PUBLIC MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3784, 6 February 1908, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

Formation of Harbour Board. A public meeting, convened by the local Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of discussing the formation of a Harbour Board to control the port of Foxton, was held in the Masonic Hall, on Tuesday night. There was a good attendance of the public. His Worship the Mayor (B. G. Gower Esq.,) occupied the chair, and in opening the meeting said the time was opportune for the formation of a Harbour Board. At present the wharf was controlled by the Railway Department, which collected all the revenue and left little or nothing for the Marine Department. He called upon Mr Hettnessy,. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Who, he said, was more conversant with the subject, to address the meeting* The following telegram was received from Mr John Stevens, member for the district Secretary Chamber of Commerce , Foxton. Only received your letter of the 31st January, last night, inviting me to attend a public meeting for the purpose of considering the formation of a Harbour Board at Foxton. Had I received it on Saturday, I could have attended, but in the meantime I made a very important appointment which it is impossible to forego. I wish your Chamber’s project every success, and will, with pleasure, render all the assistance in my power. I believe one of the greatest essentials to permanent success will be the inclusion of sufficient area of country. Palmerston, Feilding, and Levin should, in my opinion, • be included, as with‘important shipping facilities, all these centres would import and export a very large volume of their trade with and out of the port of _ Foxton greatly to. their advantage. —John Stevens.’’ ~ Mr Hennessey, in opening, referred to the. action the Chamber of Commerce had taken in reference to the formation of the Board. The previous chairman of the Chamber (Mr Morgan) had gone to considerable trouble in ascertaining whether a Board if formed could. be financed, but had come to the conclusion that it could not be soundly financed. The speaker, at the time held the same opinion. But public opinion held a differ ent view. A deputation that waited on the Minister for Marine in reference to river bank protection had 17. been asked by the Minister, “Why don’t you, gentlemen, form a Harbour Board?” Finding that the Minister, would support them in their endeavours, he, with others, again turned their attention to the subject. He was under the im- ■ pression that in order to finance the Board it would be necessary to have a rating area. But a surprise was in store for the supporters of the scheme. At a subsequent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce it was decided to go on witfr the formation of the Board, but the Chairman (Mr Morgan) was opposed to it, and, finding all the members against him, he re-

signed. The Chamber then elected, the speaker to the chairmanship and he was authorised to visit Patea and elsewhere to obtain in-

formation. He desired to publicly thank the Chairman (Mr McKenna) and Secretary (Mr Horner) ■ of the Patea Board for the information they had placed at hi; disposal. When he discovered that the Patea Board’s revenue was derived without recourse to striking a rate, he was very much surprised. An insight into the working of the Patea Board convinced him that a local Board would be a success from every point of view. He then read the following comparative statement of revenue and expenditure of the Patea and Foxton: Board, if constituted, basing the expenditure of the proposed Foxton Board ,on that set out by the Secretary of the Patea Board: — PATEA. Revenue. —;■ £ s d Wharfage... ... 1675115 Dumping dues ... 349 *4 3 Tonnage dues ... 541 3 0 Port dues 79 18 5. Water, gravel, etc., 25 10 o Rents ... ... 540' 8n Total 6 o EXPENDITURE. £ s d Official expenditure 266 12 o Wharfage expenses 196 4 6 Dumping expenses 108 9 3' Dumping bands ... 115 ,° 0 Pilotage expenses... 33 1 2 6 Maintenance ■ ... . 4 11 5 1 Depreciation ... *54 0 0 -Interest 1X 47 1 7 Total... 14 n Balance to credit... ■ 482 n r Total... ... 60 Mr Hennessy explained that the Government carried out certain H work to the Patea wharf, which, I when completed, the amount was ) demanded from the Board, this accounted for /411, part ot a total of odd, which was' not annually recurring. Apart from this, and Without striking any rate, Patea was able to spend a large surplus yearly on the building of piers at the entrance to the river. ' FOXTON. Approximate Revenue : £ s d Actual revenue obtained by Railway Department last year for wharfage 2,272 6 4 Rents received annually by same Department 112 9 o

