FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2522, 23 December 1922, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

A meeting of the Foktqn Harbour Board, held in Palmerston X. on Thursday was attended by Mes-j sis J. Linklater, M.P., in"the chair, J. A. Hash, M.P., J. Chrystall, E. Holben, ML Barber, T. J. Clapham, and W. S. Signal. Apology for absence from Mr J. W. Riuuner. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From Mr W. R. Bock, acknowledging letter of sympathy on behalf of the relatives of the late Mr M alter Bock. Correspondence was read from Messrs "Woodroofe and Ries. reiterating their offer of 30/- a week rental -for use of portion of the board’s sheds at the wharf. —It was decided to reply on the motion of Mr Nash, that until matters were completed which would enable the hoard to arrange a lease the shed would he let at the rental named during the hoard’s pleasure. Notice of their intention to fence their properties at Foxton Heads was served by Messrs Dalrymple and Wilson.- —The hoard agreed to pay half cost, on condition that the work was undertaken by the writ-

SUBDIVISION TRANSFERS REFUSED. Application was made by Mr M. E. Perreau for permission to transfer half of his section for £25, and then allow the board to issue a new leax* over the said half for whatever rental it might deem advisable . to charge the in-coming tenant, say t'3 os. A similar application was made 1 Mr Davey as to whether the hoard would consent to him acquiring a portion of Mrs Jones’ section at the bench for the purpose of building a confectionery shop. — The board regretted that the clause against sub-divisions of the sections made its consent impossible. OFFICIAL MUDDLING. The secretary reported as follows >n the proposed conference between Board members and the General Manager of Railways re access to wharf and sheds. — “In connection with this matter, the Minister of Railways definitely promised to acquaint the chairman, of' the date when the general manager of railways would reach Foxton for the purpose of looking into thi.x matter personally and of considering any suggestions which the board might bring up before him. Tn anticipation uf this visit, the board, at its last meeting, deputed Messrs Barber and Signal to meet Mr McVilly and to discuss, not only this question, but also the matter of _ freights, wharfage and general; and as the Minister failed to cany out his promise to advise the board of the general manager’s coming, the deputation failed to meet him. -4 Doubtless the general manager was conscious of the appointment, otherwise he would not have asked the stationmaster if he had seen the deputation whch was supposed to wait oti him. So great was his disappointment that he instructed the stationmaster not to ring the Harbour Board office and said, “If they are not here to time that is not my funeral.’ " In connection with the above, Messrs Levin and Co. wrote stating that they were anxious to know the position in regard to access as the Oil Company is considering building elsewhere unless something definite re access to proposed site is furnished without delay, and stating that the removal of this firm’s proposed depot would be a loss to Foxton. After some general comment it was decided on the suggestion of Mi' J. A. Nash, M.P., to ask the Minister to reply to the board’s previous communication, and that Messrs Levin and Co., who were also waiting the outcome of tlie conference be advised that the matter was now being discussed with the Minister.

THE DREDGE. The secretary reported that the winches on the dredge had been moved amidships and portion of the roof raised in accordance with the plans and specifications supplied by Mr Signal, at a total cost of £57 4s !)d. —Mr Signal was accorded the special thanks of the Board for the capable manner in which the work had been done and the improvements effected. GOVERNMENT GRANT. The secretary reported that an application had been lodged for the sum of £750 now placed on the estimates i'or dredging operations and improvements generally to the river and bar. As a result the Marine Department instructed Mr J. Hannah, Manawatu district engineer, (o cull at the office and to ascertain what improvements had been effected and further to compare the latest soundings with those taken in June. 1021, which were taken prior to working the dredge on the river. In the absence of an up-to-date plan and soundings, the engineer found it utterly impossible to compare and verify any data placed before him. He advised the secretary that without an up-to-date plan of the river, he could not support the board’s application for the money. The department insisted on learning what value had been obtained for the previous grant before the same will consent to any further grant being made.—Mr Nash urged strongly that the required data should be supplied as early as possible, and this duty was left in the hands of the chairman.

The secretary reported that MesR. Moore and Bergin had been instructed to apply to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to cede to the board all that piece of land between the old and the present.course of the Manawatu River. —The Board agreed that the land should be acquired as soon as possible.

McMURRAY’S WHARF, Mr R. McMurray, who proposes to establish a private wharf waited on the Harbour Board with reference to his scheme. It was decided to grant Mr McMurray a 14 years’ lease of the proposed site at a rental of £5 per annum, dues on cargo to be collected by- the hoard at the rate of 2/- per ton, subject to the consent of the Minister of Marine. It was also resolyed to put Mr McMurray in possession of full facts regarding the board’s negotiations with the Manawatu-Oroua Drainage Board’s proposed cut and to submit a report as soon as a definite arrangement was arrived at. SORTING CHARGES.

Strong exception was taken by v:. Mr Chrystall to' the charges of the ... Railway Department which had recently been the subject of a sucT/cessful Privy Council appeal. At present the department’s charges were 5/3 a ton —2/5 on ordinary cargo and 2/10 for handling and sorting. This latter charge had :T; been levied on a consignment of water pipes. He moved and Mr Holben seconded, that the Minister be written to asking whether, in view of the recent decision referred to he intended to .cease to collect these handling charges, and in default of the board receiving a satisfactory reply, to ask other harbour boards to join in a united protest. GENERAL. The secretary reported that he had arranged for the supply of 150 posts for pegging off new sections at the Heads for £ls and for 46 additional posts for fencing a right-of-way, £3 9s. —Action approved. Accounts amounting to £359 2/6 were passed for payment. Re balance of loan money, totalling £5,000, it was resolved not to lift same until a final decision is arrived at between the board and River Board re overflow cut. Mr B. Stubbing’s offer of £4OO , for the old pilot’s residence was accepted. The secretary reported that the Board’s solicitors'had made application to • the commissioner of Grown Lands to cede to the Board v that piece of land between the old and the present course of the river. The Crown Lands officer had visited the locality in company with Mr Climie and he reported that there would be no difficulty in obtaining a Land Transfer title to same. The following leases were confirmed : Board to Mrs E. H. Short t. Mrs A. Heasmaii, A. Pringle, J. Andrews, A. H. Mills, H. B. Clapham. Mr and Mrs Tuna Rori, Messrs Schioler and Law and the transfers approved: R. Owen to E. H. Fisher, Misses Renton to Hinehley. . The treasurer’s balance (credit) as at December 21, was shown to be £479 0s 9d. The secretary’s salary was increased from £SO to £75 per annum.