PROPOSED REFRIGERATING COMPANY FOR THE PENINSNLA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 640, 1 September 1882, Page 2

PROPOSED REFRIGERATING COMPANY FOR THE PENINSNLA.

Tlio public meeting - culled by Messrs V. Maseiield and E. y. Latter, to consider llie advisableness of establishing a company for the exportation of meat and dairy produce from Akaroa ILiH-or direct to the Homo markets, was held at the Town Hall, Ak-iro'i, on Tuesday alternoon. It was evident that considerable interest was felt, from the fact tlr.it soma time before the ■advertised hour for the meeting, groups of farmers began to gather in front of the llali, and when a start was made there were some 70 people in the room, the number increasng to nearly 100 before the proceedings terminated. Many of the more prominent of those who were unavoidably ab-ent sent word that they warmly sympathised, but were unable to attend through pressing engagements. Mr Pij.er president of the Fanners Club, to wl om had as a matter of course been entrusted the moving of the first resolution, and who is one of the trustees for Mrs Shadbolr, was detained by the burning of tho Somerset Hotel. Mr B deer, the County Council chairman, who was to have taken the chair, arrived just as the mooting was over, having been delayed by important business. Mr Buchanan thought the meeting was in tho evening, and caniu over on purpose when it was too late, and Messrs Birclling, Garwood, Uoop, and 11. Fleming all sent word of their approval of the s-'choine, reg r etting that circumstances prevented their attending. This will show the very large interest taken, and must bo most encouraging to those gentlemen who called the meeting, by showing how universal is the sympathy felt.

On the motion of -Mr Maselield Mr A, C. Knight was voted to the chair.

Mr Knight said hu was not in a position to give full information on the subject, he came as a listener more than a teacher, but he had a strong conviction as to the "desirability of carrying out the scheme. He would road the advertisement calling the meeting (advertisement read). He certainly thought the thanks of the meeting were due to the. gentlemen who had called them together to consider this important subject. It must be a great satisfaction to those gentlemen to see such an excellent attendance, and it showed the general interest fell. In his opinion the establishment of such a company might be the making of Akaroa, but at the s une time if unsuccessful h might ln.irr its interests, for it : the lesult were nothing, those opposed to Akaroa in other places would say, poor little Akaroa, what can she do but raise a storm in a teapot. They must take care, however, that the movement did not come to nothing, but all work hard to ensure its success—■ (applause). Taevo was, as they were

aware, a company already established for the .exportation of frozen meat from Canterbury. Ibis co-npany was, however, not in a position to benefit Peninsula stockgrowors much, from the fact that it had mode, what was in his opinion, the fatal mistake, of erecting the works at Belfast, too tpr away altogether for their purposes. He considered that they had been called together to consider the subject in the very nick of time. That it was a peculiarly suitable locality no one could deny, and what they had to consider was if it could be arranged Lo erect the necessary works, and provide the produce to ship aboard tho vessels. Ho believed they had it in their power to make the scheme a thorough 'y successful one. If they would only work together unanimously, assisting by taking up shares Akaroa might be vastly benclitted, and make a name for itself—(applause). Apologies were then made for those, absent, particulars of which appear elsewhere.

Mr E. S. Latter said that those calling the meeting had considered it best to leave it for those present to say whether it was desirable to establish suoli a company before they went to any grett expense or trouble in collecting , information. They looked upon this as merely a preliminary meeting to confirm the expediency of forming such a company as that proposed. They did not require expensivo works, and he thought the company, if storied, could hardly fail to bo a success. They 1 i:id called this meeting to test the feeling of the people regarding such fin enterprise. The callers of the meeting believed the scheme a practicable one. He thought the best thing would be to ask some gentleman to speak on the subject.

