PUBLIC MEETING AT RUSSELL'S FLAT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1707, 9 August 1879, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING AT RUSSELL'S FLAT.

A public meeting took place at the schoolroom on Thursday evening; Mr John Rutledge was called to the chair. The chairman was glad to see such an influential meeting. They had met to consider tho necessity for a passenger and goods station between Sheffield and Kowai Pass. He thought that a great effort should bo made to retain the telegraph office in its present position. A petition, numerously signed, had been sent to the Minister for Public Works, but it had not met with the success that was anticipated. Mr W. J. Taylor read a copy of the petition, which showed that in the opinion of the opinion of the subscribers the best site for the new station would be in the vicinity of the Malvern telegraph office, where there are six roads, that site being most convenient for Russell's Mat with its valuable deposits of coal and other minerals. He had forwarded the petition with a commendatory letter, and bad received a reply stating that it should receive immediate attention. After a considerable time Mr Rutherford and himself had called at the office of the Minister for Public Works, when it appeared that the petition bad miscarried.

Mr A. Reid proposed—" That this meeting urge on the railway authorities the necessity of providing a goods and passenger station near the Telegraph office, at the junction of the Dalethorp and West Coast roads, as prayed for in the petition of the residents of the district, and forwarded through Mr Taylor on June 2nd." The motion was seconded by Mr C. Yate3, and carried unanimously. Mr J. Mcintosh moved—" That this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Publio Works."

Seconded by Mr J. O. Mann, ond carried unanimously. Mr Gr. Robertson said it was reported that the Telegraph office would be removed. He would move—" That the removal of tho Malvern Telegraph Btation, as rumoured, would be inadvisable and detrimental to the public service." Messrs Craighead and Mcintosh strongly supported the motion, which was carried. Messrs Rutherford and McKay suggested that a monster petition should be sent in eupport of the motion. It was decided to forward the resolution to the Commissioner of Telegraphs.

Mr Beid said that he had written a letter to the Chief Postmaster, Ohristchurch, complaining of the irregular despatch of mails for this office. He laid it on the I able for signatures, stating that he found no fault with the Malvern postmaster, who was often absent on telegraph matters. Someone ought to be appointed to act at such times. Mr Taylor suggested that as there were so so many present, a committee should bo elected to find them a suitable candidate to represent them in the Assembly. In the present momentous crisis they ought to seek for the best man to be found. Mr Bobertson thought they should take action at once. The Chairman quite concurred with the laßt speaker, as this part of the Coleridge district had never been adequately represented. An Elector : How about Mr Jebson ? The Chairman —Well, Mr Jebson had done more for the district than any man he knew, though he had only been a M.P.C. [Hear, hear.] The following committoe was oppointod— Messrs Berry, Craighead, Field, Mackintosh, McKay, Beid, Eutherford, Eutledge, Taylor, C. Yates, and J. Yates. Mr James Craighead would like the farmers present to take some steps to abate the eparrow pest. After some discussion it was decided that a meeting of those interested should be held on Monday. The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. The political committee met, and Mr W. J. [Taylor was appointed chairman, and requested to convene another meeting at an early date.