PALMERSTON AND THE FOXTON PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1615, 26 September 1916, Page 2

PALMERSTON AND THE FOXTON PORT.

MR. D. BUTCH, ALP. for Palmerston, recently si a led (hat Wellington was Palmerston’s port, and nol Foxlon. This statement was calculated to prejudice the Board in its e(forts to formulate a rating area, la order to iilu.-lralc the importance of the Foxlon port to Palmerston commercial men, Mr P. Hennessy has written and published the following letter in our Palmerston morning contemporary: —

“In case there inny he some misconception through the remarks made by Mr Buick, M.P. for Palmerston North, at the opening of Messrs Goldinghaui and Beckett’s warehouse on Friday, September 15th, 1 would like to lay before your readers the relative positions of Wellington and Foxton harbours, and ho.)V they affect 1 J alinorsfoil North and neighbouring towns. .“The following figures taken from the evidence given by Mr Keilow before the Hoyal Commission speak for themselves. During the year ending March 3.151, l!)l(i, 1(i,43i tons of general cargo were lauded at

Fox ion, all of which, except about 7 per coni., was railed to neigh(touring towns. For (he purpose of ciilcubilion we will take Palmerston North as the destination of tho tonnage railed and classify as under: 12,(»(»0tons Class A. saving via Foxlon against Wellington, Cl per lon .. £.12,000 .‘5,200 lons Class (', saving via Foxton against. Wellington, 7s per ton ... C 1,120 .1,2117 tons landed Foxton not taken inlo account. Now as to what il is costing I he district, named by not, being able to get its coal via Foxton; In 1010, 18,250 tons were landed, as' agaitisl 5,27)0 at March .‘slst, 10.1 (i. (liven only 2f( more water would mean that (lie coal coining through Foxlon should reach 25,000 tons. This would mean a saving of 3s per ton on 25,000 tons £3,750 C 10,870 To this could be addetl C2,000 saved by grain coming 1 hrough t he local port instead of by Wellington and Wanganui as now C 2,000 Total is favour of Foxton C 15,870 Tlie exports for the year ending March 31st, 1010, were: 0,018 hales wool, approximate value C 25 per hale (7141,420 40,017 hales hemp and low, 0s per bah l . . .€245,402 1,520 tons general cargo, no estimate. 1,030 casks pells and tallow, £l2 per cask £IO,OOB

£400,400-

“The Hoard greatly appreciate* Mr Buick’s services in the past, and is still looking forward to bis help in the final act, viz., the handing over of the wharf to its rightful owners, the Foxton Harbour Board.’’