WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3754, 27 July 1883, Page 2

WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

A special general meeting of the abovo . AA'as held last evening in the club hall, and was largely attended. Mr John Murray, President, occupied the chair. The Chairman explained that the meeting . was coiiA'CTied for the purpose- of receiving* . the building committee's report, and for transacting any other business arising therefrom. ' Mr Lounds read the committee's report, r which sta ted that out of fourteen competitive , plans received Mr AVundrum's had, after r careful consideration, been selected as tho ; most suitable. The bonus of £10 had been I tiAvarded to him, and the committee recommended that his plan bo carried out. [ The President said it was the intention of , the committee to provide the material for ', the contractor. Mr Holt was Avilling to supply same on terms, payments to extend , over tAvclvc months, or longer if found ; necessary. That liberal concession would '. enable them to put the Avork in hands at once. He believed the payments colild be met without any difficulty. ) Mr Castle asked how much money the club had to its credit at present. L The Chairman said about £60, and the ' same amount of liabilities. There was the ! stock, hoAvever, to slioav for that. At ! present the stock represented £70 or £80, Mr AVilson proposed that the report of ' the buildiug committee bo adopted. 1 Mr Forstcr sccondod the motion, which was carried. Some desultory conversation ensued as to Avhether tho club had committed itself to , the plans approved by the building committee, and whether the committee should remain in force until tho plans are carried out. The Chairman said that the meeting, iv adopting the recommendations of the com- , mittee, had approved of Mr Wundrurn's , plans. Mr Murphy called attention to tho fact that there was nothing before the meeting, and moved that the building committee bo discharged, and a hearty vote of thanks ac- , corded them for their valuable labors. Mr AVilson seconded tho motion, and stated that his object in doing so was to test the feeling of the meeting as to AA-hether the same members should be rc-nppointed or net. Thero seemed to be a desire on the part of tho meeting to have a say in the matter, and it might as well be encouraged. Mr Black moved, as an amendment, that the present building committee remain in office until the plans aro oarriod out, Mr Leslie seconded the motion. Mr Murphy did not desiro to reflect on tho building committee in the least. He had every faith in the committeo, but he thought it would have done no harm to take the opinion of the meeting on the matter by putting it to tlw vote. Tho amendment, on being put to the meeting, whs carried Avithout dissent. The Chairman said it AA'as noAv for the i meeting to consider AA'hen the proposed alterations should bo commenced. If tenders Avere iiiA'itcd at once the ucav building would be ready for occupation shortly before Christmas. He might state ' that tho tenders Avould be for labor only, and Avould he confined to members of the club. Mr Murphy did not think the club Avas in a position to pay tho amount of instalments for labor nnd materials within the period estimated, and in that case it would be unwise to proceed AA'ith the work for some timo to come. Mr Hodgson said it could be done easily enough, and the payments disbursed promptly too. It had been done before. Tavo years ago tho club owed over £500, AA'hich had since been wiped off. Several members concurred with Mr Hodgson. Mr Black advocated the club having some money in hand before commencing operations. A member: There are £60 in hand. Mr Murphy : That is not an asset; it ia owing to tradesmen. In reply to a question, the President stated that the club was making profit at the rate of £b a week, or somcAvhere about £300 a year. Mr Leslie proposed that the committeo be iiiA-ested Avith discretionary power to carry out the Avork. He had no doubt they Avould only undertake it if thoy sa\T their Avay clearly to it. Mr Black seconded the motion, ay hi eh AA'as carried. Mr Briden brought to the notice of tho mooting tho desirability of raising the old building. It Avas quite too low, and tho health of the steward aud his family Avns imperiled thereby. Ho Avould move that it be raised as soon as convenient. Mr G. F. Morley seconded tho motion. Tho Steward said that at tho present

timo thero wore seven inches of wffter under kis bedroom.

Mr Black suggested that the raising of tho cottago might be undertaken in connection with the general alterations. Tho Chairman stated that it would in all probability bo found necessary to shift the cottago to enable the proposed alterations to be earned out. It could be raised then.

Mr AVilson remarked that the motion allowed tho committoe ample discretionary powers. It only specified that the cottage be raised "as soon as convenient." It Avas highly undesirable that tho stoward shoidd be asked to reside in unhealthy quarters, as he had.now to do. . Aftor some further discussion, in Avhich Mr Dawson and MrT. Bear took part, the former urging the immediate raising of tho biulding, and tho latter insisting that it was a matter pertaining to the committee, Mr Hodgson movi d tka' the building committee be empoAvereu to use their utmost endeavors to have the cottage raised, if found necessary. Mr Beecham seconded tho resolution, which, on being put to the vote, Avas carried by a narroAV majority. The meeeing then dissolved, after a A-ote of thanks to the chairman.