PUBLIC MEETING AT MOA FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1812, 15 July 1891, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT MOA FLAT.

A meeting of gentlerren interested in the establishment of a rabbit and fruit canning industry was held at the local schoolhouse, on Saturday evening, to consider the report of the committee appointed at a previous meet ing. Mr Wm. Waugh presided. The correspondence received included a letter from the manager of the Clinton factory, enclosing a plan of their buildings, and supplying information as to the plant likely to be required, its probable cost, and where it could be procured ; from the secretary of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, enclosing letters received by that body from Mr H. S. Valentine, M.H.R., and from the secretary of the Gore factory. A list of intending shareholders was then read, which showed that the number of shares applied for amounted to 2740. After some discussion, Mr Gideon A. Smith moved : " That the meeting be adjourned -for four months." This course, he thought, was unavoidable, seeing that neither the owners of Teviot nor Moa Flat estates had as yet shown any desire to assist the undertaking. It was impossible that a factory, even if established, could be a success without the assistance of •the owners or managers of these two properties. In the first place, he should expect material support in cash from them, as purchasers of shares, and afterwards in providing the raw material. In the meantime, the Chairman would be able to communicate with both Messrs Clarke and Roberts, who are at present in England, and elicit from them the amount of support they were prepared to extend to the factory. In any case it was impossible that the company, if formed, could be ready to commence operations in March next ; and a few months' delay could make no material difference in the prospects of the company. The motion was seconded by Mr John Elder, who quite agreed with all that the previous speaker had said on the subject. Mr M. E. Manuel proposed as an amendment : " That the co-npany be registered, and operations' commenced at once." There was no occasion, he said, to commence business on a large scale. As the resources of the company increased, and business expanded, both plant and capital could be added to, and made to keep pace with the possibilities of extending their operations. Be was afraid that adjourning the meeting would have the effect of killing the factory outright. Mr Joseph Tamblyn, in seconding the amendment, thought it was bad policy to allow the projejtto fall through, as he feared would happen were an adjournment for such a length of time decided on. The industry, if once established, would be an incalculable boon to the district, and they should therefore, use every effort to save it from failure. The Chairman strongly advised the meeting to commence operations at once, as they all knew delays were dangerous, and it would be anything but an easy matter to get the settlers in the same enthusiastic frame of mind as they were at present. But whatever course they decided on, he hoped it would be unanimous, and that the same spirit that characterised the present and previous meeting would continue to exist. On a division being taken, the motion was carried by a small majority of shares, the i voting being 510 to 480. The secretary was instructed to thank those gentlemen who had so kindly supplied the meeting with information. The customary vote of thanks to the chair brought the proceedings to a close. ■