THE WEEKLY HALF HOLIDAY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12466, 16 February 1909, Page 3

THE WEEKLY HALF HOLIDAY.

♦ ■ TO CELEBRaTE A SATURQAY OPENING. . PROPOSED INDUCEMENT TO COUNTRY SHOPPERS. J MEETING OF SHOPKEEPERS. • A meeting of shopkeepers was held at the Oity Council Chambers last evening to consider ways and means of celebrating the first late Saturday night by bringing in residents from the outlying districts by ."rail. About^a dozen persons were present, and Mr P. W. Fairey wasvotedto tbe chair. The Chairman briefly stated the objeot of the meeting, and said tbat by paying £30 the Kailway Department would put on a train from Kiwi on March 6tb. returning in the evening. Excursion rates would be charged. Arrangements, he said, could also be made for a free train, provided a sufficient sum was subscribed. A Mr Carpenter moved that the Railway Department having promised to run a train from Tadmor, returning in the evening of March 6th for £30, this meeting of shopkeepers endeavour to obtain the necessary funds- to enable this to be done. In speaking to the motion, Mr Carpenter said that the people living at a long distance bad not had an opportunity of visiting town on Saturday night for some time, and a late train wonld be tbe means again of bringing couotry people into touch with the townpeople again. '„■•' .. The Chairman seconded the motion, which, after a brinf discussion, was carried unanimously. On the motion of Messrs Carpenter and Grove, Messrs Fairey, Carpenter, Trathen, W. Dee, E. Wood, Chßpman, Gibbard, Bredbury, Smith and Thorpe, with power to add to their number, were appointed a committee to canvass tbe oity for subscriptions to guarantee £30 for a train from Tadmor and back at' excursion rates. Mr Grove suggested tbat an en , deavour should be ; made by the canvassers to secure a sufficient sum to provide a free train. He thought perhaps a thousand people would take advantage of the pportunity of visiting Nelson on that occasion, and, in addition, to providing the country people with an outing, the business people in the city would benefit. Mr Dee though that an endeavour should be made to get a free train. He would sooner let the .matter drop unless a free train could be provided. Mr Trathen considered half a loaf was better than no bread. If they could not get a free train, by all means have an. excursion tram. The Chairman pointed out that for a free train tbey would have to pay so muoh per head. Be favoured a free train. Mr Thorpe thought if it cost each of them £5 it would be a cheap advertisement. If they could not get a free train they could go back to the £30 proposition. Canvassers were appointed as follows:—Bridge street, Messrs Fairsy and Wood ; Trafalgar street, Messrs Smith and Dee; Hardy street, Messrs Carpenter, Gibbard and Trathen ; the Port, Mr Thorpe. A sum of fifteen guineas was promised in the room towards the guarantee for the free traiD. It was suggeetea that circulars should be printed and distributed in the train, pointing out to the country- people the shopkeepers who were providing the train. On the motion- of Mr Fairey, it was resolved to adjourn the meeting until Thursday night to obt3in the report of canvassers as to the support the suggestion had received.