FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1703, 17 December 1919, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

MEETING HELD' YESTERDAY. A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was hold yesterday, the members present being Messrs P. J. Hcnnessy (chairman). W. Bock, T. J. Clapham, W. E. Barber, and D. W. Matheson. COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The sub committee of the Board reported ' that tenders for leasing 376 acres of the Round Bush had been invited and that of Mr P. Baldwin was accepted at £213 Is 4d per annum. For the acquisition ot 42 acres | tor a scenic reserve £SOO was put on the j Estimates last session and £BO voted by the Foxton Boiough Council, and the mat- ! ter should be. completed early in the year. The purchase from the West Coast Steamship Co. M its wlnm and shed at £SOO hud been completed and tenders called for the I building of the wharf and extension of i goods shod. The plant purchased from the [ I’atea Harbour Board iiad been dismantled and railed to Foxton, and tenders had been I invited for the necessary pontoon to carry the machinery. Mr 11. Akers had in course of er< ction on a specially built punt at Foxton a Priestman grab dredge and bad kindly offered its use for a fortnight, the Board to find its own labour, coal, etc., and to bo responsible for any breakages or risks, i The punt vvqs built for working in drams I and would require extra support in the r * ver - s _ j The report was adopted, and the offer of 1 Mr Akers to lend a dredge was accepted | with thanks. j The chairman said that Mr Baldwin had | already started improving the land leased i by him from the. Board. PILOT’S REPORT.

The monthly report of the pilot (Captain James H. Miller) showed that a good depth of water had been experienced both in the river and on the bar except in the stretch from Duncan’s bend to the loxton wharf, where a great amount of shoaling had been experienced generally. Buoys had been laid marking the channel, but great jiiifti culty was found in bringing the vessel to the wharf. A close watch was being kept, and as soon as a channel presented itself further marking buoys would be laid so as to eliminate this diiliculty. The deptli in the river channel elsewhere was 7ft. bin. at half tide, and on the bar the least depth was 10ft at three-quarter spring tide. A I moderate fresh in the river on the 13th and 114 th November altered the channel across I fisherman’s flat to the south side of the river, and had caused a further oncroachj mont of from 10ft to 12ft into the river | bank. I A statement submitted by the treasurer ! showed a credit balance of £2104 0s lOd. | Accounts amounting to £869 13s 2d wore i passed for payment. It was decided that the pilot be provided with a dinghy.