FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1863, 13 July 1920, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

CONSTRUCTION OF |\ DREDGE. A special meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon, the following being present; —Messrs J. Linklater (chairman), E. R. B, Ilolben, 1). W. Miifhioson, W. Bock, T. J. Claphani, and J. A. Nash, M.l’. The ohainn.m stated that the meeting had been called to consider the report ot their engineer, Mr. S. Jiekell, and obtain from hint information ahemt the improvenr.'nt work nt present goinffhm with regard to (he harbour. The engineer reported that, with regard to ttic erection of small silt, punts for the removal of dredging spoil, he had endeavoured unsuccessfully to procure .secondhand punts, lie had then prepared plans foi punts having a carrying capacity of 30 tons. The estimated cost of such structures was £275 to £3OO each. At present there was a serious difficulty in getting material to go on with the construction of the dredge pontoon. So far they had just received tlio timber for this work. A considerable amount of oorcspondence had been received with regard to the pontoon since he had received instructions to proceed with the work last September. Hc_ had also dealt with the surveying of certain lands accepted bv the Board.

Alt or a short discussion regarding the : building of the dredge pontoon, Mr Nash moved that, the engineer he requested to visit Foxton as soon as possible in order to arrange a site lor the work, and that immediate steps be taken for its construction and (lie installation oij the dredge machinorv; also that (lie lirst consideration he the sand bars on the river, and arrangements lie made with the land owners of Foxton for the distribution of the spoil.— The motion was carried unanimously. in referring to the matter of the erection of the punts. Mr Nash said he would lie more satisfied if the machinery was put into the pontoon immediately it was constructed. than waste time building the punts. If the dredge did turn out to be a failure they would not. then need to go on with the unnecessary expenditure ot building the punts. They wanted to avoid this pos-ihilitv of failure as much as possible, if., thought the Hoard was gambling on the success of the dredge. Sixteen hundred pounds xvj lit perhaps £2OOO for work, etc., was a small price for a dredge, and 1 here seemed to him the possibility that the structure might not turn out to he the sue- \ J,ey expected. The .people had no confidence in the Hoard, as they considered 1< was too slow. If it was practicable be mould like to urge upon them (be necessity of completing the installation of the dredge’s machinery in the pontoon before proceeding with the construction of the sill 11 '|'), 0 chairman said that the Hoard had not. decided to install their dredge before they .had consulted Mr Hlair-Mason the well-known engineer. He did not think Tup dredge would prove a failure. He agreed, however, that the machinery should In' installed in the dredge pontoon befoie tlie pii r*ls were constructed . Mr Nadi said they should have their • dredge fulls' constructed and proved workable 'before’ they built the punts. He moved that the matter of the construction of the punts be hrii! over in the meantime until the dredge has been constructed. The motion was carried, there being no di'Seniient voice. Mr Mathioson asked what was being done with regard to the erection of t lie Hoard’s pc" wharf sheds. He stated that a. motion calling for tenders had been passed at a previous meeting. The engineer explained that as yet nothiiur had been done regarding ihc alpnation to the shed purchased by the Hoard from the West roast Shipping Company. The' Hoard resolved _ that the engineer pioceed as soon as possible with ihe alteration to the shod referred to on a ten pet cent, basis. . ’llte chairman stated that, he hat! neon inlet viewed hv a deputation Iron) the Manawapi Steamship Company, ami as a result had received a. letter from them suggesting various improvements which might be made with regard to the building o) the phnhWii and river dredging .scheme,'hdT.— It was resolved that the Hoard thank the pointi:tnv for their suggestions, and at tie* c a fpe time inform them that Ihe Hoard was already considering similar imprpyements (o those mentioned by the! company.