PUBLIC MEETING AT RANGIORA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8151, 23 April 1887, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT RANGIORA.

In pursuance of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Bangiora Borough Council, a public meeting was held at theLiterary Institute Hall on Thursday night for the purpose of discussing the Queen’s Jubilee Celebration proposals; and also the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Maintenance question; about eighty persons were present. His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Boyd) presided, and in introducing the business said that with the intention of making the Hospitals and Charitable Institution question a district one, Messrs Lance and Pearson, M.H.B.’s, and the heads of the various contributing bodies in the County had been invited to attend the meeting, but Mr Edwards, Chairman of the Mandeville and Bangiora Eoad Board was the only one to put in an appearance. The first business to come before the meeting would be the .TUBII.SE CELEBRATION. To put the matter briefly, it was for those present to decide which of three proposals they would favour, viz., a local celebration, contributions to the Home for aged poor, or to the Imperial Institute. Only one way of celebrating the event locally bad been discussed in Council, and that was the erection of a drinking fountain. His Worship then ■ read a letter from Mr A. H. Cunningham favouring the erection of an artesian drinking fountain; and one from Dr Clayton, suggesting the establishment of a cottage hospital, and promising his support and assistance in carrying out such a scheme. He also read a circular from the Chairman of the Christchurch Celebration Committee, covering a subscription list in aid of the Home for the aged poor fund; and, before resuming bis seat, a telegram of apology for non-attend-ance from the Mayor of Kaiapoi. Mr Buss thought that a proposition as to whether the celebration should be a local one would come best from the Borough Council. Mr E. B. Good differed from thisopinion, seeing that the people, and not the Council, would have to provide the funds for the celebration; and, before sitting down, moved—“ That Her Majesty’s Jubilee be carried out locally.” Mr H. Blackett favoured joining Christchurch, fearing that sufficient funds would not be raised in Bangiora to carry out a respectable affair. Mr C. I. Jennings seconded the motion. Mr W. Buss spoke strongly in support of a local celebration, suggesting that it should take the for in of a grand demonstration, the proceeds from which would provide the means for the erection of a permament memorial. He thought a hospital without a proper endowment would not be a success, and it should be left out of the question. He was afraid that no matter wuat was decided upon in the shape of a permanent memorial, the funds could not be collected to carry out the scheme unless something were done to draw the money from all classes and ages of the population. He thought that Bangiora was quite important enough to have a local celebration. Mr J. Fulton was in favour of Mr Buss’ proposal, provided the demonstration were held before the Christchurch one, when the support of both the city and district people would be forthcoming. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The Chairman expressed a hope that, having decided for a local affair, those who had voted for it would work to make it a great success. Mr Fulton advocated the sinking of an artesian well and erection of a fountain, feeling confident that an overflow could be obtained. Mr G. Buckham cordially agreed with the fountain scheme, and mentioned that fourteen or fifteen years ago ho had £6O promised him towards sinking a well. Mr J. Lilly moved—"Thata Committee be appointed to fix the date of the demonstration, to be proclaimed a public holiday, and also to arrange for a procession to the Beoreation ground, sports, side shows, &c., the proceeds from the gathering to be used for an artesian well and fountain.” Mr A. Ivory seconded the motion. Mr G. Cone considered the resolution rather too binding with respect to the allocation of the fund. He thought it would be wiserto leave it to the Committee to propose a scheme to be put before a future meeting. Mr Manning would support the motion if the proposal for an artesian well was adhered to. Mr H. Blackett would like to see the celebration a success in every particular, but he was sure it would not be so if the artesian well scheme was entered upon. It was extremely problematical whether an artesian flow could be obtained, and the money used in sinking might be thrown away. He was strongly in favour of testing for a water supply. Independent of the celebration, and would subscribe liberally towards a work of the kindbut he thought the memorial should be something they were certain would be carried out. He would suggest that two cqttages be built for old people to be allowed to live in rent free. After some further discussion on the well proposal, Mr E. E. Good moved —“ That the words in Mr Lilly’s motion, ‘the proceeds from the gathering be used for an artesian well and fountain ’ be struck out/* This was seconded by Mr B. right and carried, twenty-six voting for and ten against. The first part of Mr Lilly’s motion was then put and carried. Mr G. Buckham moved—" That aoy

money that may be raised be placed to a fund for the sinking of an artesian well, and that subscription lists be opened in aid of the said fund.” This was seconded by Mr Manning, and carried unanimously. Committee of forty of the leading men of the town and district was then appointed to carry out the demonstration, and the business terminated. HOSPITAL AND CHABITABLE AID QUESTION. The Chairman introduced this business, but feared that little could be done,*Dwing,# to the absence of those gentlemen who were specially invited to be present. There appeared to be a very strong feeling abroad that the people of the Northern district should administer their own charitable aid funds, and have a hospital of their own at Ksngiora. There was also a good deal of discussion respecting the mode of raising the funds. Some favoured the contribution basis being a population one, but he considered this a mistake, it being recognised all the world over that property should provide the funds for charitable aid purposes. He thought that all they could go in for at present would be the hospital. This was the original idea of calling the meeting, and as far as he could see from the Act the central Board had the power to sanction the establishment of an institution of the kind;, but nothing in the direction of altering the mode of collecting the funds could be done without an amendment of the Act. Mr A. Ivory thought that an attempt should be made to get the Act amended so as to provide for the better representation of the centres. As regards the Hospital, he had spoken to some of the members of the Board respecting it, and they felt favourable to the project, but feared that it would not bo a success, the town being so near to Christchurch, He might say that during the time he represented this Borough on the Board every-. thing that he asked for was done willingly, and he thought better representation for the Boroughs was all that was required to make matters satisfactory. Mr J. Fulton spoke strongly in favour of the establishment of the hospital, and thought that the old Immigration Barracks would be a suitable building. Heknew men in the north whose annual contribution amounted to .£2O or £*3o each, who were heartily in favour of the scheme. The Chairman believed Dr Clayton was the originator of the Cottage Hospital scheme proposal. He did not go so far as proposing an institution such as the barracks would afford, but. simply a small building with, say two wards, with a nurse, or man and wife to look after it. Dr Clayten thought that the members of the St John Ambulance Association would willingly give their services as nurses should occasion require. At this stage two or three rose to leave the room, and their example being followed by almost all present, the meeting collapsed without anything definite being arrived at.