FOXTON HARBOUR

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3717, 15 November 1927, Page 1

FOXTON HARBOUR

MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held in Palmerston North on Saturday alternon when there were present: Messrs J. Lmklater, M.P., (in the chair), J, A, Nash, M P., H. Berry, M. Mortensen, A. J. Kellow and E. 11. B. Holben. CORRESPONDENCE. From Messrs Moore and Bergin regarding fiaxmill sites and advising that, acting under instructions from the chairman, they had communicated with the chief surveyor with a view to having land surveyed and acquiring a title to same for the board.—Received. From Messrs Moore and Bergin advising that they had been informed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands that the land, south of the wharf and lying between Harbour Street and the Manawatn River was Crown Land.—Received. From Messrs Fullerton-Smith and Co. regarding the transfer of lease from Mr Baldwin to Mr Holgerson and advising that a portion of the land m tlic lease was taken by the Crown as a scenic reserve under section 120 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act, 1924, and requesting a refund to he made to Mr Holgerson.—lt was held that the original lease, under the Act. still subsists and that Mr Holgerson was accordingly not entitled to a refund ol the amount of rent received. From the Borough Council, asking it the Harbour Board intended to claim ownership of a piece of land north of Ross Rough’s mill and south of Nye s mill.—lt was decided to await the taking of a survey before deciding whether the hoard would take steps to acquire a title to the property and no action was accordingly taken in the meantime. From Railway Department regarding right to cart-access to the land originally comprised in leases Nos. 5834 and 5835.—The secretary reported that he had applied for a term of lease for a further 21 years in order" to acquire right of access. His action was confirm - I' 1 roin Mr A. G. Thomas, Foxton Beach, requesting that drainage work he carried out in the neighbourhood ol his house and the beach house, surface water having a tendency to collect.— Referred to the local committee to report on. From E. H. Fisher regarding condition of road leading to his house at Manawatu Heads and requesting that same he cleared of logs.—Referred to the local committee. From Foxton Beach Home asking the Board to repair road in front of beach home.—Referred to the local committee. From the Minister of Finance in regard to the proposal of the board to borrow £6OOO for the purpose of purchasing a steamer. The matter had been discussed by Cabinet both from the position of borrowing authority and also the Marine Department’s views as to harbour board administration. While it was generally admitted that the trade of the harbour had declined, it was not clear that : it was altogether due to the board as land transport, which had been so much improved and extended in recent years, must affect ports situated as Foxton was. It was also pointed out that commercial trading in shipping was not a function of a harbour board and an amendment would have to he made in the Harbours’ Act before any such undertaking could be decided upon. The present annual loan charges on the board’s present indebtedness, the Minister added, were £687 10s and the new loan, if raised, would add a further amount of £2lO. In view of the whole circumstances, therefore, the Government was unable to support the proposal to grant the borrowing authority for £6OOO for the purpose mentioned.—Mr Nash suggested that a remit supporting the subsidising of shipping for small ports be sent forward to the next Harbour Boards’ conference and it was decided to endeavdur to carry the matter further. FINANCES. A financial statement was submitted as follow:—Receipts: Pilotage, £22 18s 6d; river lighting, £8 10s; wharfage (inward), £302 15s Id; wharfage (outward), £23 16s sd; ship’s dues, £2; rents, £39 17s 6d; road construction, £10; miscellaneous, £l2 6s 4d; overdarft as at November 9, 1927, £4OB 2s 9d. Total, £B3O 6s 7d. Expenditure.—Overdraft as at October 1, £442 9s; harbourmaster, £25; assistants, £2 12s; kerosene, Is; maintenance, repairs (pilot’s department), £3 14s; office expenses, £59 14s 7d; miscellaneous, £9 13s 6d; interest, £210; handling goods, £75 2s 6d. Total, £B3O 6s 7d.