FOXTON HARBOUR DISTRICT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1613, 21 September 1916, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR DISTRICT.

LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

AGREES TO HATING AREA,

The Finance Committee of the Levin Borough Council met on Alonday, 11th September, 1910, a'hd discussed the proposal of the Foxton Tlarllour Board in connection with the late Commission to make a rating area to produce £4,000 per year, if necessary. It reported last night to the. Council as follows; — The Board proposes to ask for borrowing powers up to £IO,OOO for purpose of purchasing the wharf £5,000, dredge £IO,OOO and goodsshed £I,OOO. It was pointed out (hat the purchase price of (he.wharf had been reduced from £20,000 down to £5,000. The estimates for the year are submitted by the Board which show: receipts £2,300 and expenditure £1,750, being excess of receipts over expenditure estimated at £550. The expenditure includes interest on tho proposed loan of £IO,OOO, and also allows £I,OOO for wages and expenditure in connection' with tin* dredging. The share of the Levin borough of the annual interest on the £IO,OOO loan would only be £2O per annum, with a good prospect that no interest will be collected from local bodies as the estimated receipts cover the interest and working expenses by £SOO over the estimated expenditure. It is also pointed out that the rating area to produce £I,OOO a year does not mean that £4,000 a year must be collected each year, but to provide an assured income of that amount if required. The Levin borough amount payable on the heading of £4,000 a year would be £IOO. It is shown, too, that harbour board loans can only be raised by consent of ratepayers and legislation. The circular forwarded sho.ws that 1 he board can reasonably expect increased shipping, which, of course, means increased • revenue, when improvements to the river are made. The commit lee after discussing the question in every detail, makes the following recommendation: —

‘That the Levin Borough

Council will co-operate with the Foxton Harbour Board in providing its share of a rating area, in accordance with the schedule forwarded to the council by the secret arv to the Board."

Councillor France said the scheme was not a fair one —it did not include the Wirokino riding of the county: at the same time he was not going to oppose it.

The Mayoi; moyed that the report be adopted, and it was agreed to. — Chronicle.