NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 7

NELSON NEWS

PROVINCIAL PROGRESS LEAGUE

(iuoa OBtt OWN CORRESPONDENT.) NELSON, 26th June. A meeting of the executive of the Nelson Provincial Progress League was , held to-day. Present : Messrs. W. J,. Moffatt (president), P. Best, and J. Gonder (Waimea County Council), H. R. Duncan (Nelson Harbour Board), G. Kidd (Mayor of Richmond), W. Lock (Mayor of Nelson), A. Gould and F. G. Gibbs (Chamber of Commerce), Dr. Gibbs (Automobile Association), F. 3. Ledger (Murchison County), and the secretary, Mr. E. B. .Neale. Keplies were received from local bodies regarding contributions to the proposed Nelson Court at the South Seas Exhibition. The Nelson City Council offered £200 unconditionally,. Waimea County Council £50, Nelson Harbour Board £100', Motueka Borough £15, Motueka Harbour Board £10. The Richmond Borough lias taken no action. The Murchison County regrets that finances will not admit of a contribution, but offers to help with exhibits. Takaka had decided that no action be taken. Collingwood, while in sympathy, regretted that owing to finances it was unable to assist, but was sending exhibits to a Government Department. A lengthy discussion ensued. : A telegram was read from the Exhibition secretary, advising nothing less than 1000 feet of space for a provincial court, and offering a space of 20 feet by 50 feet for £200. • Plans for a court 20 x 20 were submitted by a Dunedin firm, the cost of erection and fitting being esti-. mated at £200. It was generally agreed that this area was too small, and regret was expressed that the response from the outlying local bodies was disappointing. Dr. Gibbs moved, and Mr. Corder, seconded pro forma, "That the Nelson League regrets that owing to the inadequate financial - response, it cannot recommend the -formation of a separate provincial court,-and decides to accept the offer of the Tourist Department and to make a . proportionate call on local bodies who have already agreed to subscribe for expenses incurred in mak- , ing the exhibit." The president moved, and Mr. Lock seconded, an amendment that 450 feet of space be taken for a Nelson provincial, court. The amendment was lost; i and the'motion carried..' J The secretary was instructed to com- I municate with, the Tourist Department ! as to obtaining space to make an adequate display of.- photographs, sporting trophies, etc. ' '.'■ ■ . It was further resolved that the De- ' partment be asked if all the Nelson ex- ' hibits could be placed together. '■■! On the motion o£ Messrs. F. G. Gibbs i and E.: J. Ledger, it 1 was resolved to '< write to the contributing local bodies ! expressing appreciation .of the support accorded, and informing" them; of what the league had decided to do in con- . uection with the Exhibition. • ' ; : _A letter was received from' the Nelson Harbour Board;' asking the league to appoint -representatives on a deputation to the Mimster of Bailways- requesting I the foreshore now vested in the Bailway | Department be vested in the Harbour Board, with a view to its reclamation. It was resolved that the league support the Harour Board in its effort to nave the foreshore vested in the board and the City Council. . The president and Messrs. Gibbs and Ledger were appointed the league's representatives ■ j Ult s- decic!ed-«»t Ho exhibit be made this year; at the Wellington Winter Show. ■ .'■'■■■ Along, discussion took place in connection with the filling'-of the railway gap. It was decided that the league's committee now engaged in compiling andsupplying: data and information for the Otago and Southland Leagues regarding railway extension to the West Coast' be instructed to have the same printed and copies sent to the Prime Minister and Ministers, Members •of Parliament, leagues, and members of other bodies. Mr. F. G. Gibbs reported having had a lengthy interview with; Jdr.' Holmes, senr. (formerly Chief Public Works Engineer),: of Holmes and Son, .civil' engineers^ at which Mr. Holmes confirmed a previous statement made by him that the cost of completing the'railway from Glenhope to Inangahua Junction could be done for less than one million pounds, and that the estimated mileage I could be shortened by one or two tun- I Dels. . .■'■'.'.. A resolution was carried that the Buller Progress League and the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce be written to asking whether they would be willing to support Nelson in its endeavour to socure the completion of the line from Kawatiri to Inangahna Junction, and if so to assist by forwarding data and sending representatives to join a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works in furtherance of same. ■ > On the motion of Mr. Corder,"'the league expressed a hope that the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works would visit Nelson on the occasion of the official opening of the new section of the line from Glenhope to Kawatiri. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Public Works, drawing attention to his letter of 23rd February^, in which it was stated that there would be no difficulty in completing the section by June, and asking when it was expected it would be opened. ■ The Murchison League wrote, asking 00-operation in inducing the Cawthron Institute to undertake a soil survey of Murchison district in order to combat recent statements made in the Canterbury report. The Cawthron trustees are to be written to, asking that the'request be granted as soon as possible. The annual report of the league's work as prepared and read by the secretary, 33 to be printed, together with a statement of receipts and expenditure ' and forwarded to contributing bodies asking for a continuance of their contri.butions, and to appoint representatives. The annual _ meeting of the council of ihl wTk J? t0 b, e Called as soon a* tr,n • f leS reply to the reluesfc and appoint their representatives.