Mr Win, Banett, of Le Bon's, said lie had much pleasure in moving—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable to establish a Company on the Peninsula for the export of frozen meat and dairy produce direct to England from Akaroa Harbor." He had been r quested to move this resolution since entering the room, and lie believed it was always the custom in doing so to speak for a few minutes. Ho came there, however, as Mr Knight had said, more as a listener than a speaker ; to hear what others said, rather than to t-ike an active part ; but at the same time he had learned something on the subject even that morning, and would say a few words. In his opinion, the establishment on the Peninsula of a Company like the one proposed -was a most desirable proceeding, and by far the most important step the county hid yet essayed. He had been exceedingly glad to see the advertisement, and complimented the gentlemen who had called the meeting on their energy in taking active steps in the matter. Ho wondered that the Fanners' Club had not been communicated with, as he looked on it as one of those matters in their department, and it was as well to get the members' hearty concurrence At the s'imo time ho was glad to see now b!ood working on these matters, and hoped to see people go into it heart and soui. If they did not work now, they wvro missing an opportunity he believed would benefit the whole couniy. If they had to send their produce to B'-lfast, he wis sui\; it was too far, so that Akaro.i was to a certain extent left out in the coll. Belfast was a bad site for the Peninsula, as it was actually on (he Northern line. If the works had been somewhere between lleathuote and Op aw a it would have suited thorn lustter. Many seemed to think it was quite praetiea le to establish a Company hero, and he knew, if it could be done, it would be a great benefit in many ways. It would, for instance, increase their population, by keeping labor on the Peninsula, and that was what they wanted, for if their population increased, it would help to get the railway line—a thing they all desired. (Applause.) They rc.miied popnlalion more than anything. When a commit leo of gentlemen were told that a railway difficult to construct was required, and tint it ran through a country where the population was only 5000. they pooh-poehed the idea. They forgot the future, forgot the grand liaibor at the end of the proposed li >c ; they only said it was ridiculous to spend so much money on a small place with only 5000 inhabitant.*. If they could by any means increase their population to 10,000, they would be able to make better terms. They should therefore try and keep all the work they could in the county, and by starting an Export Company here they might do a good deal in thut way. Tho other factory at Belfast would have just the opposite effect, tending to take labor nway, Tho result, too, of tin; establishment of such an industry would be to induce ships to come here, a result also tending to keep labor in tho place, lie bad also beard it said that wore it successful they would hive soap and candle fctoiies established here also, for of course there <vas a great deal of refuse and fat from the sheep, to be utilised. Those things were likely to be followed by others, and so a real start might lie given to the place. It had been reported that tho establishment of such a company would bo an expensive matter, and that £10,000 would be required. This tended to frighten people, but he had been told since \n came in, that yards could be erected in which the sheep could be slaughtered ready for freezing aboard tho ship for £200. Well, if it could be done for £200 or even £2000, it should be taken up by every one living here, for he believed it was a most important step in the right direction. He begged to move the resolution

His Worship the Mayor seconded without remark.

1 Mr \V. B. Tosswill said that lie did not wish to throw any cold water on the scheme, but before the resolution was put he should like to ask if it would not bo better to make a few enquiries before pledging' themselves to anything. For instance, they should ascertain definitely if it were possible to have the sheep slaughtered on shore, and then taken aboard and frozen. He had been told that this was the course pursued in shipping a cargo in Dunodin thai had turned out well in England. Then they should ascertain tho relative expense of slaughtering and shipping here and sanding to Bjlfast and freezing there, and then sending aboird the ship in Lyttleton. They must recollect that the meat taken from Belfast ams all placed frozen in the trucks, and sent straight down to the vessels lying at tho wharves, so that it went from the truck direct aboard the ship. Here, however, he supposed ' they would huve to ship by means of j lighters, and those who had shipped aboard ! vessels in Lytteltonin the old days would know what trouble and expense tlmt meant. Ho wished the proposed company every possible success, but asked them to make

full enquiries first, so that they thoroughly understood what they >yore doing. The Chairman said it was not intended to do anything till full particulars had been ascertained, and it was proposed to elect a committee to do this. The resolution was merely intended to see if those present were really anxious to see a Refrigerating Company established here. Mr Whitfield said he should certainly have liked to have heard more about the matter. He thought steps should be taken to gain information before committing themselves.

The Chairman said the resolution committed them to nothing.

Mr Anson eaid it was not possible for anyone to say the proposal was not a most desirable ono, but lie should like to know more about it first. He should like to wait lill he knew if there were enough stock to eiiab c them to send away vessels He did not think they should say to-day, '• Wo will have a company," and a fortnight hence say, '\\Vo have made enquiries and the establishment of such a company is not desirable." They wanted dealers, butchers and others who knew, to stale some facts in these matters. Every one knew it was a good thing to ship their produce direct to Knglund. The question was, will it pay to do so ? Suppose the committee reported adversely, would it not tend to stop the progress of Akaroa. They had hitherto been nearly always too far behind, but they should be careful now that they did not get too far nlie.ul, which was possible if they went on at such a desperate rate.

Mr W. Minefield said that the resolution seemed to him to be merely to ascertain whether the people would go into the matter or not, that once settled whoever was appointed could procure the requisite information. It was no good going to the trouble of collecting the information if no end would be served by obtaining i(. Mr S. Watkins said that no doubt the starting of such a company would do good, but he thought it would be desirable before passing a, resolution to say it w is a good tiling to have it established, t<» ascertain further particulars.

His Worship the Mayor said the matter appeared a very plain one to him. The question before the meeting was, would not a company of the sort pioposed be a desirable tiling, and then if the meeting considered that to be the case, the next step was lo find out if it were practicable Or not—(applause). All they were asked to do was to say if they considered the scheme desirable, and then let some practical men be selected to procure the necessary information to ascertain if the thing cpuld be done—(hear, hear).