Anticipated revenue on 227 trips, pilotage, at id 242 5 0 Port dues, at 3d ... 75 o o Berthage at 3d ... 512 10 0 Total 3214 1 4 Approximate Expenditure: — £ s d Office salary, etc. ... 266 12 o Pilotage ... ••• 247 7 3 Miscellaneous ••• 21 10 10 Wharfage expenditure — Railway handling 17,000 tons , cargo in and outwards, and 24,000 tons of coal 53° 0 0 Maintenance and repairs 4*3 6 rx Collecting by railway at 2Yi per cent, on * 6s 4d ... 85 o o Total . . ... 1563 17 o Balance to credit ... 1650 4 4 Total 3214 1 4 In reference to the item of expenditure, 6s 1 id, Mr Henuessy explained that this was based on the extraordinary expenditure at the Patea wharf, but he said the ordinary wear and tear expenses at the local wharf should not exceed ,£IOO per annum, which would therefore leave a further surplus to credit of £2,00. Foxton’s endowments would be the block of land set out in the old Bill with an area of 407 acres situated at Motuiti, and the foreshore from above McGregor’s Bend to the Heads and the Pilot Reserve. The revenue from these sources had not been computed. At present the port was practically free to boats coming in. It would ■be necessary to keep down the charges to shipping as low as possible in order to attract trade to the port. Wherever the speaker had visited surprise had been expressed that there was no Harbour Board at Foxton. In fact, people outside had a higher opinion of Foxton than its own residents. (Applause.) The charges on coal cargoes alone would meet Foxton’s expenditure. Another point was that Foxton would not be hampered as Patea was with interest charges on loan. Year after year Foxton was troubled with floods which affected navigation. If a Board were formed the question of navagation would receive immediate attention, so that.instead of 227 ships being entered inwards, it would be sale to increase the number by fully a quarter. He stated that the boot would pinch certain owners if a Board were formed, but the charges would not be more than obtained at Wanganui, which was considered very low. The Wanganui Board were endeavouring to popularise their port by low charges. At present ship owners were paying practically nothing at the local port. Besides, the channel would enable boats drawing 9ft with a 340 tonnage to come in with a full load instead of 250 tons. This meant a considerable saving to the owners, and increased revenue to the Board. (Applause.) Boats would also be able to go out with safety without loss of time, as the river Would be properly lighted. In reply to Mr H. Coley, Mr Hennessy said that boats would not be charged berthage by reason of delay through stress of weather. Mr Morgan said he thought that payers of dues should be entitled to representation on the Board. In reply, Mr Hennessy said that personally he did not object to payers of dues being represented on the Board, but any alterations to the Bill would have to be made by Parliament.

In reply to Mr Perreau, senr., Mr Hennessy said that the Patea Board had an endowment of 400 acres, from which an annual revenue of ,£4OO odd was derived. They had no foreshore, however, suitable for leasing pm poses. Mr F. W. Frankland asked why the proposed Board’s borrowing powers should be limited in the Bill to ,£20,000. He noticed that Patea had borrowed £26,000 at 3$ per cent. The anticipated revenue from the local Board was considerably in excess of Patea. Mr Hennessy said he had fought in the Council to restrict the borrowing powers of the Board to £15,000, but a compromise had been arrived at, viz., £2o’ooo. This sum would act as a brake upon extravagance. There was nothing to prevent the Board from borrowing more than the sum stated if it so desired, by passing an enabling Bill through the House. He anticipated that the Board’s revenue would show a much larger increase than v. ’nt had been stated.

Mr Morgan said that a third of the revenue would be derived from payers of dues and this should entitle them to representation on the Board. The payers of dues had representation on the Wanganui, Grey mouth, Wellington and other Boards. He said the tonnage dues of the Patea Harbour Board and the proposed Foxton Board were nearly equal and he could not see where it came in when there was almost double the shipping coming into Foxton.

Mr Hennessy replied that we wanted to encourage shipping and not to penalise it and with that end in view proposed to keep the charges on ships trading to the port as low as possible (loud applause).

Mr Stiles said that that matter could receive attention at a later date. After one or two other minor matters had been discussed, the Mayor moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Jenks and carried unanimously, and applause:—That after hearing the address of the President of the Chamber of Commerce this public meeting is oT opinion

