IRONSAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 4

IRONSAND.

APPLICATION TO WAITARA HAli JiOR HOARD.

At yosterdi'iy's meeting of the Waitara llarbor Board a letter was received from Mr. If. T. Curtis applying for a lease of tlie beach under the Hoard's control, extending from the Waitara river to three miles eastward, with COOft. deep water frontage on the river, for a period of, say, twenty-five years, with option of reuewal for another twenty-live years. He wished to be allowed to take sand from the beach, erect ail necessary plant, aerial trains and wharves for the purpose of extracting the ores, smelting the sand, and landing and shipping of fuel, plant ami products, etc. He agreed to expenu £2OOO in machinery and working the beach, etc., before December 31st, 1912, or forfeit the lease.

Members were of opinion that the Board .should exercise care in giving away their rights, particularly as regarded the fiOOft. of river frontage, which they might require themselves. The amount of river frontage required, however, seemed excessive, and they must be careful that nothing was done to interfere with navigation. Members all agreed that the applicant should be given every reasonable concession as regarded the removal of the sand. The question of a guarantee that the £2OOO to be expended on plant would be expended on the site and not somewhere else was also discussed.

Mr. Curtis, who was present with his son, an electrical engineer recently from the United States, stated that they did not want the sole right to the 1500 ft. frontage. It was a matter of come and go. They wanted to erect wharves, as they expected they would be importing a lot of stuff, and lie hoped exporting some too. The wharves would not interfere with navigation. They did not want to lock up the foreshore, providing they were not successful. If they were unsuccessful they stood to lose. They would like a long lease, which would be forfeited if they did not comply with the conditions. This would give them :y chance to stir the matter up. They would also like an option over the whole frontage. The company was in America, and, of course, they could not get going at once. If at the end of the specified term they could not carry on that would be the end of the matter. They were not going to hawk it on the market. Of course, as reasonable men, they thought the Board would meet them if only half the machinery had arrived. Some discussion ensued as to the terms on which the Board could lease. It was pointed out that- the Board could not give all exclusive right to the wharf, but would require to collect dues on any stuff landed or shipped. Mr. nine suggested that as the Board were agreed as to the principle, it would be advisable to appoint a small committee to meet Mr. Curtis, with the Boards solicitor, and make necessary arrangements.

This suawpstion was adopted, and flic chairman, Messrs. Birdling and Hicks were appointed the committee,