FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2173, 7 September 1920, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of (he Foxton Harbour Board was hold a( Palmerston North yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. Linklater (chairman), W. Bock, W. E. Barber, T. J. Clapham. J. A. Nash, M.P., D. W. Matheson, and E. R. B. Holhen.

TREASURER’S STATEMENT

The Treasurer reported as follows: —“Since last meeting the following amounts have been received and placed to credit; Wharfages inwards (£lO3 8s 3d less, handling charges £4O 3s Id) £O3 5s 2d, wharfages outwards £3l 11s Id, pilotage £lO 13s od, lighting £O, rents £l7 2s 4d, and road cohtribulions £4 7s Cd. 'The expenditure for the same period, including £IOO 15s 0d for wages in connection with the building of pontoon and alterations to shed, totalled £307 3s Id, and the credit balance at the Bank of New Zealand now stood at £550 0s Id. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer reported as follows

“The framing of the dredger pontoon is three parts finished, and a

good strong construction is Jieing made of it, the time Ims now arrived for the Board to appoint a qualified engineer for the purpose of working the dredger, as the machinery will have to lie overhauled prior to its installation on the pontoon, it ml the engineer appointed can undertake this work and at the same time become familiar with the many varying parts. This is necessary on account of the length of lime the machinery Ims not been at work". The work" of converting tlie coal hoppers into a transit shed is'-it Iso well in hand, and two of the three gable roofs are framed, whilst the internal fittings of the old work have Jill been removed and tbe gate opening-, made. This work, given fine went her, should he completed in about two and a-half weeks. Tenders have been called for the occupation of storage space at the abovementioned sited, and these will be before yon at this day’s meeting. 1 have visited the works in progress twice a week since they were first commenced.

In reply fo a question, the engineer said that, the pontoon to carry the dredge machinery would be completed and ready to iloat in five or six weeks' time.

If was decided that for the position of engineer Lor assembling'. erecting and working the Board’s suction dredge, at a salary of £350 per annum, he invited, applicants (o hold not less than a second engineer's certificate. STORAG K ACGOM.Mt>DATIOX. Only one tender was received foist orage accommodation in the Board’s shed, from the Arthur Hopwood Hardware Go., Ltd., who olVered £35 per annum for spaces no, 1 and Xo. 2. The tenderers stated that they .intended putting through tiie shed 300 (o -100 tons of cement per month. They also asked that the term lie increased to. seven years, with a right of renewal at, sa.Vj ten per cent, advance.

Members considered that ihe lender was, 100 low, and il was eventunlly deeided to |>l:i<•(■ the s|i:u - c tendered for under otter to the tenderers for a period of three years at a rental of .€SO per annum, with the ri^'ht. of renewal for a further three years at an inereased rental of ten per rent. PILOT'S REPORT. The Pilot’s report, as follows, was read and adopted:— “A good depth of water has been experienced on the har throughout the month, the least water being 1 hit. 3ins. h.w.s.i. The deptli on the flats and bars in the river has slightly improved, except between Duncan's Bend and the wharf,.the average depth being 7fl. Bins., li.w, n.t. fn (he upper half of Hartley's Bend a sand bank is forming along the north hank causing the river channel to become very narrow. The Areolite lantern has been tested, and has proved to he quite good for the lighting of I lie port. The shed at the Signal Station was damaged daring the gale on August 18ih, one of the plates having broken away. This has been repaired, and is now in a sound condition."