FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11582, 24 May 1916, Page 4

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

THE FOXTON WHARF, The Commissioners, consisting of Six Robert Stout, Chief Justice (chairman), Mr W. M. Hammy, general manager of the WellingtouManawatu Railway, and Mr Cyrus Wilson, engineer to the Lyttleton Harbour Board, authorised to* inquire whether it is desirable in the public interest that the Foxton Harbour Board should be permitted to purchase from the Railway Department the railway wharf at Fox ton, [and if so on what basis the purchase money should be ascertained and what should be the terms and conditions of such purchase, finished taking evidence on this order of reference at Palmerston North yesterday. Mr F S, Weston represented the Foston Harbour Board, and Mr M. Myers the Railway Departent.

The evidence of Mr R. W. McYilly, assistant manager of the New Zealand Railways, showed that the total cost of.the maintenance of the Foxton wharf since 1896 had been £4127. The cost of the wharf was not stated, but Mr C H. Howarth, engineer for the Wanganui Harbou r Board, valued it at £IBSO, and Mr JickilFs estimate was nearly the same. The wharfage dues in the period above mentioned amounted to £25-,598. and it w'as shown that tiie expenditure for labour had been about half that amount, or in other words the profit had been about £12,500 in ten years. Mr P. J. Hennessey, chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, stated that the Railway Department had made no improvement in the state of the river and had confined its operations to the dredging near one bank. The shed accommodation was inadequate. If a depth of eleveu feet could be maintained the Canterbury Shipping Company would put on a line of steamers to Foxton and carry cargo at 8s per ton less than now charged. Both the Wanganui and Patea wharfs had been built by Government, and imd been handed over to the two Harbour Boards. The same would probably have been dene at Foxton if there had been more push in the agitation in its favour.

In regard to the trade done at the port, Mr A. 3. KeJlow, manager for Levin and Co,, said that all the shipping trade was dmie through his lirm. His statement of the business done was as follows; OUT W ARDS.

1007-8 —Bales of wool, 8017; bales of hemp, 11,355; bales of tow, 3188; tallow and pelts, G3B; general cargo, 980. 1908- 14,817; 8808: 705; 934. 1909- ; 21,889 : 0058 : 1101 : 938. 1910- 28,837; 7353; 1857; 1005. 1911- 38,909; 0511; 144; 1098. • 1912-13—8804; 41,182; 7114; 1438; 947. 1918-14—7974; 30.145 ; 8870; 1981; 980. 1914- 8!,554; 0250; 2288; 789. 1915- 85,035; 5,282; 1037 ; 1525, INWARDS. 1907- —General cargo, Sill; feet of timber 179,481; tons of coal. 15,821. 1908- 90.097; 10.003. 1909- 47,886; 18,250. 1910- —16,251; 80.704; 18.010. 1911- 54,932: 11.001. 1013- 152,702; 7944. 1918-14—10.050: 143,584; 0225. 1014- 94,909; 0580:. 1015- —10,487; 85,480; 5208.

Mr Kellow pointed out tiiat owing to the bad state of the river shippers conld not load to tho ®full capacity of vessels. With a depth of eleven or twelve feet on the bar a ship of 300 tons could come in. In this connection Mr C. H. Howarth , engineer of the Wanganui Harbour Board, said soundings in tho river gave a depth of from 14 to 27 feet. He believed the channel over the bar could be more easily kept clear than that of Wanganui, as there was less silt, and he believed the required improvement could be made by the use of a dredge which would cost £BSOO.

Mr Kellow said if the bar were improved a boat could be kept running to Boston even- day, Tho erection of convenient sheds at the port would bring about a saving of £IOO a year in labour. At present with an unfavourable state of the bar the shipping trade had to be suspended. In his opinion the general condition of the bar and river was not as good now as some years ago. Frank Lawton, harbourmaster at Foxtou, was also of the opinion that the harbour had deteriorated. Mr Crabb gave evidence on behalf of the coal merchants at Palmerston in favour of an improvement of the Boston harbour, lie said a saving of 3s a ton on the freight charges could be effected. Seventy-live per cent of the people of Palmerston were in favour of the Foxton Harbour Board being given control of the wharf and were prepared to chance the imposition of a harbour rate

Mr Kellaw, re called, said coal laden ships could only bring in 170 tons, though they had the capacity for 300 tons. Two ships could be kept trading to the port with proper facilities.

Wm. Parker said the harbour was in a worse state than M years ago. He asked what would have been the condition of the Wellington port if its revenue was seized by the Railway 7 .Department? John Young, manager of the Produce. Department of Messrs Hodder and Tolley, put in the following statement "of the quantity of merchandise that would be shipped through the port of Fox ton under favourable conditions:—

2. Saving in freight If coming via Foxton instead of Wanganui, the cheapest port at present—

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

At the afternoon sitting evidence was taken on the reference “Whether it is desirable in the public interest that the Sandon Tramway should be purchased by the Government and he connected with the Main Trunk Railway at Marton or Greatford as part of the railway system of the Dominion” ;

•‘Also whether it is desirable in the public interest that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Levin or some other suitable point on the Main Trunk Railway to Foxton.”

These references were taken together, and Mr skerrett, who.appepared for the County Council, opened the case with a statement as; to the general advantages that would accrue to the people of the areas to be served by the extension and deviation. He first called the attention of the Commission to the disadvantages under which growers of oats in the Sandon district now labour under in sending their produce up the Main Trunk by way of Foxton and Palmerston, a circuit of about 60 miles. He made reference to the increase of population in the Sandon and Taikorea districts since the tramway was constructed, namely 11,080, and the increase of £8,288,679 in capital value of the laud, how valuable the line had proved to settlers, the relaying of the greater portion with 401 b rails, and other facts previously published in the Advocate in favour of the extension, and ended by asking on wbat possible ground the Railway Department could ojbect to the extension.

Sir James G. Wilson, Chairman of the Manawatu County Council, during the last 15 years, who was first to give evidence on this reference, went thoroughly into the question of the quality of the land served by the tramway, and of the deviations if completed, and showed conclusively that the statement made from time to time by objectors that it was sandy country, had no foundations in fact He was able to show that from Marton to the Rougotea siding the route itself was over tirsfc-class country, and that for many miles towards Boston much of the land on the lett hand side was of the best, part of the area near the Sluggish creek was carrying a beast to tne acre. He quoted prices obtained at recent land sales in support of his statement. He also spoke of the need of the railway connection between Sandon and Marton to enable the farmers to sell their chaff to buyers on the Main Trunk railway and receive store cattle to fatten.

Tons Class. Class, E. E A- b. Barra ml & Abraham •100 .400 Watson Bros. 400 o IIodder & To 1 lev 1000 so E. H. Crabb yoo 10 Dalgety & Co. 250 Manawatu Mills Co. oOOO — A. J. Palmer & Co 400 — Goklingbam Beckett ■500 50 r.yoo 520

t'lUOO tons Class E. goods, difference in railage £ d and wharfage, 3s od 170(5 5 0 520 tons Class E. and C goods, 27s 3d 012 10 s 1890 1 9