FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2574, 1 May 1923, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting was held in the Board’s office at Foxton on Saturday afternoon. Present Messrs J. Linklater M.P. (chairman), J. A. Nash. M.P., E. R. B. Holben, W. Signal, W. E. Barber and Chrystall. The secretary’s report as published in last issue was dealt with serrintum. Re Hax refuse iu the Manawatu River, Mr Signal said that local millers were blamed, but the trouble was higher up the river where flax refuse was dumped in from mills. Islands of flax refuse were to be met with in the upper reaches and were a nuisance (o steamers. After some discussion Mr Nash moved that the nuisance he brought under (lie notice of the Marine Department and that an officer ho scut to inspect and report immediately. Mr Signal was appointed to accompany him oil behalf of the Board.

In respect (o outward freights, Air Signal stated that it was an unfair comparison to quote Pa tea with the local port. Mr Nash said that motor traffic was also competing with the railways. He suggested that the various dairy factories adjacent to the port he communicated with to ascertain whether they would he prepared to ship their produce via the port. It was decided to act on this suggestion and the secretary was to communicate with the dairy factories in the district.

Re removal of milking sheds from Round Bush Reserve. No action was taken in the matter as the buildings were not fixtures.

The action of the chairman in accepting a price of £1 tier chain for the formation of a new road to the Sanatorium was endorsed. Mr Holben moved that a new approach to the foreshore he constructed a few chains to the west of the present road, through Messrs Baker Bros.’ property, the matter to he left in the hands of the chairman and Messrs Barber and Holben.

’l'he question of dealing with the sand drift was also discussed and it was decided to cut and lay lupin plants and procure flax refuse to prevent drifting sand at the seaside. This matter was left in the hands of Messrs Barber and Signal.

The chairman reported re the visit of Mr J. K. Lowe, District Engineer, in connection with eart access to the wharf and also to the Board’s good shed. Air Lowe appeared to look upon the request as a reasonable one and the result of his recommendation will be awaited with interest by the Board. . The chairman reported that together with Air IV. E. Barber they accompanied members of the Alarm-waiu-Oroiia Drainage Board on an inspection of the river in connection with the two proposed cuts proposed to he made by the River Board. Tic indicated the localities of the two cuts and expressed the opinion that the scheme if carried nut, would he beneficial to the port. Air Signal was of the opinion that the bar would not he benefited and there was a possibility that there would he less water at the present wharf. The chairman said that in his opinion the proposed cut would be of great benefit to the district and the Board did not desire to place any obstacles in the way of the scheme. They could take no action, however, until the River Board had placed a ■ definite scheme before them. Mr Nash said that the chairman and Mr Barber had acted in the best interests of the Board in making the inspection, as by this means valuable information was obtained. The secretary reported that only one application had been received for sections recently laid oft' at the seaside. In reply to Air Holben the secretary explained details in connection with sections and the up-set rentals, and sai<l the same were offered by lender.

'l'iie chairman remarked that, there would lie keen competition for these sections towards the summer monlbs and in view of the road access being provided. The Board had done good work in the past in popularising this resort. Mr Nash said that t lie Palmerston North public appreciated the resort. Mr Barber said that a good deal „f planting had already been done and suggested that a shelter belt of pine trees be planted this year. In reference to tlie accretion of bind at Mimawatu Heads, Mr Signal was authorised to supply the information required by the Crown Solicitor before this land could be vested in the Board. Mr Signal stated that lie had a knowledge, of the movement, of the river dating back to 1880 when lie was on the s.s. Hauraki. Since that time there had been a gradual accretion and the river was making to the south. The Board’s solicitor reported that the Board could not grant a lease of land below low water mark for a longer period than 14 years. This was the outcome of an application from Mr McMurray re wharf site.

Referring to the necessity for increased shipping to the port, Mr Nash said that he and Mr Ed. Newman had conferred with Sir Francis Bell re legislation empowering the Harbour Board to subsidise shipping but the Board for some reason or other, had turned the matter down. He urged that the Board again endeavour to obtain legislative fiower in this connection. Board members expressed the opinion that there had been misapprehension in connection with the suggested legislation and further, they had no money for subsidising purposes.

Air Nash explained that it was subsidise out of the General Account but would give the Board authority / to raise a loan for this purpose, and increased shipping from such a source would provide revenue for interest and sinking fund without calling up the rate, not the intention of the Board to Mr Chrystall moved that the matter be re-opened and placed in the hands of the chairman and Air Nash. The secretary produced the bill as drafted and it was decided to take action oil these lines. Mr Signal again brought up the necessity for more shed accommodation at the wharf. He said it was useless to endeavour to get more shipping without providing the necessary accommodation. Another important point was that the Harbour Board and not the Railway should control the handling of goods. A letter from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce protesting against the handling charges by the Railway Department was discussed and the secretory submitted the Department’s statement in this connection. II was decided that nothing farther could he done in this connection until the result of the Wanganui case, Hut rick and Co. v. the Railway Department had been settled. Messrs Signal and the secretary were asked to bring down a report re all charges and present same to next meeting.

Mr Ilornhlow, ranger of the Round Bush Scenic Reserve, suggested that the Board should take the necessary steps to exchange the hack portion of the bush owned by the Board for an area, now held by the Department in front of the hush in order to bring the whole of the bush within the Scenic area reserve. Air Barber supported this, as did the chairman and Air Nash and Air Ilornhlow was asked to put the matter in writing and to submit a plan showing the area suggested to he transferred. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman congratulated the members upon their re-election and thanked them fur their hearty cooperation during the past year. He spoke optimistically of the future of the port and said while good work had been done in the past, there was still much to accomplish. The chairman’s remarks were suitably acknowledged by the members.