COFFEE PALACE FOR OAMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 998, 1 July 1879, Page 2

COFFEE PALACE FOR OAMARU.

A meeting was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening for the purpose of considering tho advisability of establishing a Coffee Palace in Oauiaru. There wero 32 persons present, eight of whom were ladies, and Mr. George Robinson occupied the chair. ' The chairman called upon tho Rev. A. B. Todd to open the proceedings with prayer, after which Mr. Milligan briefly urged the importance of the establishment of a Coffee Palace. Sir. C. G. Moore gave a few hints ;v- m | how the Palace should be conducted.' ile I thought that, whether taken up purely as I a Christian and philanthropic institu: ion, I or as a secular commercial enterpri'ii-, it ■ should be supported by the meeting. I The Rev. A. B. Todd had long been I impressed with the great importance of I establishing such an institution ; but he I supposed the reason why one had not been I previously established was that people I thought it would not pay. While in fl PV.nedin a few days ago, he had I visit to a coffee room kept by Mrs. Valpy, I who had started with a capital of L2OO. H On the day he visited the place, there H had been SO persons supplied with a cup H of coffee and a slice of bread and bufctejr H for the small sum of 3d, and lie had£2' H doubt it was a paying concern. He wou/d H be willing to assist in the establishment of a coffee room in Oainaru himself. Mr. M'Farlano had long thought of tho necessity for having a coffee-room in Oamaru. He had seen them carried on H by private individuals, one ill Melbourne especially, which was doing very well. Ho was in favor of establishing a company, at LI per share, so that everyone might take part in the movement, and also said that it was necessary that it should be highly respectable. Mr J. Mirams thought it should not be started in too small a way, but with a certain amount of show, and flourish of trumpets, something after the American style, and suggested that a lodging-house should be established in connection lvtih it, as if men had to go to hotels to sleep a great deal of the good might be lost that otherwise might accrue from such institution. Ho moved—"That meeting pledge itself to support such an institution, not only in its commencement, but also in its practical working." . Mr. Falconer seconded the motion, stated his experience of the want of a place in the district, and thought a committee should be at once appointed make inquiries and give a report at early date. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Moore stated his opinion that meeting should first know on what pies the institution was to be conducted, when Mr. Hamilton proposed, "That should be conducted on total principles." , After a good deal of discussion, motion was declared lost by five. The following gentlemen were then pointed a committee to take into sideration the best means of the institution, and to bring up a at a public meeting to be held at the place next Monday week:—Messrs. (convener), Falconer, Montagn, M'Farlane, Hamilton, and RobinsonThe meeting then terminated, usual vote of thanks to the chair.