The Manawatu Beach Resort.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3503, 30 March 1905, Page 2

The Manawatu Beach Resort.

AN INFLUENTIAL AND SVC* CESSFUL MEETING. A meeting of representative* of local bodies in the Manawatu and surrounding districts was held in the Palmerston North Council Chamber* on Thursday afternoon, when the proposal to approach the Government with a view to constructing a railway from the Lady's Mile, Foxton, to the Manawatu beach, and so bring ft healthy seaside resort easy reach of the residents ot the district, was fully discussed. Those present were Messrs J, Miller (Glen Oroua), F. Venn (Horowhenua), J. Stanseli (Shannon), Nye, Moore, Fraser, Simpson, H. Austin, Hennessy and BtOi Fox (Foxton), Vincent (Oroua County Council), Mathieson (Karere), Anderson (Longburn), Madden (Bunnythorpe), Claris and Purnell (Manawatu County Council), Rev. I. Jolly (chairman of College-street School Committee), Crs E. J. Armstrong and Haydon (Palmerston), several member* of the Palmerston North Chambtr of Commerce, Pastor Ries, (Dannevirk*)* Cr J, C, Thompson (Feilding Borough Council), Crs Luxford and J.' ‘C. Nathan (Kairanga County Council), and Mr Vaughan (Stoney Creek). There were also several influential., townspeople present. , Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. Tarrant (Awaburi), t T. Lowes (Ashhurst), J. Donald (Bainesse), Rev. C. C. Harper, F. • Pbillpotts (Pohangina), G. H. Bennett . and R. McKnight. Mr J. Nash, President of the Chamber of Commerce, presided. In touching on the matter, Mr J. Nash, President of the Chamber _ of Commerce, welcomed all the visiting delegates. He estimates the work to cost between £4OOO and £ SOOO, but all knew it would result in a _ large increase in revenue to the Railway Deparmeiit. The annual school excursions from Palmerston would alone provideinterest on the cost of the undertaking. If laid down in accordance witb th* Public Works Act, the estimated cost would bo about £2OOO per mile. Ther* were no bridges, and only one or two culverts. Referring to the tailing through of the proposal# with regard to freezing operation* at • the Heads, he said that the estimate of the cost of the Hu* had v been £3OOO. He was indebted to Mr H. J. Wylde for a plan of the tanatorium prepared by the Goverement, and he exhibited it to the meeting, at the same time explaining the detail*. The land at the Heads was controlled by the Crown Lands Department, »nil could be obtained as follows ‘.-—l4 years lease £ of an acre, io» per year; |of an acre, 20s per year; and i an acre. 40s per year. Map* and plane would be available in a few days, and could be sent to anyone requiring them. Notwithstanding the preient inconveniences cottages let well, and the shifting nature 01 the sand could be stayed by planting lupins, which grew well. There was plenty of firewood available. Numerous l»ke* were handy, in which children could bathe with perfect safety, and any amount of fishing and shooting wftfl obtainable. A few days ago, he, with Messrs Cohen, Simmon# and Freetb bad visited the beach and they were fully satisfied that it could not b* rivalled by any of the show watering places of the colony. Petitions had been prepared in support of the movement and he thought there would be no difficulty in obtaining fully 6000 signatures. They could Be taken by the proposed deputation to wait upoa the Minister and no time lost in getting on with the project. Mr Nash concluded by again referring to the desirability of having a seaside resort placed within easy reach of the residents of the district and also as. to the health giving properties of sea air and the benefits to be derived by all from a week’s sojourn at the seaside. Other speakers who favoured th* proposition included : —Messers J. Vil* and W. T. Wood, Ms.H.R., Messrs Hurley, Thompson, Cohen, .Wild*, Purnell, R. S. Abraham, Vincent, Miller, Madden, Mathieson, Vaughan, Freeth, Anderson, J. C. Nathan, Stanseli, Luxford, and Pastor Rise, whilst Messrs G. A. Simpson, A. Fraser, G. Nye and Bro. Fox (of Foxton) supplied valuable information to the gathering. 1 > The following motion was thsq,.. moved by Mr Cohen, seconded by Mr J. G. Thompson (Feilding) and cmiedl unanimously:—" That this meeting enthusiastically and unanimously affirms the project submitted to it -ra • the extension of the railway line from Foxton to the beach, and that a powerful and influential deputation consistingof delegates from borough and. toiga councils and local bodies of the neighbouring district, members of tb* House of Representatives, and chairmen of the school committee*, Wait upon the Premier and the MinietW: for Public Works urging upon them the necessity oi meeting the views of the deputation, and further that in th* meantime advantage be taken of the offer of Messrs Wyld, Armstrong and Nye td gather such data as may assist the above deputation in laying the details Of the project before tbeMinutera in its most complete and convening aspect.” The personnel of tbs deputation was left to the Council qf the Chamber of Commerce.