Herries last, night. The members of the Commission were: Sir Robert Stout (chairman) Air W. M. Ilannay (of Wellington), and Mr Cyrus Williams (of Lyttelton). QUESTIONS FOR DETERMINATION. The following were the questions submitted to the Commission;— (1) Whether the Foxton Harbour Board should be permitted to purchase the Railway Wharf at Foxton and, if so, on what basis the purchase money should be ascertained, and what should be the terms and conditions of purchase. (2) Whether the Sandon tramway should be purchased by the Government and be connected with the Alain Trunk railway at Marton or Greatford as part of the railway system of the Dominion. (3) Whether, in the alternative, the county council having control of the Sandon tramway should be permitted to connect that tramway with the Alain Trunk railway at Alarton or Greatford.

(4) Whether it is desirable that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Levin or some other suitable point on the Alain Trunk railway to Foxton.

(5) Whether a new’ line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Martou to Levin. THE WHARF AND THE HARBOUR. Replying to question No. 1, the Commission assumes that if is the declared policy of the State that the harbour at Foxton should be kept open and under local control. “The evidence lends us to believe,” the report states, “that it is doubtful if the harbour can continue to be profitably utilised if some steps be not taken to assist the river in keeping a depth sufficient for small crafts. The expert engineers differ as to whether dredging would bo sufficient. We are inclined to think in addition to dredging some works would have to be erected to control and direct the waiters of the river.” The Commission estimated the probable cost of such works at. £50,(100. It is computed that the gross revenue from the wharf is £3,500, but that after labour and other expenses are paid, this is far more than sufficient to meet the charges for interest and sinking fund for the cost of construction of the wharf, the present value of which ■was estimated at £3,700. The recommendation was that the Board should have the right to purchase the wharf for £5,000, the term “wharf” to include the actual wharf structures, the area, of land leased to Levin and Co., a, strip of land sft. wide behind the actual structures of the wharf, and a right-of-way 33ft. wade across the railway yard. Conditions are submitted that the fight of purchase shall notarise until after the harbour shall have constituted a harbour board rating district sufficient to provide a revenue of £4,000 a, year 1 , and that pending the constitution of the rating area the Railway Department keep account of the net profits from the wharf, which amount shall bo paid over to the Harbour Board on the completion of the purchase.

THE TRAMWAY. Question 2 is answered as follows; “We arc of opinion that, considering the many demands on the Government for railway services, it is not desirable that this tramway should he purchased by the Government.” *

(3) The Commission finds that the tramway is not suitable for any exchange of traffic between the railway and the tramway, such as would be involved in the running of railway trucks over the tram line. Close connection with the railway is therefore considered to be possible and the Commission recommends that the local bodies be allowed to carry the tramway to a dead end adjacent to the railway at Greatford, so that the transfer of goods would be easy. A condition is suggested that the tramway, to be controlled by the local bodies as now, should be allowed to carry only goods for use in the Manawatu or Eangitikei counties, or goods produced in these counties. The report adds: “We feel bound, however, to state that considering the advances being made in motor carriage it may be a question whether such a connection would be a payable undertaking or commercially of much value to the counties. Indeed, we incline to the opinion that a tramway would be unable to compete with the present railway carriage.”

THE DEVIATION. •4 and 5. The answer to these questions is as follows: —“The time is not opportune for discussing the construction of a main line either between Levin and Eoxton or between Levin and Marton. We are of opinion the traffic does not demand such a connection, and it

would he at present, and perhaps for many years to come, a' waste of resources of the Dominion to undertake it. It it is hereafter of importance to shorten the line between Wellington and Auckland, then there are other districts in which the shortening might ho carried out to more advantage, and which would at the same time open up fresh country.”

When the report was submitted to the House it was discussed by members representing districts interested.

The report was spoken to by Messrs W. H. Field, E. Newman, D. H. Guthrie, and Buick, and the reply of the Hon. Mr Herries, whose speeches will appear in our next issue, after which the motion that the report should lie on the table and be printed was carried. The speakers other than the Minister, objected to the annual rating clause.