ANNUAL MEETING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVII, Issue 12271, 3 September 1904, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce was held last evening at the offices of the Chamber, Mr H. S. CJ. Harper (president) occupying the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed. THE PARAPARA ROAD. The chairman said tihat before reading the annual report he would.present the report of the deputation which visited Wellington, for the purpose of interviewing the Minister for Public Works re the Parapana road. The report was as follows:—August 24, 1904. The Chairmen, and Members, Wanganui Chamber of Commerce. Gentlemen,— In accordance with your instructions, ive proceeded to Wellington for the purpose of interviewing,the Hon. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, to impress upon him the^ urgent "necessity of placing a substantial sum on the Estimates in order to proceed vigorously ivith the construction of this Wanganui Pairapara Road during the coming summer months. We were accompanied by Messrs Remington and Willis, M's.H.R. In 'introducing the deputation the former gentleman strongly urged on the Minister the imperative need that exists for the completion of this work as quickly! as possible, and pointed out that it would be the means of opening up large areas of Government lands) that can only be served by the road in question. Mr Remington pointed out that the interests of Wanganui were identified with those of his own constituency, and 'hie would be always ready to assist any project having for its object the advancement of the town and district.

Mi' Willis endorsed the previous speaker's remarks, and mentioned that the object for which the deputation were present that evening had been one for which he had been striving, for years. Now that the bulk of native lands through which the proposed road would pass had been acquired by the Government, there could be no obstacle in the way of its speedy completion. He was glad to see the Mayor and the president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce there, as it would prove to the Minister the fact that the people of Wanganui and district were thoroughly i in earnest in this matter. i Mr H. S. G. Harper pointed out the advantages to the Government when the very large areas1 of land affected by this work were improved and brought into settlement. He quoted figures to show the great advantages to both town and country that would accrue when Wanganui had the benefit of having its back country made accessible by means of the Parapaa-a road. He alao pointed out that Mr Ballance nromised the settlers in the Waimarino that this road should be made when they took up their sections, and that this promise had not been fulfilled. It was also pointed out thatfthe Mangawhero Falls would in the future (be a valuable asset to Wanganui for electrical purposes. They were situated on this road. Y~ Mr A, G. Bignell stated' that when the Right Hon.. Mi* Seddon was waited on by a large meeting at Wanganui in November last, that gentleman promised to see this particular work through. The deputation 'were there to ask that some substantial acknowledgment of the fulfilment of that, nromise should be made "by placing a sunn on the Estimates suffi- , oiemtly large to ensure the rapid completion of the work. Wanganui did not ask this ac a: favour., but as a right. With the exception of the mam North and South iroads, Wanagnui had practically no interior roads. Its legitimate o-rowth was 'being retarded by the locking up of its interior lands through the ; want of roads. The Parapara road, when complete, would open ud large areas or land that could not be served by either the river route or the Mam Trunk raalMr. Ha2l-Jones, in replying, admitted that -the deputation had made out a strong case in support of their apphca tion. He acknowledged the fact that the road shqufld be pushed on as quickly as -possible. r The Government's difficulty was that so many demands were made all over the colony for similar roads, and it was- iimpossifble to execute them au. He promised to lay the. whole matter before the Cabinet, and do all he could to have a. suit'abUe sum placed on the estimates. He also acknowledged that this road had been {promised] and should have been made long ago, and that he was prepared ,to do whatever he could to carry it out. The position he was placed in was 'that he had so many demands for roads, and that each particular districts considered theirs of the utmos; importance. It was quite impossible to meet all demands, ibutcit the «anie time he fully recognised that the road asked for by the deputation was not only a local matter, but that it would be of great advantage to the •colony. He was prepared to assist it as far as he possibly could, and When the Estimates were being considered he would do all in his power to allot as large a grant as postsuble. h g HARPER, President Chamber of Commerce. A. G. BIGNELIi, 'Mayor. In supplementing the report the President said the deputation judged, from the way in which the Hon. Hall-Jones received the report, that he was fully impressed with the urgency of the work and was inclined to do what he could to further the construction of the ,road. He mentioned that the Minister had said that he had some £3,000,000 of appli<a.tions for grants .for .public works to .deal with.

Mr. S. H. Manson, after referring to the excellent mataner in wh:ch the deputation had fulfilled their mission, mo-z----ed the adoption of the report, togethe :r with a vote of thanks to the geritleimen constituting the deputation. Mr. J. H. Keesing endorsed Mr. Manson's remarks, and seconded he motion, -which was carried unanimously. Mr. A. Ferguson explained that three new contractis had recently been commenced. From the time the work Avas started there had been practically no cessation, except for a couple of days. "Word Avas received that the work had ■been stopped, action AAias immediately taken by the representatives .of the Chamber, and the Government gave in. for the work to 'be continued. Up to the present all money promised had either been expended or ear-marked for expenditure. The position was satisfactory, and would no doubt continue so so long as the Chamber remained watchful. .