THE FORESHORE QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2035, 13 July 1875, Page 2

THE FORESHORE QUESTION.

A meeting of the Thames .Borough Councillors, Highway Board representatives, and members of the Provincial Council,, was held this morning -in the Council Chamber, to consider the advisability of drafting a bill to bo submitted to the General Assembly, for handing over the foreshore to the Municipality. There were present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Ehrenfried, Maenab, Benshaw, Itowe, Wilson ; Mr Bagnall, M.P.G., and Mr Carpenter, M.P.C. '7K>^'7 . The Mayor said the meeting had been called in consequence of a letter which had been ; received from. Mr .Charles O'Neill" regarding the foreshore, calling the attention of, the Council to the fact that a bill should be prepared and sent to Wellington. The Council had therefore thought it advisable to call upon, the Highway Boards : and the Proyia rial Council representatives, to co-operate iv the matter. They had at first thought it best to send a petition to the government, and instructions were given to have a petition drawn up. Since then the letter of Mr O'Neill had come to hand, and as the time (prior to the opening of Parlia-r ment) was short, they concluded that steps ought to be taken immediately to call the present meeting for the consideration of a plan of operations. [The Town Clerk then read the letter sent by our representative, and which is published in to-day's report of the Borough Council.] The Mayor said something must be done at once, as the Assembly met on tbe 20th inst. He was of opinion that - the most advisable plan would be to get Mr Whi taker to prepare the draft of a bill. That gentleman, being .largely interested in the Thames, might accede, to their request. Mr Carpenter said the question was whether they would have a private bill, or let the Government take charge of it. A bill might be drafted here embodying the wants of the district, and the Attorney General could draw up a bill from that.. Mr Bagnall thought it was necessary^o take proper and decisive steps at once. They should determine how they' were going to proceed —whether the foreshore should be handed over to the Borough Council or to a Harbour Board. As to framing a bill, it should be done by some one thoroughly competent, and in whom, moreover, the Government had confidence. He would move—•'/ That steps be taken to ascertain whether Mr Whitaker will draw up a bill to constitute a harbour Board, with power to borrow money for carrying out harbor works.''; It would take all the money raised on the formation to carry 6ut harbour works. As it was, there were no means for repairing -the late encroachments made by the sea, and the Provincial Council had nothing with which to help them. Cr Ehrenfried advocated the drafting of a bill if there was sufficient time. : The Mayor thought the foreshore loan should not be devoted entirely to harbor works—some should be set aside for township endowments.; • - , : ; Mr Carpenter did not see that the .Council, or any body could legitimately borrow money on the foreshore except for harbor works; and if the harbor was to be of the vast extent that they fondly imagined, it would swallow all the money that could be raised on the foreshore. A good deal of discursive conversation ensued. The following resolutions were ultimately carried:— Proposed by the Mayor and seconded by Cr Ehrenfried—" That steps be taken to ascertain if Mr Whitaker will draft a bill for handing over the foreshore to the Borough Council, and that provision, be made in the bill for constituting a harbor board, consisting of the Thames Borough Council and the chairmen of- the three Highway Boards at the Thames, for carrying on harbor works, and also for raising money on debentures for such purpose. Proposed by Cr Eenshaw, and seconded by Cr Macnab —" That the Highway Boards be asked to contribute towards the cost of passing such bill in proportion to rates raised in each district.".^ , Proposed by Cr Kenshaw, and,s'ecdncJed by Cr Macnab—" Thgr*t least'half the revenue derived from:- the^'foreslipre be devoted to harbor w<^ks° and that the remainder be used for p^rmaijenfc works. and roads, within the disfejefc Dr not, at the discretion of the BoardA* <lji Proposed by Cr. EhJ*j»ffi»d and seconded by Cr Wilson—"Tw*jj|rMayor be requested to proceed to Jtoefiand today and see Mr Whitakejv#nd make arrangements for drafting^'pill carrying out the foregoing resolutions." . The meeting then adjourned.