FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2712, 25 March 1924, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the above was held in the secretary’s office yesterday. Those present were: Mr .). Linklater, AI.P. (chairman) and Messrs Holben, Clapham, Chystall, Rimmer and Signal. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR 1923. “In submitting my annual report to you I desire to say that shipping, in the main, has further improved. when compared with last year’s operations, hut there is still much room for improvement. In this connection I have been assured that within the next eight or nine months another boat will he placed on the Welliiigton-Foxton run. With a certain amount of competition, .-hipping must doubtless, improve. I fear that, owing to the want of material support in reference to the attempt to restore the coal trade by wiiy of the port, little hope is held out for its success. During flic year, mid in conjunction with the office, I have made a personal canvass of some of the shipping companies and it m now of Ihe opinion thal. at no distant dale, (he majority of them will share, in no small measure, (he trade due this port. “Dredging, during the year, was dispensed with, owing to Ihe navigability of Ihe river and bar. If is to be hoped that dredging will he so reduced that. Infer on, it will be lotally abolished and thal, in its place, milure will provide the necessary scour. Much concern is felt about Ihe unsatisfactory state of caulking the dredg-e ‘Henncssv.’ In this connection I have instructed the engineers to proceed with Ihe construction of a cradle suitable to carry the dredge during Ihe operation of recuulking her: unforlunnlelv there is no indication of Ihe work being initialed and under the circumstances I consider other steps should be lakeii for (lie prosecution of this very urgent undertaking. “One of the vital questions to be considered is the “Overflow Cut” in dm Manawulu River. I need not here dwell upon its progress or otherwise; no doubt you are equally as well informed about it as I am; but as (here is, as yet, no definite propositi ready for the prosecution of tiiis huge undertaking. I am as ill - prepared as I was last year to say v.-hat will he the ultimate result of the cut on local navigation generally.

“In passing, I desire to express gratification of I lie fact that, during the year, both the in and out freights are still increasing, and in this connection T am hopeful ol a fur--11:; r augmentation next year, and of having also something further to si v o i I lie inn tier.

“F a- the present the question of acqu rii.g the title fo the accretion land is still in the lac of the gods; hut T sincerely hope that, before ma n v da vs have elapsed. T shall he in a position to advise you definitely of our mutual aim being fulfilled. The Crown ranger recently visited that portion of the Round Bush which is proposed to be exchanged for the said accretion land. “Construction of Roads on the endowment at the Heads this year has been fairly extensive. Owing to the want of better facilities at To Wharangi seaside resort this work had been rendered absolutely necessary. (iwing to belter access than formerly, many of the newlvsurvevod sections were disposed of. It is only a question of days before other roads will he constructed. You will -.am be called upon to consider tie question of constructing the road leading from the Sanatorium to the foreshore by way of the hall and the children's home. During a conversation, a beach resident -aid that the road could be (hatched with manuka and afterwards graded and clayed with 12 yards of day to every chain for the sum of C-15. This appears to me exorbitant. Other details may yet be arranged in order to have the work done either for ihc stated sum or for less. Personally, I am satisfied that the construction of roads at Te Wharangi has been to the entire satisfaction and advantage of the Board.

“In reP'ionce to the quest ion of obtaining a goods depot from the Wellington Harbour Board, I should he failing in my duty if 1 did not acknowledge with thanks the material assistance rendered to me as head of the deputation that waited on the said Board by Messrs Cohen and (Jobbo. I hope, however, I hat merchants and business people are taking advantage of the goods depot now provided for the Foxlon freights oil the Wellington wharf.

“With the rapid expansion of Te Wharangi and its population l am of the opinion that it is high lime for the Board to bring its influence to hear indirectly on the Wanganui Education Board in the matter of establishing a permanent school at the Heads. The attendance at the present time warrants this step being taken. Many a mother would readily embrace the opportunity of residing permanently at the Heads if such a- eonevnience was available. Apart from all advantages to humanity in general the Board must, from a revenue producing point of view, reap a certain amount of bene(il. “Sometime ago you will remember that a memorandum of agreement, affecting the collecting of charges on cargo and working the p ur t was received and that the decision of the-Board—was--withheld until after the deputation„.respecting the restoration of the coal-trade through tiie port had waited on the Minister of Railways; I* therefore,

consider tiie time opportune for reverting to tliis question as it is one affecting l wide interest and will ask you to give it your thoughtful consideration. “In reference to monies received by the Board in the nature of trust, such as the road rate and insui’ance, 1 would suggest that an account for same be opened in the P. 0.5.8. and the interest accrued be used for collecting expenses. I should therefore, desire an expression of the members in this matter.

