MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 97, 14 September 1878, Page 2

MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL.

A "meeting of the ratepayers of Palmerston was held on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the scheme propounded by his Worship for the improvement of the "Square. There was a largo number of those more immediately interested m the matter present, besides a sprinkling of ratepayers from other portions pf the town. His Worship the Mayob presided, and m opening the meeting said that; it had been convened m order to get the public; feeling with regard to the scheme for the improvement of'. t.he Square embodied m a resolutipn of the Council, That resolution was to the effect thflit'-owners of I. property /in, any .portion of tbevtQwn where there was an existing., road, could, by taking up the Borough' 'de-' bentnres,- improve: their properties, under the : direction of the Council. If sufficient encouragement were given to the scheme, it_ was proposed to level tlie Square, make a twelve-footpath outwards and inwards, erect a chain fence with neatly-capped posts, and at certain distances place turnstiles. It was too late m the season now fori planting, bnfc it ■ was proposed to plough and sow it'^with grass) and m the fall; to Iplant pines^'cypresse.;;- and other shrubs and trees. The whole expense of this work could be covered by £300, and by its 'execution the value of property would be materially enhanced, and the townwould have the appearance to stranger's as if it were cared for." He believed in'the motto, " God helps those that help themselves.'" It was not necessary every person should take up ja full share, -as a £25 debenturo.might be divided between two. They would carry seven per cent., and. be redeemable after ten yeays. but m 'the -meantime,.*.: they were a marketable commodity, money, could be obtained upon them, or they could he disposed of 'altogether. By this arrangement money would not be locked up, investors would be able to draw the yearly interest of seven per cent., and the principal intact at the end of «H^Kars. He thought lie had laid the •^^ff^prominenfc features of the scheme before the meeting, but if he had not made tlie matter plain, he would be happy to explain any point, or answer any questions.., Mr McNeil, v tjushed.to. know what effect the proposed steps would" haveTwilh regard to the Square, as a recreation ground ? ;T!ie Mayor said that although the money tp carry out the work would be advanced from private sources, the Square stiU remained public property, but the*improvements woidd materially enchance- the value of property m the vicinity. He might also state that it was intended to place culvert boxes over the drain near the Station, and put drain tiles m. <;--...-. ; ■ .- ■ Mr Ferguson- wi&ied to refer to some remarks which had fallen from the Chairman, m whieh'-t' was; .'stated, that i tlie debfjutpr^s would be negotiable. For "his own informa- j tion he would like to hear- in what way they would become a marketable commodity as stated. For instance would the bank honor them m the same manner as bills ? : The MATOl£~exp-atnec"r that they would be property of a certain value*, and those who had accounts at the bank could have advances upon them ; or they might pass ourrent if not at a premium, surely at par. If the towo.: were .- to collapse, altpg^her, tjhen those who had pinned their faith, upon its progress, might ".be' the' losers, ' bttfc he thought there was very-little propeefc-of *such a calamity. When the Public Works rioliey was m full swing ther#*w&ro _oflre* Croakers who prognosticated the collapse ..pfrjPalhierston at the cessation or- completion of fhe works, but the result had 'been _fouhd to be the contrary, and since then it had exhibited a elieerihg amount 'of vitality,' forging steadily ahea.din;progj-#33 .and .prosperity. ; Mr Walton said a resolution had been placed m his hands, which' he-WoUld* beg to move, -fewas .to the following e.ffect j— j " That a eoinmit tee, consisting of Messrs. JR. Leary, Ferguson, ari£P'Sfiefson, be appointed to ascertain from owners; of pro perty and householders adjacent to and on the Square, what number of debentures, or portion of debentures, they will take up to improve. the Square." { Mi 4 J-ifC}?f»ili ; s'aid' : "M' thought, <$& wqyild be hs well. to, state. |m thej-esolution^when the 'commit ree'sliduld'tate^actioh-in- tHe : "rhatr'er, jand what tiniK ib ; wp.i+ld,; report the result thereof. ! ThellifjCxbß sai^thpriiext^nepting of the 'Borough "Council would take" place 'no i'Thui-sdaj-, the 3rd pf October, ..and .no doubt the committee ' '.vouM "be able t-6're-port before that time. There wQuld be a second resolution and the suggestion of Mr McNeil could be embodied m tliat. I Mi* McNeil said that he much pleasure m seconding the resolution, which was put and carried -unanimously.. _ .. Mr Coleman said he had a. resolution to propose, but before proceeding to read it, ;he thought the thanks of the meeting and i the ratepayers were due to his Worship the \ Mayor, for the energetic manner m which he : had not only taken up; the present matter, but also everytlung.which tended to the advancement of the. town and district. The benefits to be derived from tho scheme ' would m his (the speaker's). —md be threefold—tliey; would materially enhance the value of private property, would improve and advance the town itself, and thirdly would be- the means of providing a large amount of work for the district. There might be an impression abroad that m seeking to improve the Square the Borough Council had been actuated by a desire to build up one part of tlie town at the expense of the other. Tl.»< was a mistake, and as had been explained by the Chairman it wns wit hin the province of any ratepayer, no matter where his property was situated, — providing it faced a recognised road — to' have improvements made upon the samo terms. It was well known that "unity was j strength.," and he thought aU should work

| m parmeiyjv'and unison for the general ad* | vanepirient "of """the town. He would move* "That the committee named m the previous resolution be empowered to obtain plans and estimates for the work up to theamonnt of debentures taken up, and bring same before the Council at its next sitting. —.Carried unanimously. Mr R. Leaky begged to second thereso- ' lulion,- aml-in doing so, said that, looking at it from a purely selfish point of view, he could not acknowledge it to be the best kind of investment ; still it appeared tliat the ' town would: be- maienally beheEtte3"~an_ for that reason, ho thought -the ■ project ! * ? should.be supported. As. had been stated; ._ the money would not be locked up, and the debentures would be negotiable. -There had . been some diificulty.. experienced m getting the outside public fco take up the Borough, debentures, and looking upon itfin the aspect that m improving :thp Square. ;they. were.' ••; furthering the public weal- at the same/time -.. that they were enhancing their private properties, he would second the motion/ and . , support the principle." '; : • ;'"/-'' ' ' Tbe motion was then put and carried^ unanimously. • ■;■-.■.■■>'•- -•■•;>: The CHAisatAN expressed hijs pleasure at t helper feet unanimity which existed upon the matter, and the .alacrity, with/R'luph the , „■ suggestion had been adopted. .HQ,belie*~ed ,it was a step iri the right^direjctibo,, and he •trusted that ratepayers; all over ,- the town, . ., would follow. the example, so that having' once put their shoulder to the Wheel, they would not stop until Palmerston had become the first town on the West Coast.