FOXTON HARBOUR-A MOVE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 8

FOXTON HARBOUR-A MOVE.

IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. (By Telegraph.—Special CorresaondenU Palmerston, June 13. At a special meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board to-day there were present Messrs. J. W. Hennessy (chairman), W. T. Wood, J. A. Nash, B. E. Gardener, and J. Harpord. The business was to consider the purchase of the Foxton wharf from the Government. The chairman presented the following report;— The suggestion that I have to make for the serious consideration of tho board, and which I am satisfied must form the basis of any further treaty witli the Minister, and likely to lead to satisfactory results, are as follow: — That n rating area must bo decided upon over which a differential rate ' must be struck, as security for payment not (as I will show necessarily) to be collected. If this point can bo settled tho next will be to have a Bill drafted to submit to Parliament giving the boardfa) Power to borrow up to and beyond the purchasing prico of the wharf, say, ,£20,000. (b) Hating powers over districts agreed upon, representing a capital value of 000,000, and power to pay interest and sinking fund out of revenue, as is dono in other districts. 1 believe that, such a Bill would receive favourable consideration from the Government and tho House, and that the distriot showing such a capital value should have no hesitation in guaranteeing so small a sum as ,£20,000 for a purpose which should prove for its general welfare. In addition to the purchase of the wharf, the. question of a suitable dredge to keep the bar and river navigable for vessels at all times, and enabling them to carry larger cargoes at reduced rates, must be considered. This I estimate to cost ,£7OOO. Eovonues from the wharf, pilotage, dues, etc., were set down at ,£.1325 by the chairman, and expenditure at JC2RO7 10s., leaving a surplus of .£427 lO.s.

After a considerable amount of discussion, the following motion, proposed by tho chairman, and seconded by Mr. Nasli, was carried:—"That the board's solicitor bo instructed to draft a Bill to submit lo Parliament, empowering this Bill to raise a loan of -C 20.000 I'nr the purchase of the Foxton wharf; that tho interest and sinking fund bo secured by a differential rate over the Manawatu and Kairanga counties, and Feilding, Foxton, Levin, and Palnierston boroughs, sufficient to produco the interest and sinking fund on such loan, and that such be paid out of general revenue as far as possible."

The chairman and Mr. Nash were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Kairanga County Council on the subject. Tho meeting approved of tho chairman's proposal respecting the purchase of the wharf and dredging the bar and river at Foxton, and that the members undertake to place the same before their respective councils for favourable consideration.