that immediate steps should be taken with a view to the formation of a Harbour Board to control the port of Foxton and that the Council of the Chamber of Commerce forward the Bill as drafted to the member for the district for the purpose of expeditious enactment. Mr Hennessy proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, and in doing so expressed the hope that Foxton’s wheel of fortune had commenced to turn. He hoped in a few years it would be far in advance of what it is to-day. He referred to the port’s geographical position in connection with the Main Trunk railway and the saving that is and would be effected to the Government on coal haulage from Foxton as against Wellington oi Wanganui. One engine could haul a load from Foxton to the Greatford junction via Sandon and Bulls, when the connecting link is made, that would require the services of three from either Wellington or Wanganui. Foxton’s central position as a port for coal distribution purposes was of the utmost importance. With a navigable river and increased shipping there was a big future before the port. He was filled with patriotism for Foxton. He had come here as a young man and worked his way up and would do all in his power to push the place along. (Applause). The motion was seconded by M- Walsh and carried by acclamation. The Mayor, in acknowledging the compliment, expressed the hope that before long the Harbour Board would be an accomplished fact. Mr Stiles proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hennessy and the Council of the Chamber of Commerce for the action they Had taken towards the formation of a Harbour Board. In acknowledging the vote, Mr Hennessy paid a tribute to the following members of the Council who had co-operated with him in bringing matters to a head : Messrs Dr. Mandl, Alex. Ross, Rimmer, Perreau, Moore, Hornblow and the Secretary (Mr RaeHoward). This brought a very enthusiastic meeting to a close. The following is a copy of the Bill to ;be placed in the hands of the member for the district, to bring about the consummation of the Board : An Act to Constitute a Harbour Board for the Port op Foxton. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: — 1. The short title of this Act is “The Foxton Harbour Board Act 1908.” 2. This Act shall be deemed to be a special Act within the meaning of ‘ ‘ The Harbours Act 1878 ” which, with all Acts amending the same, shall be incorporated with this Act. 3. In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context: — “Board ” means the Foxton Harbour Board as constituted under this Act: ‘ ‘ Harbour ’ ’ means the port and harbour of Foxton : ‘ ‘ The said Act ’ ’ means “The Harbours Act ,1878” with all Acts amending the same: “Harbour District ” means the Foxton Harbour District as constituted under this Act. 4. The Board shall consist of seven members, of whom four shall form a quorum, and such members shall be appointed and elected as follows (a) One member to be appointed by the Governor ; (b) The Mayor of the Borough of Foxton for the time being ; (c) One member to be appointed by the Manawatu County Council, and being a member of the said Council ; (d) One member to be appointed by the Palmerston North Borough Council, and being a, member of the said Council; (e) One member to be appointed by the Feilding Borough Council, and being a member of the said Council; (f) Two members to be elected by the electors of the Harbour District. 5. The first election of - the elective members shall be held -on the second Monday in February, 190 ; and the members then elected shall come into office ou their election, and shall hold office until the next biennial election of members to be held as prescribed by the said Act. 6. (1) The Governor may, by Order in Council gazetted, appoint a Returning Officer and polling places for the purpose of the first election of members under this Act, and a day for such election, and may make such further provision for the same purpose as he shall deem necessary. (2 ) Elective members of the Board shall be elected under the provisions of ‘ ‘ The Local Elections Act, 1904.”

7. (1) The Board is hereby endowed with : (a) The Foxton wharf, with all wharfage, berthage and pilotage dues in connection with the harbour of Foxton ; (b) All the foreshore on both banks of the Manawatu River,commencing at the South Eastern extremity of section 530 Block , and extending thence to the mouth ot the said river as far as high-water mark; (c) Pilot Reserve about 89 be acres ; (d) All that piece or parcel of land situate in the township of Carnarvon in the Manawatu District containing 407 acres more or less and being the section numbered 332 on the official plan of the said township and formerly known as the Omarupuku Bush, but now designated the Signal Station Reserve. Bounded on or towards the North by section No. 333; on or towards the East by a public road; on or towards the South by sections No.’s 475, 476, and 477 ; ana on or towards the West by a public road dividing the same from section No. 329. 8. (2) The Board may lease any lands vested in it, or any part thereof, at such rents and profits and upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine so that such leases be for any term not exceeding thirty-five years, to take effect from the date of the execution thereof. 9. (1) The Board shall have power from time to time to borrow ou the security of the endowments, subject to the provisions of the said Act, any sum not exceeding twenty thousand pounds, for the construction or completion of harbour works in or towards the improvement of the said harbour. (2). Such money may be raised in the manner prescribed by “The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901,” and the provisions of that Act shall apply as if the Board were a local authority and the said works were public works within the meaning of part 1 of that Act ; Provided that at, any poll taken ou a proposal to raise any such money every elector of the Harbour District shall be entitled to one vote only. 10. The Foxton Harbour District shall comprise the Borough of F'oxtou.