Port of Foxton

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 10

Port of Foxton

MONTHLY MEETING OF HARBOUR BOARD Tho monthly meeting of tho Foxton Harbour Board was held in Palmerston North yesterday, Mr J. Linklater presiding. Also present were Messrs M. E. Perreau, J. A. Nash, P. W. Goldsmith, W. E. Barthew and H. Osborne. An apology for absence was received from Mr W. E. Barber. Arising out of a protest from beach storekeepers against persons setting up stalls on the beach, it was decided to take legal advice to ascertain whether the board could legally impose tho £5 license fee for the season that it had fixed for such traders who, acting on legal advice, had refused to pay. A letter was received from the Controller and Auditor-General advising that the Audit Office was unawaro of any authority, other than by way of unauthorised expenditure, enabling the board to make an annual grant of £25 to the Manawatu County Council toward the cost of scaling the beach road. The fact that the road ran through endowment lands of the board, and that the sealing of this road would no doubt be of benefit to the board, did not, in the opinion of tho audit office, affect the position. It was to bo noted, moreover, that, although the board might make the annual grant of £25 by way of unauthorised expenditure, it would not be lawful for the board to enter into an agreement to make an annual contribution, as fhe board had no power to pledge the revenues of future years to meet expenditure on “unauthorised” purposes.—The advice was received. In his report for December tho pilot (C. Vcndon) said that trade had been slack. The Foxton bad been trading to Patea, aud the Huanui had kept her running as usual. Thero had been six arrivals and six departures. He had sounded the bar four times, with depths of 7 feet neap and 9 feet spring. There was a slight improvement in the river, which was 6in. better. He had painted the house and tho launch. Tho Huanui has been aground since last Monday, reported tho chairman, and every effort had been made to assist her off. It was decided to advise Mr C. L. Hunter, M.P., that the board had no funds available for protective work to prevent erosion of the beach road, but that five of tho tenants were prepared to contribute £7 10s each. Under tho circumstances, the board would like to know if the Public Works Department would carry out the work. The secretary (Mr R. Rangiheuea) reported that the expenditure for December was £44 12s 9d in excess of income. December, however, was a bad mouth, and it was pleasing to note that the deficit was much lower than for the previous 12 months.