FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 217, 18 August 1925, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. ' (From Our Own Correspondent.) The usual monthly mooting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held in the office at Foxton yesterday, being presided over by the chairman (Mr J. Linklater, M.P.) There were also present: Messrs J. A. Nash. M.P,. F.. R. B. Holbon, J. Chrystall, AY. E. Barber, R. McMurray, Mortensen and tho secretary (Mr Roore llangihenea). CORRESPONDENCE. From the Foxton Chamber of Commerce-, asking the board to arrange a conference of all local bodies within its rating area to consider improvements to the port, increased shipping and any matters of general interest.—The board decided that it is in sympathy with the matter, but is unable to take it up at present and it was referred to the next meeting. From Messrs Goldingham and Beckett, Ltd., stating that they were short of one case of goods from a shipment last month. The secretary reported that tho missing goods had been located at another firm’s store.—Mr McMurray said that goods were easily mixed up in the shed and carriers were not in the habit of carefully examining marks on packages.—Mr Holben said that carriers should not be, allowed to help themselves to goods. The storeman should keep a careful check on all goods.—Mr Nash said that the Board would have to be very careful with regards to wrong forwarding of goods, and lie, moved that the storeman be written to and asked to report to the Board the cause of the trouble.—The motion was carried. From the State Forest Service, Rotorua, stating that it cannot fulfil the Board’s order for pinus insignis and pinus muricata two-year-old trees this season, as it has only seedlings in stock.—Decided to order trees for next year. From the Harbour Boards’ Association, asking for support in objecting to proposed regulations in reference to the handling of accident cases on wharf's.—Decided to support the objection, and the matter was placed in the hands of the chairman to bring up in Parliament. From same, notifying the hoard of the annual conference ,to bo held in Dunedin this year. —Decided that Mr Holben represent the board. From Mr Free, Palmerston North, asking if the board is prepared to sell sections opposite the swings at the beach.—D'eeided Ito advise Mr Free that the board is not prepared to cut up the land opposite the swings, but advising him that there are fifty sections for sale further up towards the sea- front; also that the hoard is going to inspect the reserve with a view to cutting up 30 sections. From Messrs Moore and Bergin, solicitors, F’ox'ton, stating that in accordance with instructions they had applied to the Foxton Borough Council to have the District Valuation Roll amended and to cancel so much of the demand for rates, £52 18s 9d, served on the board, as related to the wharf and shed, the unimproved value of which is shown as £IOOO. The council ret'ered this matter to Mr T. l'\ Martin, counsel for the New Zealand Municipal Association, who confirmed their contention and had advised the council that all the land utilised for wharves and sheds under the control of the Harbour Board is exempt from rates. The writers asked the board to prepare a plan of tho land on which rates have been demanded and show the area used for harbour works under the board’s control and any area not so used. The rate demand will then be amended. —Received, and plan as used by the Harbour Board to be forwarded to Messrs Moore and Bergin.

From the Tolcomaru Harbour Board, asking for a copy of the board’s bylaws.; —Received. Front Mr C. Dawson, notifying the board that a culvert in front of his residence has fallen in and stating that if the board will supply 30 feet of 9-inch pipes he is prepared to pay same.—Referred to the pilot to report on the matter. From the Railway Department, enclosing authority to lay pipes under the railway line. —Received. PILOT’S REPORT. The pilot (Mr C. Larsen) reported as (follows: —The new engine has been satisfactorily installed in the pilot launch and is a great improvement on the old engine. As regards the consumption of benzine it has not had a real test as I have not had very long runs yet. As tho board is not likely to uso the old engine again, I would advise it to try and sell it for what they can get as it will only deteriorate lying in the shed. I have had the propellor of the engine fitted for a shaft for the new engine as a stand-by. Jetty: Tho setps of the jetty are in want of ropair. They have been gradually eaten away by some water grub, one stop being gone altogether, and there is no place to ropair it as tho sides are also gone. These stops are now very dangerous to the public. If the board intends to repair same, I suggest that it would be advisable that some of tho timber for the cradle of tho dredge be used as it is liardwood and suitable ior such work. It would need to be taken to the sawmill to be sawn into the sizes. Lupin growing; Last February tlie sand hills along the sea beach were planted with lupin branches having seeds. These are now growing well, the yoyng lupins being out already. On the front of the hills some of the branches aro buried in sand, but no doubt they will grow.' This way seems to be the best way of planting lupin in the sand hills where tho sand is continually drifting. Tree growing: The pinus. insignis trees that were planted last year are doing very well. There were a few that were scratched away by rabbits but these have been attended to and they are now progressing very well. _ By soundings that wore taken it will he seen that the river and bar have changed considerably. The river and lmr are now very good and it is to bo hoped that they will remain the same. —Adopted. GENERAL. The pilot was instructed to renovate tho jetty. It was decided that Messrs Chrystall, W. E. Barber and McMurray go into the matter of preparing by-laws for the board and have same printed after the perusal by the board. Mr McMurray was accorded a vote of thanks for a donation of an ambulance stretcher to the board. Tho secretary was instructed to procure copies g>f different boards’ by-laws. The secretary’s action in asking the Horowhenua County Council to remove the portion of the Shannon bridge anchored opposite the boat shed, which would soon constitute a menace to shipping, was endorsed, the board deciding that the council be given 14 days’ notice to remove tlie obstruction. The action of tlie chairman and Mi

J. A. Nash in purchasing a safe for the hoard was endorsed. It was decided that- the local committee go into tho matter of decking tho new railway siding crossing. It was agreed that tho board members meet at the seaside on Monday to go into the matter of cutting up further sections.

With tho permission of the board Mr McMurray withdrew his notice of motion regarding wharf charges, it being decided to review the matter in six months’ time.

Accounts amounting to, £260 were passed for payment.