“1 take this opportunity of expressing the highest appreciation of the activities of the Beach Improvement Committee for the improvements effected at the Heads and for the voluntary services rendered by its individual members. In this connection I have to mention Mr A. G. Da-wick and Mr 0. Whitehead, of the Beach Improvement Society for their invaluable services in the interest of the Beach and its environments.

“In conclusion, I desire to thank you for the loyal support accorded me during the year and for the very keen interest evinced in the work and I sincerely hope that the current year will mark a further era of progress.” Mr Holben, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the revenue from the beach sections had increased considerably. A few years ago the amount received from sections was about £2O and now it was just on £9O. He considered it was time something was done about preparing a “cradle” for the dredge. The offer of £45 for putting the Sanatorium road in order he considered a very reasonable offer. This work should be done, when the wet weather came along so as to l»k* in order for the next heaeli season. He was of' opinion that the land al the point could never have belonged to Ihe natives. As regards the proposition about the school, he suggested that the Board wai‘ noil next year before they approach cd the Education Board as then the Harbour Board’s offer of the free use of the beach hall as a school for three years would have expired. The attendance at the beginning was Hi and now it was about 02. Side-schools was not one of the Minister for Education’s strong points. Next year thfe capitaion will have increased considerably and then would be the time to approach the Minister in regard to making the beach school a separate school. It was decided that the local committee go into the matter of itn:ir wine' Hie Sanatorium Road and deal with lender- for the work with

• •••wo r i,, : ,ef: (hat a committee consisting of the Chairman and Mes--t's Signal. Chrystnll and Holben It-' hit in go into the ways and means nt‘ placing the loan monies at interest: that matters in connection with the diedge be left in I lie bands of the chairman.

Tlie report was adopted. TREASURER'S ’AWTAT. RE PORT FOR 1923.

The following i< the treasurer’s (Mr W. E. Barber’s) annual report presented to yesterday's annual meeting of the Fox ton Harbour Board:—

“Tn presenting the annual statement on the board’s finances for (lie year ending December 31sf 1923. il will be noticed that the position of the board in reference to I lie General Account is perhaps, as satisfactory as one could wish: the balance being £I.BBB 16/7 as against £B2O 15 '1 for the previous year. The following arc comparative expenses incurred out of the General Account for 1922-1923, the expenses incurred in 1922 being given in parenthesis:—

“Harbourmaster and assistants, £3ll 15/- (£348 13/1); kerosene, benzine and motor spirits £195 15s 2d (£lll 11/7): maintenance and repairs £72 7/7 (£l6l 8/6): office expenses £352 10/4 (£IOO 8/5): wharfingers’ charges £635 11/(£533 15/3): miscellaneous £177 4/7 (£3ll 4/11): dredging nil (£929 18/7) : river and sections survey £132 13/- (nil): insurance £9O 0/8 (£55 11/5); travelling expenses £3l 10/- (nil) : interest £577 10/- (£584 16/9); sinking fund £2OO (£SO).

“In reference to the expenditure under the heading ‘Harbourmaster and Assistants,’ together with that under the heading ‘Kerosene, benzine and motor spirits,’ when the deidded increase in shipping during the year, and the absence of mishaps to shipping are taken into consideration, you will readily see that the expenditure is highly satisfactory and when the sum of £25 6/5 is deducted from the expenditure under the heading of kerosene, benzine and motor spirits, you will still have more reason t<< believe that this combination of expenditure is still more highly satisfactory. Maintenance and repairs are recurring and unavoidable items. The board, however, is fortunate during the year lii find under this head a substantial decrease. The comparison in the office expenses for the two periods under review indicates an alarming increase but when you have analysed the items minutely you will not fail to see how such has come about and that many of them should have been placed under the heading miscellaneous, as previously. Dredging expenditure did not recur during the year, obviously the reason for such being unnecessary ill that the river and bar are reasonably navigable. The latest plan of the river and soundings has, no doubt, justified the past expenditure and judging by the incessant shipping the river must have received a certain amount of benefit. Miscellaneous compares favourab-

