FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2573, 28 April 1923, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbour Board was held this afternoon. The following report was submitted:— i Those present were Messrs Linklater, M.P. (chairman), J. A. Nash (M.P.), Holben, W. E. Barber, Signal and Chrystall. Flax-Refuse. —Since the. last meeting of the board reports of millers allowing stripper-refuse and other waste fibre to find their way into the river in order to save the men the trouble of removing these to where they should be deposited have been received at the office. If such practice is allowed to continue it will add still more obstruction in the matter of keeping the river clear. The channel is much more easy to choke than it is to maintain sufficiently navigable for ship ping purposes. The Act provides penalties for such action and steps soulld be taken to prevent any further use of the river being made as a convenience. I would suggest that the nightwatchman be appointed and authorised to proceed against any person found so offending. Outward Freights-The question of outward freights is a “burning one” as far as the port is concerned and deserves the best consideration of the Board. In consideration with the board’s solicitor he pointed out that, with the flax in-, dustry waning, and with flax land being steadily converted into dairy farms the time has arrived for the board to ocoperate with the farmers and to initiate a movement for the set-ting-up of a dairy factory and butter and cheese grading stores in the vicinity of the wharf, such as is the ease at Patea. The outward freights at Patea are made up principally of butter and cheese (a glance at the official year book will prove this). The Patea harbour is by no means any better than the local harbour for shipping although it has valuable endowments. The reason why shipping is so constant there is because the board has the hearty co-operation of the farming community. lie saw no reason why the farmers should not co-operate here. Within the local port’s rating area we have such commodities as" wool, butter, cheese, meat and fibre, and the natural outlet for these is no oilier than the port (local). Ho also pointed out that as much as £4,000 per mouth weie lodged with the local bank for but-ter-fat churned outside of Fox ton, which represented a large number of cows in close proximity to the port. On the Moutoa about a mile or two outside of the borough limits more dairy farms are being installed and more will come to pass as time goes on. At the present time all the cream is sent either to Palmerston or Shannon and Levin and the natural outlet for this commodity is left lamenting and unattached. The land in the neighbourhood of Foxton is as good as, and better than at Oroua Downs, it the farmers there can pull down a factory and set up an up-to-date one almost immediately it must spell progress and prosperity, and there no reason why grading stores cannot he installed in Foxton. Milking Sheds on Hound Bush Reserve — On the 2ffth ult. a gentleman reported that, on his way home from a Ladies Guild, he met the sheds on wheels leaving the Round Bush Reserve in search of fresh pastures. The exodus was communicated to the chairman who instructed the secretary to refer the matter to the board’s solicitor, who advised that, before taking action, he would have to be satisfied that the sheds were fixtures. Latterly .they have been ascertained to have been other than fixtures. Proposed New Sanatorium Road. —ln company with the secretary, Mr Henry Hartley thoroughly inspected the proposed new Sanatorium road, leading off the FoxtonBeach main road and found that no less than 21 chains of it subject to lloodabl© waters, being low lying and damp for the most port of nine months in the year, and that 11 chains of it were covered with lupins and toe bushes together with a fairly stiff hill to shift in order to bring it down to a reasonable grade. After the inspection Mr Hartley offered to form and grade the road, clear of all obstructions in order to unify the grade and also to raise the low lying portion of the road above Hood level and further to shift the hill and fill up any depression and generally to prepare the road for the reception of metal. ihe whole job for one pound per chain. Provision for Cart Access to .the Wharf. —On Wednesday, April 18th, Mr J. K. Lowe, District Engineer, in company with Messrs J. Linklater (chaujugfui ) .and E. At,. B. Holben, visited the wharf and located three suitable -crossings.' .The board asked for a special crossing giving access to its storage shed. Mr Lowe took a sketch of the locality and promised to draw up a recommendation for the General Manager’s approval. The board have much to thank Mr Moir, manager for Levin and Co.’s Ltd., for material assistance in locating the crossings aforementioned.

inspection of Lite M&nawatu River. —The members of both the Harbour Board and the ManawatuOroua Drainage River Board journeyed to the Heads by car and from the Jetty to the upper reaches —of the river by launch this month, (liefer to the chairman for report). Return of River Han. —Mr J. Hannah, District Engineer, returned the plan of the river for the purpose of trying Mr S. Jickell’s soundings prior to dredging on it in order to facilitate comparison between the two sets of soundings. .Newly Surveyed Sections at the

Manawatn Heads. —Tenders for the lease of tlie newly surveyed sections at the Heads have been invited per medium of the now-papers circulating locally and so far one only lias been received. The closing date, as advertised, will be Monday, 30th inst.

Board Members’ Election. —The results of the recent election have been very satisfactory. In every case the old members have all been re-elected unopposed. The members representing Manawatn and Kairanga Counties respectively have yet to be accounted for. Accretion at Manawatn Heads. — The Crown Solicitor desires to know whether the accretion has been formed through the river changing its course gradually and imperceptibly, or whether a sudden change has taken place with the possibility of Ihe river reverting at some future time to its old bed. The Commissioner of Crown Lands also desires to know if the hoard has any data in its possession, which will determine these points. Doubtless some of the members of the hoard have been acquainted with the land long enough to he able to make declarations in addition to any records the hoard may have. The Crown Solicitor also desires to have this information as soon as possible, as he considers it will probably he necessary to introduce special legislation to give effect to the wishes of the board. Land Below Low Water Mark. — The hoard’s solieitor advises that the term of any license for the purpose of erecting any wharf or other harbour works may be granted for any period not exceeding 14 years and may be subject to the consent of the Governor-in-Council.