FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2321, 27 August 1921, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Foston Harbour Board was. held at Palmerston X. on Thursday afternoon. Present: Messrs Lmklater (chairman), Book, Claplfnm, ITolhen, Chrystall, Rirumer, Barber and Nash.

CORRESPONDENCE*.

Correspondence was read and dealt, with as follows: From the General Manager, New Zealand Railways, in reply to the Board's request to the Department’s consent to the placing of spoil, now being dredged from the Manawatu River, on the land of the Department, and if the Department would give its consent to the transfer of a portion of the foreshore hack to the Board, stating that the matter would receive consideration as soon as possible.—Mr Chrystall pointed out (hat this official reply had been sent, over six weeks ago, and that nothing had been heard of the matter since.—lt was agreed on the motion of Mr Chrystall that the Department be written to again, pointing out the urgency of. the position as far as the Board was concerned.

From Mr M. H. Walker, secretary to the Foxton Methodist Church Trust, stating that the church was desirous of obtaining the Board’s, sanction to the removal of the Beach church from its present site to a section owned by it in Foxton, for- the purpose of converting if into a Sunday school, of which it was badly in need, and pointing out that visitors to the seaside did not use the. church as a means of worship to justify the officials in continuing the services.—On tlie motion of Mr Nash, it was decided to accede to the. request, subject to the approval of Mr Dufresne, the lessee- of the section on which tin 1 church now stands.

From Foxton Chamber of Commerce, forwnrding.copies of replies received from shipping people in response to the Chamber's communion t ion urging further tra.de to th| port. (The replies have already been printed in the “Herald.")—ll

wtts decided to write and thank the Chamber for the interest they are taking in the welfare of the port.

REPORTS

fho engineer, Mr S. Jickell, re-

f, •(•ted that the Board's dredge ■Tlennessy” had. been -working as regularly as weather and other circumstances permitted. He suggested that the spoil dredged be put , alter ashore on tbe land, or into punts and deposited at suitable places. The present method was unsatisfactory, inasmuch as the dredgings might again find their way back to the dredged channels, and because it was not now possible to estimate the quantity dredged except by measurements of the places dredged. At an early date it would be necessary to provide a cradle for hauling up the dredge on the dr.ground for the purpose of cleaning; tarring and other repairs, He suggested this be erected abreast of :hi pilot storage shed, where there ua 3 a winch that could he utilised lor working the cradle. This apparatus could he used for cleaning and tepairs to other vessels of us capacity, and it would probably bring in -,,,ru0 revenue; it was an advantage to any port to have such a plant. Received.

The pilot reported that there, had not been much alteration on the bar during the month of July. Tho bottom part of the rivor continued to keep food, but Frasor’s bead was not very satisfactory. Daring the present month considerable damage was done. The decking of tho »horß end of tho jetty had been washed away, and about-12 piles in the centre needed re-driving, Most of the beacons were down, some being washed away. -Sides of tbe river had suffered much erosion. Tho bar was good, and nearly straight nut .—The report, was received, and the matter of repairs ro the jetty nas left in the hands of' the Foxton Commit te to attend to. The dredge master reported on ihe work done-,by the dredge. The report, was received, and the Chairman and Messrs Bock, Barber and Chrystall were appointed a dredge committee.

GENERAL

The Chairman and Mr Nash were appointed to represent- the Board at the meeting of the Harbours Association, to be held in Wellington on October 19.

The Foxton executive was authorised to go into the question of: llaxmill site leases, and submit a report at next meeting of the Board. A (racing of the ground proposed to be leased to the Foxton Borough Council in connection with their water and drainage scheme was submitted and adopted, and it was decided to authorise the preparation of the necessary lease, sa’me to be for a period of 21 years, with th« right of renewal, at a yearly rental of ten shillings.

In connection with the proposal to give lessees at the Beach the right of a further renewal at tho expiry of their leases, it was decided to communicate with Mr E. Newman, M.P., in reference to on amendment to the Act to legalise same. The Chairman’s honorarium 'was fixed at £52. In connection with the proposal to set aside 46 acres of the Round Bush as a scenic reserve, the Board decided to accept the Department’s offer of £520, plus £BO from tho Foxton Borough Council, in payment fur the land.