FOXTON WHARF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1607, 7 September 1916, Page 3

FOXTON WHARF.

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL SUPPORTS RATING AREA.

Air Ilonncssy, chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, waited on the ALumwatu County Council on Tuesday, and explained the Harbour Board’s proposals in regard to the purchase of the wharf a. dredge, and the future policy of the Board in regard to same. After some discussion, (he following motion was carried unanimously: “That this Council support the proposal of (ho Foxtou Harbour Board to obtain legislation to allow the Board to set- up a, rating area district and generally to comply with (lie report of the Royal Commission.”

KAIRANGA COUNTY AGREES TO

RATING AREA.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Kairanga County Council a circular letter was received from the Foxton Harbour Board, seeking the co-op-eration of the Council in bringing the acquisition of the wharf to a successful issue.

Subsequently Air J. A. Nash waited on the Council and explain-, ed that under the Commission’s finding the Board had the right to acquire the wharf for £5,000. A rat - ing area was to lie provided to produce £4,000 per annum over the Board’s district, which included the County, 'they must, have, a dredge, and this would cost £IO,OOO. The wharf could not possibly be taken over for twelve months. The Railway Department's profits for the year were estimated at £2,(MM), and these were earmarked in favour ot the Board, so that the cost would he reduced lb .£3,000. Sheds had to be built, and for these a sum of £I,OOO is provided. The total cost, therefore?, would lie £IO,OOO. They could not pledge the security of (he Board to raise this sum, but bad to gel authority to raise the money. They anticipated that the £1.0,000 woud be more than ample. The estimated cost of working the dredge was £I,OOO per annum. The Council, went on’ the speaker, could take his assurance that so far as the Count v was concerned there would be on rate struck. It was not to the Board’s interest to strike a rate. Their income would be ample to do everything required, but; the rating area must be formed. The Board hail* decided that the rale should bo a differential one, as some parts ot: the district would receive greater benefits from the wharf’than others. He presumed that they realised the importance of the Harbour Board lo Palmerston North and the tanning community. • Replying to Cr Pawson, Air Nash said the estimate of the receipts at £2,300 per annum was a bedrock estimate.

Cr Lancaster asked if the Council had a legal right to commit the County, but Air Nash said that he was not asking the Council to commit itself, but tu approve of the Board’s proposals. They were asking for the County to make itself liable for a rate of £lO2 per year, which it would not be called upon to pay. If the Board desired to raise a further loan the Council could object if it desired. When the matter went before the*Hbuse for them to get the necessary order, they would also ask for power to. appoint one representative from the Kairanga County on the Harbour Boaid. A very brief discussion then ensued, and on the motion of Cis Craw and Lancaster, it was resolved: That this Council approves of the proposed loan proposals of the Foxton Harbour Board, as set out in the chairman’s circular of August 2(ith, 191(5, of the Council’s inclusion in the differential rating area and the suggested differential rate levied on the various contributing bodies.