FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3945, 21 May 1929, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

FIRST MEETING OF NEWLY ELECTED BOARD.

The first meeting of the newly elected Foxton 'Harbour Board was held in the secretary’s office yesterday, presided over by Mr. ,T. Linklater, M.'P. Also present were: Messrs J. Nash, M.'P. (Palmerston N.), M. Mortensen (Levin), R. Edwards (Government representative), R. Bryant, W. E. Barber, M. E. Perreau (Foxton representatives), A. J. Kellow (Feilding), and the secretary (Mr. R. Rangiheuea). Mr. C. (Blenkboa-n, the newly elected Mayor of Levin, was also in attendance.

THE LATE SIR JAMES WILSON. Prior to the commencement of business the Chairman referred to the death o'f the late Sir James Wilson. His loss would be greatly felt not only in .the Manawatu but throughout the Dominion as a whole. He had refers en|tyed the district for ttnany.years in Parliament. He was a pioneer of the best type. He had been chiefly associated with the welfare of agriculture in New Zealand. The humanitarian side of his life was well known to everyone. He had taken a keen interest in the Palmerston North Hospital Board and had been mainly responsible for the establishment of the Maternity ’Home in Palmerston North. His life had been a great example to al Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., said that the late Sir James had been a foundation member of the Foxton Harbour Boaird. Mr. R- E. Edwards endorsed the Chairman’s remarks and said he had (known Sir James Wilson possibly longer than anyone else in the district. He had devoted the greater pairt of his life to the building up of the Palmerston North Hospital. He had proved himself a good chairman and an admirable man. There was no better ideal to aim at than the life of the late Sir James Wilson. He was a good citizen, and a sincere and pleasant man. A motion of sympathy was accorded the relatives of the late Sir James Wilson, members standing in silence. election of chairman. The secretary read the election of the various Board members. Mi-. J. A. Nash proposed that Mr. Linklater be again elected chairman for the ensuing year and in doing so said that nothing had proved too much for Mr. Linklater in the past. Whenever wanted he had journeyed to Foxton and had rendered valuable service to the ratepayers and people of 'the district. Mr. W. E. Barber seconded the motion and in doing so referred to the excellent work carried out by Mr. Linklater in the interests of the Board.

The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Linklater returned thanks and said he would do his best for the Board, in the future as he had done in the past. They had not had a very good year but things looked brighter for the future as there was a possibility of two boats working the port in the near future. He hoped that at the next annual meeting the Board would be on a far better footing than at present. WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS. ]\lr. Linklater welcomed the new members to the Board. Mr. Edwards, he said, was a veteran in local body work and should be able to serve the Board to great benefit. He was an experienced engineer and in, that capacity his advice on many matters would be very valuable. Dir. R. Bryant was a man with a good grip of local knowledge while the Dlayor (Mr. Perreau) needed no introduction from the speaker. He had proved himself to be a “live wire” in the recent 'movement for the formation of a .company to pmehase a boat lor the local trade and in that connection he was deserving of the Board’s congratulations. His services had been greatly appreciated.

Mr. Linklater also welcomed to the meeting Mr. C.'Blenkhom (the newly-elected Mayor of Levin) and congratulated hilni on ihis elevation to municipal honours. All members responded. It was decided to forward letters iof appreciation to retiring members for their past services. Mr. W. E. Barber was re-elected treasurer on the motion -of Mir. J. A. Nash, who eulogised the work done by Mr. Barker for. the Board in the past, both as treasurer and chairman of the local cotmmittee. PILOT. It was decided to write to Captain Larsen asking if he was prepared' to continue in service ias pilot at Manawatu Heads. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows: From the Marine Department, stating that the cabbage trees placed in the river for protective purposes at Koputaroa by Mr. (0. H. Speirs were now well secured. — Received. ■From a beach resident, complaining about cows wandering about the beach. —The Secretary was appointed inspector and instructed to take steps to have the nuisance abated. LEASE OF BEACH ENDOWMENT. The question of leasing a beach endowment in the vicinity of Rush Flat was raised by the secretary who intimated that he had a leasee for about 103 acres. Mr. J. A. Nash said that he did not want to go into the River Cut scheme, but if it ever eventuated it was perfectly obvious that the present wharf would be left high and dry and the Board would have to

move its wharves to Rush Flat. It would not be advisable to lease an area of land that the Board might possibly require within a few years. The construction of a wharf at the Heads, said Dir. Nash, would mean a railway to the Beach and that would mean a great thing for the seaside. One had only to look at. the patronage given the Sunday excursion trains to-day .to realise what Foxton seaside would be like if a railway was running there. Personally he would like to see the matter referred to the local committee to inspect the area and peruse any possible agreement that night be entered into with the prospective lessee . This was agreed to. DIEMBERiS TRAVELLING EXPENSES. Dir. J. A. Nash brought up the question of members travelling expenses and gave notice of motion to move at next meeting that the existing motion on the books to the effect that members be paid 10/per meeting be rescinded in favour of a resolution that members receive 8d per mile one way travelling expenses, the same as any other local body paid.