FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1475, 20 November 1915, Page 4

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Secretary’s Report

A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held at Palmerston North on Thursday afternoon, Present: Messrs P. J. Hennessy (chairman), J. A. Nash, F. E. Jenks, W. E. Barber and T. J. Clapham. An apology for absence was received Irom Mr B. R. Gardener. Treasurer's Statement.

The Treasurer submitted the following report which was adopted : “The following is a statement of accounts and receipts and expenditure since last meeting. Receipts: Balance (current account) on April 23rd 12s 7d, pilotage .£l6B 13s, river lighting £66, rents £73 7s 6d and contributions to road interest £ 6, total Harbour Master ;£n6 13s 4<3, assistant £\ 5s 6d, benzine and kerosene 15 3«*. maintenance and repairs to launch, pilot station and soundings ,£4O 7s id, cost ol elections ,£l4 9s 6, telephones £6 10s, fire insurance 13s, secretary £3si postages, telegrams and typing £1 8s 6d, members' travelling expenses £lO 5s id, bank charges 10s, total £257 17s 3d, leaving a credit balance to current account of 15s iod, plus j£6oo on fixed deposit, making the Board’s credit balance £736 15s iod,”

The Secretary reported as follows: “I regret being unable to attend to-day’s meeting, and am asked to apologise for Mr Gaidener’s absence. The appointment of Mr W. E. Barber, as representing Manawatu County, is gazetted. The statement of receipts and expenditure, together with bauk pass book, aud showing a credit to current account of ,£136 15 s I0( * (fn addition to fixed deposit ,£600) will be submitted. 1 am sorry I have difficulty in collecting rent from a few tenants. Final notices were given three mouths ago without results. It is not fair to those who pay. I would like authority to ask the Board’s solicitor to collect or if necessary deal with the matter in terms of lease as to cancellation. Applications are made (r) for transfer of flaxmill site from Foxton Cordage Co. to J. Rose ; (2) for transfer of lease ol beach section from J. Penney to Mrs Jones (both are in order); (3) from H. Hamer lor permission to erect a boat shed ; and (4) from Harbour Master for increase of salary. It would probably be advisable to have the jetty overhauled and screwed up, and a gate elected at the outer end before the holiday season. The mailer ot wharf purchase, which is still dragging on, will apparently have to wait another session. Anyway, accoiding to the last “Appropriation Act” the Board could not borrow without the consent of the Governor, until the war is ended, even if the Railway Department agrees to sell. lam still strongly of opinion the Board should consider (1) the obtaining of a report Irom an established and recognised harbour engineer as to best means of Improving the liver aud maintaining a channel aud (2) the question of applying to the Government for a grant towards purchasing a dredge and an annual grant towards working it, A practical engineer may advise means, at moderate cost, which may avoid dredging. At the same time it may be possible to partly recoup the Board the cost of dredging, by the sale ot metal. Anything, rather than the continuous stagnation of the port by the constant sidetracking of the wharf question.”—lt was decided on the motion of Mr Jenks, seconded by Mr Barber, that the secretary’s report.be adopted with the exception of that portion suggesting the obtaining of a report from an engineer and that this matter be referred to the Chairman and Mr Nash for consideration.

GENERA!,. It was decided on the motion of Mr Jeuks, seconded by Mr Clapham, that the following transfers lie approved (i) Foxton Cordage Co. flaxmill site to J. Rose, (2) J. Penney beach section to Mrs Jones and (3) that permission be granted to H. Hamer to erect boatshed, subject to Chairman’s approval, and to removal of shed at any time called upon. Proposed by Mr Nash, seconded by Mr Barber and carried, that it be a general instruction to the secretary that after reasonable application for payments ot rents a list of all amounts unpaid after thirty days be handed to the Board’s solicitor to deal with in terms of lease. Harbour Master’s Saeary.

The following application was read from the Harbour Master; “Having been in the employ of the Board for nearly six years at a salary of £2OO per annum, I now beg to apply lor an increase in salary, and bring forward the following reasons for ray application ; (1) The work of the port has very considerably increased since my appointment, an oil launch now being under my care and management and 122 beacons and lamps, (2) the males of steamers now receive ,£l9 per month and are “found’’ on their vessels, and it is impossible for me to obtain a relieving officer without giving him extra remuneration, (3) the cost of living has very much increasd since my appointment and I find it hard to pay my way. Trusting my application may receive the favourable consideration of the Board.’’ —It was decided on the motion of Chairman, seconded by Mr Clapham, that the application ot the Hat hour Master for increase of salary be left in the hands of the Chairman and Messrs Jenks and Nash with power to act. Harbour Master’s Report.

The Harbour Master reported as follows : “I have to report that the bar has scoured out since my last report. There is a depth of 12 feet at high water springs and nine feet at high water neaps. The river is good right from the bar up to the wharf. The river is uow better than it has been for the last twelve months.”