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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 28 August 1907, Page 2

Wangapeka and Sherry. A MEETING OF SETTLERS. SCHOOL MATTERS AND A DOMAIN BOARD. i A FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. (r'rom a Correspondent.) The settlers of Wangapeka and Sh-.'r- I ry met in the .Sherry schoohcom <;n Satnrdav evening, 24th inst. Mr \V. H. Phillips was voted to the chair. The Chairman explained the objects of the meeting, which were fiist to consider the advbableness of establ'shing | a central school that would suit the Wangapeka settlement and also the Lower Sherry. After much discussion, Mr Cameron proposed that there be a central school erected. .This was secoJided by Mr Wattie. Mr Lyons proposed that there be a new school built in the Waugapeka settlement, as he and all his neighbours would oppose the closing of the Sher- • ry school. His reason was that there were some young children not yet of school age who should be considered, and also several young people in the district who might soon get married, and their interest should also be considered. Mr Rouse agreed with Mr Lyons, and added that if the school was shifted it would have the effect of depreciating the value of land in the district. Mr Corrigan (Wangapeka) said that in his opinion the meeting had somewhat drifted from the proposal, and (h.?t whilst b. 2 admired the pood intentions of the young people who were anticipating getting married, he thought that what we had to consider was the present children of school age. He s;iid that as far as the depreciation of the value of property was concerned, he thought that should not be considered. They should consider the interest of the education of the child of the working man more than all the property in the district. (Applause.) Th?> amendment was carried by a majority of three votes. The election of a Domain Board was the next business. The following were chosen : — Messrs f'crrigan, Phillips, Thomas, McPheiscn, and Cameron. , Mr Corrigan spoke of the great need of a farmers' co-operative kaleyards, with the farmers having their own auctioneer. He said that in no other part of New Zealand were the farmers' interests so much neglected as in Nelson. They were receiving about 8s a head less for their sheep than in any other part of New Zealand, and the reason was they had not a freezing works. Some people might say they had not enough of sheep. They had about 280,000 in the Waimea County, and with all the Crown lands that had been thrown open lately and all that would be thrown open this year, he could not see with those that said we had not enough sheep. Then we had a good harbour — better than Wanganui, where they have a very up-to-date freezing works, that had increased the price of shc^ep in that district by 40 per cent. Mr C'orririan appealed to the fanners to make an effort to try and better their condition, and said that by doing so they would benefit the whole community. (Loud applause.) On Mr Corrigan being asked what would be the best steps to take, he said the best way would be to hold meetings in various districts and let the farmers discuss the matter, and ascertain what support they could get. This was agreed to, and a committee consisting of four were appointed to make the preliminary arrangements for calling a series of meetings. A vote ©f thanks to the Chair brought the meeting to a close.