Port of Foxton

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 46, 25 February 1936, Page 5

Port of Foxton

HARBOUR BOARD DEALS WITH VARIOUS MATTERS

Mr J. Linklatcr (chairman) presided at the meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board, which was held in Palmerston North yesterday. Others present were Messrs P. W. Goldsmith, H. Osborne, F. C. Raikes, W. E. Barber, J. A. Nash and R. Rangihuea (secretary).

Mr Barber mentioned that there was a hardwood stringer lying near the store on the Beach road, and it was resolved that the local committee take the necessary action to collect and store all timber belonging to the Board. The chief engineer, N.Z. Railways, forwarded counterpart of agreement in connection with the private siding at Foxton, stating that the private siding right for 2500 was now obsolete. Purchase of Launch. In regard to the levying of a differential rate, the clerk of the Kairanga County wrote stating that he had been instructed to ascertain under what section of the Harbours Act, 1923, the Board had been given the power to levy a rate for the purpose of purchasing a launch. The letter also stated: “Apparently your Board has ample powers to levy a rate but in the past have only done so in the event of the general funds being insufficient to meet the running costs. Apparently the intentions of the Board as set out in the resolution are to Taise by a rate levy an approximate amount of £1026. In the opinion of the Council your Board cannot do this as the maximum amount you can collect in any one year would be the amount of interest and sinking fund on the loan of £16,000, which appears to be £840.” The letter asked the Board to advise what was the period covered by the levy of the rate.

The letter was discussed and the clerk was instructed to get into touch with the Audit-inspector for an opinion as to the procedure which had been followed by the Board. Mr Goldsmith held that the Board was well within the scope of its powers and that the intention had been to create a position in the general account which would permit of the purchase of a launch, without which the port could not be kept open. Harbour-Master’s Report.

Reporting on te month ending: December 12, 1935, the pilot (Captain C. Vendore) stated there had been little shipping during the month. That he had got the launch home ,on December 3 and had laid moorings for her. He had harrowed in Robertson’s bend on the ebb tide and in six hours had cut are shoal down 2ft. 6in. During the month the bar was sounded four times, 10ft 6in. being noted on spring tides and Bft. 6in on Neap. The pilot reported that the bar and river during the December-January period had been sounded four times, showing lift 6in at springs and Bft 6in at Neaps. During the month there were two arrivals and two departures, the boats being laid up during th holidays. He also reported he had erected six new beacons on the river. The chairman stated he had been told by the pilot that the bar had not been good since the flood. The reports were udopted. In regard to a request from the Canterbury Shipping Company that where their ships were forced to remain at the wharf through no fault of the company, that wharfage dues should be remitted. On the motion of Mr Nash it was resolved that when a ship was compelled to remain at the wharf through no fault of the shipping company but owing to the river conditions, that the wharfage charges due for such extra time be remitted.