FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2628, 4 September 1923, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Board was held at the conclusion of the conference with the Manawatu-Oroun River Board, at Foxton on Saturday. There were present: Messrs J. Linklater, M.P. (Chairman), J. A. Nash, M.P., John Chrystall, W. Signall, W. E. Barber, E. R. B. Holben, and the secretary (Mr Rangilieuea). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. W. Rimmer and T. J. Clapham. FREIGHT AT WELLINGTON WHARF. The Wellington Harbour Board wrote in reply re request for shed accommodation for Foxton freights, stating that under by-law No. 210 provision is made for the reception of cargo for shipment at the rate of 2s fid per ton, which charge includes labour, unloading vehicles, and one week’s storage and trucking to gangway. During the last two months some 70 tons of Foxton cargo has been shedded at shed No. 7 under the by-law quoted. Whether this facility can be made greater use of is a matter for consideration by the shipping company and the merchants shipping the goods. It was resolved on the motion of Messrs Holben and Nash to advise the respective Chambers of Commerce that shed accommodation for Foxton freights can now be obtained on the Wellington wharf, and to ask them to notify merchants and others to that effect. ROAD ACCESS.

A letter was read from W. A. Peterson, on behalf of several sec-tion-holders at the Beach, asking the Board for financial assistance towards forming and turfing a road giving access to their property. The cost of the work would be £34. —Matter left in the hands of the local Committee, with power to act. RIVER IMPROVEMENT GRANT. A grant of £750 was received from the Government for river improvements. —Mr Nash moved that the secretary convey the thanks of the Board to the Hon. Edward Newman for his assistanc in getting this vote on the Estimates when representing the district in Parliament, and to the Chairman (Mr J.. Linklater, M.P.) for his efforts in the matter. LEVIN & Co’s. LEASE. Correspondence was read from Messrs Levin and Co. re renewal of lease of land at the wharf, and stating that the matter would have to be left in abeyance in the meantime. —Received. SHIPPING SOUTH OF LYTTELTON. A letter, in reply, was received from Messrs Levin and Co. re running the s.s. Kennedy farther south than Lyttelton. It. was pointed out that owing to the “Kennedy” not receiving sufficient support to run her altogether in the WellingtouFoxton trade, the fortnightly trip to Lyttelton was decided on. By running these trips we are helping the Foxton and I ulmerston N. merchants to land their goods at, a reduced cost, and we are informed our service is appreciated. The “Kennedy” has quite enough to do in her southern run at present, and as we ca.n obtain all the cargo she can carry, there would bo no "object in her running further south, which would considerably increase her running costs, without o-iving any material advantage. The onlv way in which we could work the ports of Timaru, Oamaru and Port Chalmers would be by running another steamer, but this could not lie considered at present. Mi- Holben said another steamer was the only way to solve the matter. —The letter was received. BEARING OF NEW SIGNAL . STATION. The latitude and longitude at the new signal station at the heads was supplied by Mr F. C. Hay. SHIPPING SUBSIDIES. Minutes on draft clauses of a Bill authorising the Board to subsidise loss incurred by shipowners, objected to by the Attorney-General and Minister of Marine, were read, and the Board’s attempt to promote shipping by subsidy failed to obtain statutory consent. SWIMMING BATHS. The Borough Council applied for a strip of foreshore for the construction of swimming baths. —On the motion of Mr Barber, seconded by Mr Signal, it was decided to accede to the request for a strip of land, 120 feet, between the dead end of the railway and the boating shed, for the sum of 10s 6d per an-

num, such concession to be at the pleasure of the Board. BEACH IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

A letter was received from the Beach Improvement Committee, acknowledging a donation of £2O and stating that the "rant would he used in improving the entrance to the Beach. WHARF LIGHTING—LEGAL OPINION. A legal opinion was received from Messrs Moore and Bergin, solicitors, re wharf lighting. “If the wharf was unlighted or insufficiently lighted at. a time when persons were there on business or duty, or when they were entitled to he on the wharf, and such person without contributory negligence on his part met with an injury which would ordinarily have been avoided had the wharf been properly lighted, the Board would be liable in damages to the injured party. The fact that the Board has a contract with any other authority to keep lights on the wharf would not relieve the Board from liability. The injured party would be entitled to claim damages from the Board, and the Board may or may not have a right to he indemnified by the other authority according to the nature of the contract.” SORTING CHARGES. The question of excessive sorting charges was discussed, and it was pointed out that the judgment in the action Hatrick and Co. v. Railway Department only bad a local, and not a general application. On the motion of Messrs Holben and Nash, it was resolved to ask the Palmerston N., Foxton, Feilding, Levin and Shannon Chambers of Commerce to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Minister of Railways with a view to reducing the charges.