FOXTON BEACH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 150, 27 May 1936, Page 2

FOXTON BEACH

ROABING AND IMPROVEMENTS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, May 26.

Matters concerning the welfare of the Foxton Beach were discussed at some length at yesterday's meeting of the I'oxton Harbour Board. The discussion arose from a remark by Mr J. A. Nash to the effect that the board would not bo banding over the camp s te fees to the Beach Improvement Society after the uid of the financial year. Mr M. E. Porreau (chairman of the Beach Improvement Society, and newly apopinted Government representative on the board) expressed surprise at this statcineit. The' society, ho said, had done excellent work at the seaside and now had as an object the establishment of a water supply for fire and domestic purposes. It would come as a shock to members to learn that the board did not intend to continue liandug over the camp site fees as tho society’s plans for a water supply depended largely on the revenue derived from this source. However, lie felt that the society would be pleased to be rel evod of its responsibility in this connection by placing the matter in the hands of the board. He gave members an assurance that the society would do this and press for a caisummation of the scheme it had in mind if it lost the revenue mentioned. The chairman (Mr ,T. Linklater) : What has the society in mind ? . Mr Perreau : The sinking of an artesian well and the erection of a reservoir tank on the hill in tho v'cinity of the exit °* Seabury Avenue on to the old riverbed. Giving further details. Mr Perreau said that an expert water diviner had been engaged in locating a site for a well, and bad selected th s one as the most suitable. It was proposed to pump the water into tho tank or tower, and it was anticipated that in addition to providing waler toi fire fighting purposes thero would bo sufficient for domestic purposes. Tho chairman said that the scheme was a most important one as far as the beach was concerned. . Mr Perreau: If the Harbour Board has in v : ew something else on which it intends to spend the camp site license fees, well and good. , , _ , Mr J. A. Nash suggested that the Beach Improvement Society should wait until the cancellation of the concession was made before lodging a complaint. It still had a considerable amount coming to it from the board and personally he thought tha. the society had dono very well out of the board. . , , Mr Perreau: The soc:cty has only collected just the bare amounts necessary to settle accounts for essentials. The boai has always had the use of any surplus ni Mr^Nash pointed out that the board had mado contributions to the society before it gr;cited it the camp site, license fees. Hie board had passed a resolution handing over tho fees for a period of three years. Then tho Audit Department had expressed concern as to whether the oaux had the power to make such a grant. I hey fully appreciated the good ivoik 1 society had been do ng. Mr'Perreau intimated that the matter would be brought up again at a more suittable time, lie asked, however, what steps had been taken to have the tar-sea.ing ot tho Foxton Beach Road put in hand, the people throughout, the district were looking for some pronouncement. . . Tho chairman ; The matter is in the hands of Mr \V. E. Barber (chairman ot the Manawatu County Council). The chairman referred to the J 0 erosion of tho road leading out cm to the river foreshore near the Post Office, ana said that steps had been taken to form another roadway alongside the h-'iee. ille work was being put in hand by the Beach Improvement Society and it had been suggested to him that tho Manawatu County Council should be approached for the loan of a lorry to enable tile society to cart clay and metal lor the surfacing work. The chairman also referred to tho sand encroachment taking place on the river foreshore in front of the houses. Quite a sand spit was forming, lie said, and he thought that this loose sand should be planted. In conversation with the secretary of the Improvement Society ho had been informed that plenty of marram grass was easily obtainablo for this work. Air Perreau: Tho season for planting marram grass is now here. The work should bo put in hand without delay. It was decided to refer both matteis to the society for attention. Mr 11. Osborne asked if it was proposed to tar-seal the road giving access to the river foreshore near the Post Office or to seal Seabury Avenue when the work ol sealing the beach road was undeitaken. The chairman: Tho matter is really one for the Manawatu County Council. He asked if Seabury Avenue had yet been dedicated to file County Council. The secretary replied in the negative, adding that the matter would involve considerable cost to the beard and ho had no authority to proceed with the work. Mr Nash sugested that an estimate lor carrying out the survey and preparation of the necessary plans be placed bcloro the next meeting of the board, and it, was decided to act on tho suggestion.