Mr Duxbury said lie believed every one was of llie same opinion regarding , the desirability of starting tlin Company, and great thanks were due to the plucky gentle men who had brought the matter to a head. There was no doubt a Company such as proposed could be made a great success, if residents were un-minions, and put tlioir shoulders to the wheel. There was no doubt there were sufli -icnt fat sliecp and enough dairy produce to export, and it" (hey would all hang together, the thing could i-c done. Dut there was the difficult)' ; they had different opinions, an 1 would not work together. Thin reason hid in ade in my tike shares in the Canterbury Fruz.'U Mi-ai Company. There »shou!d be no difficulty in raising the money ; there was plenty on the Peninsula ; and not only produce growers, but shopkeepers and every one else, were interested in the progress of the pi .ice, and if they all joined it could be done. Hiive the frozen meat scheme had been tried, some seven or eight months ago, companies had been formed in Canterbury and Oiago. The shares in Otago had been taken up rapidly,and £10,000 had been raised, which was considered sufficient. Such enthusiasm bad not been shown in Canterbury, but there a Company had also been formed. Why, then, could they not emulate ihe energy of their Ofago fellow-colonists? He did not suppose it would be necessary for them to lay out as much as £JO,OOO, but whatever sum was required coui'd be raised, if every man would go in and subscribe, if the Bays were all canvassed, and a Company formed at once. The way to make it a success would be to call up the money by degrees. If shareholders had only to pay 10s or £1 at intervals they would never feel it. Their prospects were good ; cheese was from 8d to 10d per lb, and everything else was fetching good prices. There- was plenty of money. (Lnghter.) Aβ he said before, let them h.'Uig together, and not civil at each other, faying this i.s not done, and that riot done, hut work unanimously for the general good. He believed if they did that they could get funds enough to start and carry on the thing successfully. (Applause.)

Lite Chairman said lie would now put the resolution to the mooting. He trusted that, after the explanations that had been made, no two opinions existed regarding the resolution, (dear, hear.) Mr Adams had, he thought, put the case very clearly when ho said that what the resolution meant was whether the establishment ,of such a Company was desirable, and th it it was afterwards to be ascertained if it were practicable or not. A voice in the hall: "Go in, we're all for it, old m in." (Luighter.) •

The resolution was then put aud earned unanimously.

A little delay here occurred, owing to the preparation of a list of names to lay before the meeting as suitable to act on a committee to gather information.

Dining tlio pause Mr McGregor rose and said, that lie should like to move that a committee be appointed to gather information on the subject. He was not at all behind the success in the matter, hut it was certainly necessary that they should appoint a good committee, to ascertain at once if the affair were really practicable, and lay the result of their labors before the public at as early a date as possible. He had just had placed in his hands a list of genthjmen to act as a committee. He saw that it was a very good one embracing many influential names. He begged therefore to move, " That a committee be formed to obtain all the necessary information and report to a future meeting. Such committee to consist of Messrs 1\ Adams, F. Anson, W. Barnett, 11, D, Buchanan, T. S. Biker, W. Birdling, E. S. Cliappell, G. Checldey, W. Coop, J. Duxbury, J. Dalglish, 11. Fleming, J. Grct.bi«, T. 0. flay, G. U. Jobiin, 11. 0. Jacohson, A. G. .Knight, A. Lyon, E. Lelievre, E. S. Latter, V. G. Maseiield, J. 11. Alenzio, A. I. McGregor, T. 13. Mould, A. P. O'Gallaghan, 11. I'iper, J. Reid, J. Rhodes, R. G. Rix, F. Snow, G. H. Saxton, J. E. Thacker, W, B. Tosswill, and S. Robertson with Dower to add to their number.

Seconded by Mr E. S. Cbappell and carried unanimously.

The Chairman said that he hoped they would all exert themselves to the utmost to make the movement a success. Let them ail do their utmost and he believed the present was an opportunity for satisfactorily benefitting Akaroa. lie hoped that when the committee repotted tho meeting would be as well attended as tho one held that day—(applause). A vote of thiuiks to the Chairman terminated a most successful meeting.

A meeting of thecoininitteemon present was held afterwards. Mr Knight wan elected chairman of the committe 1 , and Mr E. S. Latter secretary pro (em. A working committee consisting of. Messrs Knight, Litter, V. Mascfield, Cherkly, and Jacobson, were appointed, and steps wore devised for procuring all necessary information as speedily as possible. All producers in the County are to he communicated with, regarding the amount of Ftock or dairy produce they could send, and exact information is to bo procured respecting the possibility o£ slaughtering tho ashore and freezing on board the vessels, and also as to the probable cost of ynrd.s, rent of site, etc ,ao that an estimate of the capital needed may be ascertained, to be 1 id before the next public meeting, which is to be held at as early a date as possible.