OPUNAKE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 7

OPUNAKE NEWS.

HARBOR BOARD. J A special meeting of the Opuiiak.: I Harbor Board was held on Tiksd;... i'resent. .Messrs Hugh-son (chairman) .Malcolm, Moore. McKeown, Uuilne. McEie, and Hurst. BORROW-1N..; POWERS. The of the Board (Mr. Chamber*) had been deputed by the Board to interview Mr. 0, A. Wilkinson, M.P., inWe.lington, and obtain an interview with the Hon. Mr. Allen, tiie heads of the Marine Department, an.l Government Advances Department. The secretary .reported- verbally in regard to these matters that Mr. Allen had every il.op_. of amending the 1913 Act, so as to give harbor boards the privilege of borrowing under the Local Bodies Loans Act. Regarding the taking of a poll, the Marine Department does not need to be consulted, and that the Opunake Harbor Board had f"l' powers under the Opunake Harbor Act to take a poll for a loan. Regarding the Board's authority to lease sections, the Board 'has full powers to lease for 21 years' tenure' with ordinary covenant and the right to renew for another twenty-one years, but the land must go up for auction. The Board at present had no authority to grant a l«ase without putting up by public tender, -but they can apply for an Order- in-Council to he brought under the Land Act and -have authority to lease for a term of 30 years, with the right of perpetual renewal. The secretary paid a warm com pi iment to Mr. Wilkinson for the trouble and time he gave to the Board's busi ness, and was quite certain he would not hav_\ been able to interview the Hon. Mr. 'Allen except through tliie medium of Mr.. Wilkinson. Mr. Martin, of the State Department, had assured him that that Department could not enter- , tain any proposals for loans from havj bor boards. j Mr. Wilkinson has assured the secreI tary that no provision was made for a sinking fund in the Opunake Harbor Bill, and that llie was prepared to have that power granted in a Vashing-up Bill in Parliament.

In the discussion it was pointed out that in the loan proposals of the Opun ake Harbor Bill a limit of interest was fixed at' 5 per cent.', and when sinking fund of one per cent, was adde.d to the ordinary rate, it precluded the Board from' taking advantage of any Government lending office or borrowing at a,greater rate of interest than four per cent., with one per cent, sinking 1 fund. Mr. Hurst was l opinion that tlhey could pay sinking fund out of revenue. Mr. Malcolm thought they could borrow from some institution other tlmn from the State Department. Mr. McKeown considered they were only wasting time discussing it.. Thev we're all • cognisant of the fact that harbor boards were excluded from borrowing from the State. Tihle chairman said it was a discussion on. the possibility of having the power to borrow from'the Government made, lesral during the coming session. All the members agreed it was necessary to have legal advice, and the chairman moved that a solicitor be- appointed to advise the Board on loan proposals and' other matters. Mr. McDavitt was appointed so.ieitor to the Board. DEPUTATION.

Mr. Jackson (kea/. manager) and Mr. Coombridge director of the Fanners Co-operative Organisation Society, waited on the Board for a transfer of th'.> Board's section of 5 1 / a acres from. Mr. MwJßevnolds' to the Society. The lease had> nine years to run, and they required a fresh lease of 21 years, with a ri"bt of renewal for a further term of 21 years at the end of nine years. Thev required a clause inserted that tbe increased rental be fixed by arbitration. After a good deal of discussion, the Board was prepared to grant a transfer and a fresh 'lease for 21 v years nl a rental-of £25 per year, providing tinBoard's solicitor was of opinion tl«\« were taking a legal course. Kt the present time the annual rental of the land is £l. per acre The site i-- from tlite Waiau bridge to ihe County Council shed, and is facing the mam road. Tbe Society anticipated putting up sale-vards to cost over £IOOO. They block as the Catholic school, but as it would be detrimental to the school the site was abandoned.