FLAXBOURNE SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 11 March 1911, Page 5

FLAXBOURNE SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Flaxbourne Settlers' Association held their usual monthly meeting on Friday night, the President, Mr J. J. Jenkins, occupying the chair. THE RAILWAY. Correspondence was read from Mr J Duncan, M.P.. with reference to railway matters. Mr Duncan stated that the official inspection of the Ward section had been authorised, and there was every probability, of the line's being taken over and opened for traffic by the Railway Department at the.. end of the current month. Mr Duncan thanked the members for their letter of appreciation of his efforts to forward matters in this direction. # The Minister for Public Works wrote in reply to, a letter from the Association Having reference to th© reduction of freight on stock over the Ward section of railway. The Minister explained that the deputation which had interviewed him at Ward recently had informed iiim that they were paying 30s par truck, and he had reduced the charge to 15s accordingly. The Public Works Department were studying the convenience of settlers in carrying stock, but could not do so at a loss. The chairman brought up .the matter of the opening of the line, and said lie thought that something should be arranged to meet, the occasion. Mr Cunningham suggested that the Blenheim branch of the Railway League and- the Awatere Road Board should be communicated with on the subject. He thought that combined action should to taken if any function were intended.

Mr Thomson was in favor of acting in combination with other interested bodies, and mentioned that an effort had been made recently to raise funds ,in connection: with the proposal. , . The chairman said that nothing had been done to enlist the support or the Association. So far they had not been approached in the matter. Eventually it was decided to write to the several bodies mentioned; and find out what it -was intended to- do, and also to ask Mr Duncan to telegraph ;im mediately the date was arranged, y ■ „■ ■ ':;'. .'' •■ ■ . :'-:'^: On Mr Davidson's suggestion it was decided to apply for a passengertrain to run to Blenheim and return on March 17th (St. Patrice's Day). / TOWN HALL. ; >■': Mr W. Butt brought forward a motion tha!t £5 be transferred from the sports fund, . to be invested in debentures in the proposed Town Hall. After a short discussion* the motion was put and carried. At a previous meeting a letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands\ in reply to an application for a township section for a Town Hall site. It stated, that the 11 section (i acre) applied for would be ;granted on payment ,of the capital lvalue, £45. The price was considered excessive, being at the rate otf £180 per acre, and at Mr Mason's suggestion it was resolved to write to the Minister* for Lands asking him ibo consider a reduction. . SHED ON THE BEACH. Tive question of dealing with the shed on the beach which had been granted by the Lands Department raised a fair discussion, various suggestions being made; but eventually it was (decided to obtain a report on the state and suitability of the timber for a e-ereotion before coming to a decision. NEEDLES, BRIDGE. It was resolved to ask the Awatere Road Boar<d to fix wings to the approaches, and wire netting to the sides of the Needles Bridge for the convenience of stock crossing the river. A PROPOSED FOOTBRIDGE. The* Minister for Public Works, when at Ward recently, promised to place £100 on the Estimates towards providing a footbridge over the Flaxbourne River on the main road, and it was decided to write to the Road Board asking them to co-operate and endeavour to get the vote passed; BENEFIT SOCIAL. A concert and dance will be held in about a month's time in aid of the Town Half fundr Messrs W. Butt, J. Halt, -W: Porter, B. Moyle, and J. Andrews were appointed a committee to make" arrangements. ' - BAD ROADS. A member brought forward the bad state of the roads from the school to the post office and main road. As the winter was at hand some alteration should be made to enable the children to get to arid from school dryshod; and it was decided to approach the Land Board asking that Carroll, Duncan, and Mills streets be formed and metalled.