Last Night's Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, 13 December 1898, Page 2

Last Night's Meeting.

;— ' 0 The Council Chamber was filled last night by representatives of all interests in the town, in response to the advertisement of Mr Alfred Fraser, published in these columns. Having called the meeting Mr Fraser took the chair, and was careful to let his hearers understand that he did so not as Mayor, as Mr Stansell was still the Mayor, which some seemed to have forgotten, but he did so in place of Mr Stansell, to whom it would have been exceedingly inconvenient to be present. He had convened the meeting at the request of many residents, and they had all seen the reasons for calling the meeting set out in the Manawatu Herald. He had been informed that the Paimerston United Friendly Societies were coming to Foxton on New Year's Day to hold their sports in Victoria, Park, and probably as such a large number were coming, many ' would like ta run down to the beach. He thought that the townspeople should do all they could to forward the holiday, and that some assistance, if needed, would be gladly rendered by - all. There was another matter that the meeting should consider, and that was the erection of a wharf at the Heads near the fishermen's cottages. The other day in company with the owners of the Nile and with the assistance of Mr Seabury the pilot, they had taken soundings in the river and found a capital place fqr a jetty. The question would be how the money to build it could be found. He ha J received the following letter from Messrs Kemp and Jupp, which he read :— " In reference to the proposed jetty at the Heads, we submit a plan which at a rough estimate, if built of yellow pine heart, would come to about £$o. We would give £5 towards it, and land the timber free of charge. We may state here that if the excursion season proves profitable, our firm will most likely exchange the Nile for a lighter draught,*^ boat, say 3 feet, in addition to the small launch we are getting from Wellington, and it is our intention, if possible, to bring this matter to a successful issue." The launch he (Mr Fraser) might state, was similar to those used by men-of-war, and could be worked by one man, and carry a good number of passengers. In reply to Mr Bradcock, Mr Fraser said that the site of the jetty would be within half a mile ot the Ocean Beach. Mr Thynne thought that as the meeting had been convened more especially to see what could be done to forward the Friendly Societies' picnic, the question of the wharf had better be postponed till the first business was settled. It was well known „ that the settlers in other districts had always done their best to forward our school picnics, and he felt sure we should all be glad to help to secure the success of anything our friends desired to hold here ; besides which it would be good business to do so. He therefore moved that a committee of seven be formed to make any possible arrangement that may be desired by the United Friendly Societies of Paimerston for their picnic on 2nd January. Mr P. Hennessy seconded the mo* tion. Mr A. C. Stansell stated that the local lodge had that night received a letter asking for their assistance. It was suggested that the committee should work with delegates from the local lodge. The resolution was then put and , carried unanimously. *fH> The jetty matter was then discussed, but as the feeling of the meeting was clearly that the amount of the estimate was too low considering the quantity of timber said to be required, it was proposed by Mr Alf. Fraser and seconded by Mr Rhodes, that a committee to report on the proposed jetty be formed of Messrs George Nye, Rr b Chapman, T. Easton, Andrew Jonson, r and Captains Kemp and Glover, and to report to a meeting this night week. 19th December. Carried. A hearty vote of thanks to the chair was proposed by the Rev. W. Woollass and carried.