GREATER WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 107, 2 November 1900, Page 2

GREATER WELLINGTON.

» MEETING AT KILBIRNIE. A meeting of Kilbirnie ratepayers was held last evening in Hegiubothams Mall, Kilbirnie, to consider the position of the ward and the question of Greater Wellington. Mr. Laurenson occupied the chair. The meeting, he said, was the result of the recent defeat of the loan proposals. Feeliug ran high in the Melrose Borough | between the different wards. In Brooklyn, one Councillor was pitting Island Bay and Kilbirnie against Roseneath and Mitchelltown. The question of Greater Wellington should be discussed at length. It was one of the most important questions in connection with the ward. Mr. Heginbotham said it was^ very necessary that something should be done if the Borough was to go ahead. Tho mainMing was to get direct communication with the city. Water, drainage, and communication were urgent necessities. Drainage ar.i water, however, might, for the present, give place to the all-important question of communication with the city, and a tunnel through the hill in the direction of Pirie-street, with tram communication, would be the best thing, as it would suit every one, north and south alike. They would have to be in touch with the city, as they were touching on city property. He did not know, if the ward could raise the necessary moneys for this venture, but they could be rated. Direct communication would mean an increase of residents, and that would mean more money for other things. The city was eventually going to swallow them up, whether they liked it or not, and if they allowed this to be done before they got better communication, they would never get it at all. Most of them agreed with the purchase of Miramar by the City Council, but if this estate was taken over, communication with it would be' the first interest of. the city, but it. might not be done in a, way that would suit all parties. He advocated the purchase of the Jenkinson Trust Estate. - This would be to the advantage of Roseneath, because instead of being cut off as now, they would then form part of one continuous whole. Bet them institute a platform to Work on, and get the other wards to go hand in hand with them. This was the best way to attain success. , Mr. Jorgensen mentioned a recent estimate of the saving of' time whicTi which would be made by a tunnel through from Ellice-street. A saving of 35 chains would be made. He thought the first thing to be done was to get an estimate of the cost of the work proposed, and ascertain if it was within their means. Mr. Pinny (Roseneath) said they were at last beginning to gather round one standard. v They musb consider the City Council, upon T which they were dependent for water, drainage, etc. They should first consider their absorption into the city. Communication was the- main thing. The Chairman, in answer to a question, said that Messrs. Palliser and Jones, i contractors, had estimated that £12,000 would cover the cost of a tunnel from Ellice-street through the, hill to the quarry. Mr. Maxwell thought that the purchase of the Jenkinson Estate should be the first consideration. [ The Chairman supported this view. He I thought that the best course would be to sell the estate, and with the proceeds make the tunnel. Mr. Crawford said he was a strong advocate for direct communication with the city, but he thought the best way to attain this object was to lower the hill at Constable-street, and throw the spoil into Evans Bay. The money raised from a 99 years' lease of the land so reclaimed would assist in carrying out the other work. Mr. Maxwell moved that a committee of three be set up to draw up a report providing information as to the position of Kilbirnie Ward and Wellington extension, such report to be discussed at a future meeting to be held within one month from date. Mr. Taylor seconded this -motion. Mr. Heginbotham moved, as an amendment, that a committee of three be appointed to report- to a future meeting the estimate of the cost of an approach to Kilbirnie. Mr. Jorgensen seconded th» amendment, which was lost on a show of hands. The original motion, was put to the meeting and carried. With the permission of the mover and seconder, the strength of the committee was altered to five, and Messrs. Laurenson, Jorgensen, H. D. Crawford, Maxwell, and C. Crawford were elected members. > The question of the vacancy in the Melrose Borough Council, caused by Councillor Shepherd's resigrijiition was discussed. Mr. Heginbotham moved that Mr. Jorgensen be asked to contest the vacant seat. Mr. H. D. Crawford said he considered it wa3 the duty of the ratepayers to ask Mr. Shepherd to reconsider his resignation, and, as a matter of oourtesy, they should not select any one to take up the running during cue few months remaining before the next poll. It was pointed out that Mr. Shepherd had already been approached on this subject, and had signi'bed his determination to retire. After discussion, Mr. Heginbotham moved that the meeting pledge itself to support Mr. Jorgensen's candidature, and Ue motion was carried.

Thrift, as represented by friendly societies, was in strong force at the annual gathering of the Manchester Unity ot Oddfellows, held at Portsmouth this year. Ihe meeting was the largest of the kind ever held. There Avere 700 deputies present frohi the United Kingdom and the colonies, such as Australasia, the Cape, Canada, and the West Indies. The Grand Master stated that the total membership on- January Ist last was 961,500. The income" for 1899 Avas £1,235,425 ; the payments for sick benefit amounted to £704,777 ; funeral benefit) to £171,527 ; the increase of funds in the year being £359,120. The total capital of the order has now reached £10,074,410. In referring to the colonies, the Grand Master stated that 20 per cent, of the members- in Natal had volunteered for service in the South African Avar. The contributions of those members were paid by the other members.