ly with that of the previous year. River and sections survey expenditure had been a long-felt want and in view of the River Improvement grant being received and the popularity of the seaside resort it must be considered satisfactory and justifiable. Travelling expenses calls for no explanation or comment, having been incurred during the past two financial years. In regard to the intere-t on loan and the sinking fund the natural tendency is to expand and the sinking fund in particular has increased in proportion to the loan money uplifted by the board, la this connection, the board’s contribution has been unduly inflated by the sum of £9O, being short payment. COMPARATIVE RECEIPTS. “The comparative list of receipts for 1922-23 is as follows, 1922 figures being quoted first:— “Pilotage £173 11/0, £235 10/-; river lighting £55, £9l; Inward wharfage, £944 15/0, £1,105 10/3; outward wharfage £212 8/9, £3OO 15/9; ships dues £33 17/10, £27 5/9; rents £531 11/4, £729 2/5; miscellaneous £477 4/-, £515 2/8; grant nil. £750. “The receipts for the year compare very favourably with those for the previous year and in almost every instance an upward tendency is shown. The comparative list of receipts for the periods under review speaks for itself and for the information of the Board it is necessary for me to point out that, under the head ‘miscellaneous’ the sum of £59 18/0 is insurance held in trust for Mrs Krause, pending a reerection of her cottage, which was destroyed by fire at the Heads. The sum of £450 that was lent to the Borough Council at 5i per cent, has now been repaid and I would suggest that this sum and the amount of the insurance held in trust, together with the monies received for road rate during any financial year be lodged with the P. 0.5.8. in anticipation of obtaining a certain amount of interest to compensate the board for collecting the latter item.” The report was adopted and it was decided to make application for the River Improvement grant; that £25 be set aside for tree planting at the beach; that £lO be expended in planting marram grass at the point with a view to stopping drifting sand; that the Chairman and Mr Holben make an inspection of the work required at the seaside. Air Holben said something should be done to stop the sand blowing down the road from the store to Langley’s corner. This road was getting “snowed in with sand.” In his opinion a fence erected at an angle with the prevailing wind at the store end of the road would have the tendency to divert the flying sand out on to the beach again. By erecting such a fence the road would be kept clear. The sand between the store and the fence could then he planted with ice plant. Air Signal said that the cause nf drifting sand on the beach was located al the sand hills at the Hag station, Stop the sand drifting mere and beach residences would have no trouble. ELECTION UP OFFICERS. J. Lmklaler, Esq., ALP., was unanimously re-elected chairman; Air \\. E. Barber treasurer and AH' R. liangibeuea secretary. in returning thanks for his reelection, Alt' Lmklaler said that the Board had to be thankful for the excellent a Luff it possessed and paid a high tribute to its officers. He tbunked members for the help in the past and was confident that this coining year would be 4 most successful one for the Harbour Board, was read and dealt with as follows: CORRESPONDENCE Prom Air VV. Petersen, a lessee of one of the beach sections, asking the Board if they could do something to prevent people from carting sand that had drifted against their fences out on to the beach where it was blown on to other people’s properties.—Decided to write to Mr Petersen, pointing out that the Board was taking steps to prevent (be sand from drifting, but in the meantime, nothing could be done to prevent residents from removing sand from their properties. From N.Z. Railway Department asking that the Board arrange to have (lie timber sheathing behind the piles under the old Harbour Board shed, at the wharf, repaired at once. —Decided that, owing to various matters in progress, in connection with the proposed “cuts,” nothing can be done at present. Prom same, stating that the Department was pr epared to bear half cost of providing new approaches to the wharf and that the Board’s quota would be £25. The work would be proceeded with when the amount was received. —Held in abeyance. From Messrs Jickell and Gilmour, submitting estimate for “cradle” for dredge “Hennessy.”—Received. Proin Marine Department, forwarding two Nautical Almanacs. — Received.