FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2209, 30 November 1920, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY- MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Poxton Harbour Board was held at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs J. Linklater (chairman), W. Bock, E. R. B. Holben, T. J. Clapham, and J. A? Nash, M.P. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer (Mr Boek) reported as follows :—The credit balance at last meeting was £IBO 14s Bd, and tjm receipts since then were: "Wharfages inwards £llO 7s 9d, less commission and handling £SB 13s 4d, £57 14s sd, wharfage outwards £32 Os Bd, pilotage £l9 13s Od, river lighting £4 10s Od, rents £l2 11s 9d, transfer fees £3 3s Od, and road interest £2 Id, making at total of £OIO 9s 7d. The expenditure for the same period lotalled £330 0s 3d, including £245 9s sd, in connection with shed and pontoon, leaving a credit balance of £2BO 9s 4d. The Treasurer further reported: “The balance to credit of general account at Bank of N.Z. is £2BO 9s 4d; the balance of loan to be collected is £11,000; and grant for river improvements is £750; total, £11,750 0s od. Prom this has lo be deducted as due general account, £2,405 4s sd; and liabilities in connection wiili ponloon and goods shed, as per schedule, £987 48s Id, total £3,393 2s 9d. On these figures the amount available from loan and grant, is £8,350 17s 3d. Summarising the foregoing: The total amount for works, interest, dredging, etc., is. current account £2BO 9s 4d; transfer from loan, £2,405 4s 8d; balance of loan and grant, £8,350 17s 3d; making at total of £11,048 11s 3d; after the payment of accounts, £987 18s Id. The balance of loan will be available in December (£.11,000). Probably £3,000 of ihL will be sufficient to carry on for twelve months, and at may be worth consideration to ask the Public Trustee to extend the term for the remainder (£8,000). Otherwise the amount should be placed on fixed deposit until required, which mea^ 5 the .Board has to pay 5.,- per ce(it. and 1 per cent, sinking fund, and may only get 3 or 3-1 per cent, if on lixed deposit. Outside the original cost of wharf, £5,000, it can he taken the expenditure in plant and buildings has been, say, £3,393.2s 9d, made up of payments from general account (to bo transferred back from loan) £2,405 4s Bd, and accounts lo pay £987 38s Id; total, £3,393 2s 9(1. I suggest the Chairman ami Treasurer he authorised to pay these accounts (as certilied• by the Engineer), and if the balance of loan is delayed they be authorised to make temporary arrangements with the Board’s bankers, I am sorry to report the destruction by tiro at the Poxlem Borough Chambers of a number of valuable plans and records, which will be hard to replace, but fortunately all the hooks and current vouchors, which were in my private safe, wore not damaged in tiny way..’’ It wits decided to act on the suggestion of the Treasurer and endeavour lo arrange with (he Public Trust OlUce lo lift £3,000 of the loan and allow the balance, £B,OOO, to remain for a further twelve months. This matter was left in (lie hands of the Treasurer and Mr Nash to arrange. The Chairman and Treasurer were authorised to pay accounts as certified by the Engineer. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The Engineer reported as follows: —“Tiie transit sheds on the wharf are now completed and ready for occupation, but I would recommend that the galvanised iron walls and roof he served with two coats of red oxide paint, as otherwise the said walls and roof will rust on account of (he (dose proximify to the sea ; tenders for this work .proposed to he called in Eoxton. The dredge pontoon is so far completed that it will lie put into' the river in a few days, when the dredging machinery will he ready to he installed on the vessel and a commencement to install tilt* sand machinery will immediately he made, the boiler has been inspected by the Government Machinery Department, and was found to he in first-rate order. In this connection, and in order lo gel this part of the work pushed forward rapidly, I would suggest that I he allowed to engage additional hands when found necessary.”—The report was adopted. ' THE ROUND BUSH. Correspondence was read from the Minister oi Bauds, through Mr E, Newman, M l’., in connection with the acquisition of -12 acres of the Round Bush as a seenie reserve, advising that the necessary survey would be made in February next, and as soon as this was completed a settlement would be made. GENERAL.

Several letters wore received in connection with the Board's application for an endowment, hut the replies from Ihe Department were to the effect that no endowment could he granted.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr E. Newman, M.P., for the work he had done in connection with file ulila iuing of a grant for river improvements, etc. It was decided 'to name the Board’s dredge “The Hennessy,” in memory of the great services rendered the Board by the late Mr P. Hennessy.