OAMARU COFFEE PALACE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2250, 15 July 1879, Page 2

OAMARU COFFEE PALACE.

A general meeting ot the promoters of the proposed coffoo palaoo, to rocoivo the report of the provisional committee, wa» hold in tho Athemnnm last night, There were about 40 persons present, and Mr Falconer wns called on to take tho chair, Tho Ohairman referred to the obieot of the meeting. He said the provisional committee had, after considering tho matter, drown tip a icport, which ho would call upon tho Secretary, MM Montagu, to road. Mr Montagu then road tho following report : The Committee appointed to make en« quirics in tho matter of establishing a coffoo palaco or hotel in Oaniaru, are of opinion that such can only prove a financial tmocoss in combination with accommodation for at least 20 lodgers. Cost of scouring a suitable site and building wm ascertained to bo about the sum of L 4.000, with furnishing, 14,500. To rent an appropriate building in a good position wouW cost probably L 5 per week, or ti25Q per anuuin, to which must be a.dd.o4 the cost of altering and making, move suit, able to the particular needs of the undootaking, and L5OO for furnishing. ■ We nov leave the matter in your hands, only further suggesting that any future provisional committee' bo established on a widor basis, to inoludo all sootions of the community. Mr Moore said it appeared to him that the in.agnitu.do of tho undertaking ljad atruok Me meeting dutnb. The committee seemed to have gono'on a soiuo r what wrong traok. Ho thought in tho prosenttlull times they should not attempt too much. They should content themselves with a capital of L3O or L5O. Ho referred to the success which had attended a coffee room in Melbourne, which hod started with about L3O. Thoy ought to obtain some promises on the east side of Thames stroet, somewhere between tho bridge and Lane's corner, where a cup of coffee, and perhaps a slico of bread and butter, could bo supplied for a reasonable •urn of money, and so provide a means to counteract tho ftifjuonco of the publiqliouses, ' ' • . • - The Roy. Mr Todd was. »qrry to nee «q small an at.tondanco. However, thoy should thank tho committee for the great interest taken by them in obtaining information. He had no doubt that had they the means the suggestion contained in the report oould be oarrjed out with success, He read an extract from the .Southern Gross, whioh desoribed the laying of the foundation stone of a coffee palaoo in Melbourne, whioh wai established by a company, the tharea in whioh were Ll, payable in easy instalments, extending over a long period. Such an enterprise would, ha was assured, be successful in Oamaru, but in the present depressed state of matters it was not advisable to go on with the matter. He would move : " That this meeting expresses its thanks to the committee foe the report sub-

milted, but, while agreeing with the suggestion! therein contained, is of opinon that in view of the presont financial depression the establishment of a coffee palflce should be postponed for a time."* This would not interfero with Mr Moore's suggestion to establish a coffee-room, the subject of which could be brought up aftnr the motion hud been passed. Mr Milligan seconded the motion, and on being put to tho meeting it wn« carried. Mr Milligan said that in order to lose no time, and that the interest in tho affair might be kept alive, he would suggest that another committee bo formed, to collect all possible information with regard to the probable cost of tho undertaking. He thought they could not got too much information, and he would therefore movethat a committee of twelve bo appointed to obtain further information, and to report in three months The Rev. Mr Todd oeconded tho motion, and in doing so recommended that the secretaries of tho Melbourne and Christchnrch and other coffee palace companies be written to with a view to obtain tho fullest information possible. The motion was then pub and carried. The following gentlemen wero then elected to act on the cotnmili.ee : Messrs Falconer, Minims, Jeffroy*, Robinson, M'Farlane, Hamilton. Montagu, Couper, Watson, Sntton, CnMibert, andDawson— five to form a quorum. Mr Montagu was appointed convener, and it was resolved that tho meetings of tho committee be held in tho Young Men's Christian Association Rooms. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.

The meeting was afterwards reconstituted in order to discuss the proposal of Mr Moore to establish a coffee-room in Thames street in the meantime. After somo discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr M'Farlane, seconded by Mr Moore, that the ladies present, Mesdames Todd, Clowes, 0. G. Mopre, Rock, Mirams, and Miss Moore, with power to add to their number, form a committees to tnke the necessary steps for the establishment of a temporary coftVoroom, and that Messrs Moore and Milligan be associated with the committee. It was resolved, that Mrs Clowes ho convener of the Ladies Committee, and those present separated.