Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1917. THE LOCAL PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1745, 27 October 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1917. THE LOCAL PORT.

THE Foxlon Harbour Board, after years of agitation, is now practically in possession of its full rights in connection with the local port. The Harbour Board Amendment Act has passed through the Lower House, and as soon as it emerges from the Legislative Council, where an additional clause will be inserted in reference to the nationalisation of portion of the Round Bush — part of the Board’s endowment transferred from the Marine Department—will become law. A Harbour district has been constituted, and an additional member to represent the Kairanga County provided for. Power is given to the Board to acquire lands and assets and to construct works. The Act provides that the Board may from time to time borrow any sum or suras not exceeding in all sixteen thousand pounds for the “construction and purchase of a dredge and the construction and performance of the works the Board considers necessary for the requirements of the harbour and the navigable waters of the Mauawatu river from the Whirokino bridge to the seaward limits of the harbour.” No money shall be bon’owed under the Act which shall produce to the lender a higher rate of interest than five and a-half per cent, per 'annum. The Board cannot borrow any money under the authority of the Act other than a repayment ioau, except with the consent of the ratepayers of the district. The maximum rate that the Board shall be entitled to levy, upon the several areas comprising the district for the purpose of providing for the repayment of the sixteen thousand pounds for the purchase of the wharf and the repayment of any subsequent loan or loans hereafter authorised and interest thereon, shall be tfie fractional part of a penny in the pound sterling set opposite its respective name as follows: —Mauawatu County, oneeighth; Kairanga County, one twen-ty-fourth; Palmerston North Borough, one-tenth; Feilding Borough, one-twentieth; Levin Borough, onetwelfth 5 Boston Borough, seveneighths. Itwilihe the

above that Poxtou is to bear seveneighths of any loan to be authorised. This fact need not give cause for alarm, as the revenue from the port will be sufficient to meet all loan charges without striking a rate.” Had it not been for fixing Poxton’s responsibility at seveneighths, probably the rating area would not have been sanctioned by the other local authorities, and without a rating area the Board would not have been able to acquire the wharf. Since the Commission’s finding in regard to the price the Boat'd are to pay the Railway Department for the wharf, the revenue from the wharf has been set aside by the Railway Department, and will be transferred to the Board, This should amount to a fair sum,

although much less than it would have been but for the coastal shipping trouble.

A NEW clause inserted in the Act takes from the Board part of its endowment, i.e., the “Round Bush,” which is to be set aside as a national reserve. In fairness, the Government should compensate the Board by making either a money grant or granting the Board a further endowment. No doubt the Board will approach the Government in this connection at an eai’ly date. Now that all initial difficulties and obstacles have been removed, we sincerely hope that the port will fulfil its functions intended by nature, to the advancement of trade and commerce throughout the district.