THE MOUNTAIN HOSTELRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 109, 16 August 1910, Page 5

THE MOUNTAIN HOSTELRY

MEETING OF GUARANTORS

A meeting was held last night of the guarantors in connection with the scheme to erect an up-to-date hostelry on Mount Egmont. The Mayor, Mr. Q.r. Tisch, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. R. C. Hughes, J. B. Roy, E./ 'Dockrill, W. C. Weston, W. N. Ewing, O. E. Bellringer, C. H. Burgess, M. Eraser, Newton King, S. W. Shaw, C. Ahier, H. T. Joll, J. W. West, J. H. Parker, A. E. Sykes, W. A. Collis and H. Stocker (acting-secretary). FINANCES. The Mayor explained that the-condi-tions had been somewhat altered from •when the guarantee list had been first issued, inasmuch as it was now proposed that guarantors had been requested to give, say, 25 per cent, of the amount of their guarantees as cash donations, on the distinct understanding that the donations would carry a Government subsidy of £1 for' £l.

Mr. M. Fraser further explained the position. 'Mr. Collis had, during a visit to Wellington, interviewed the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department. and hud placed the position before him. The illoii. T. McKenzie had aa-sm-e! liim of his support in endeavoring to place on the Estimates a £1 for £1 subsidy on the actual amount of cash subscribed. The Minister, however, had declined to subsidise on the basis of the guarantee list. Mr. Fraser, (n company with the secretary, had interviewed several of the guarantors, and three or ' four of them had' promised to fall in with the new proposal. Thus, a man who had guaranteed £ 100, upon giving £25 in cash, would have his guarantee by that amount and by the amount of the £1 for £1 subsidy, really reducing the guarantee to £SO. These promises, of course, were 'binding only in the event of the Government subsidy being forthcoming.

Mr. Collis emphasised that the Minister had declined to recognise the guarantee list. After further explanation, he said that Mr. F. fr>. Johns, who had just returned from -Xelson, had authorised him to promise a cash donation of £2O. Mr. Fraser moved that upon the committee obtaining the £1 for £1 subsidy, the guarantors who give 25 per cent of that donation of the guarantee in cash, should have the option of reducing the amount of their guarantee accordingly. Mr. Parker .seconded, and the motion was carried. 'Mr. Collis read a letter which he bad drafted for submission to the Minister, fully explaining the position, at the Jwn. gentleman's request. This was approved.

OTHER BUSINESS.

Mr. King thought the Committee could do nothing more until the finances were arranged. Mr. Hughes urged the necessity for great care in selecting the site for the house.

Mr. Collis thought the Committee should select the site without delay, and have everything in train for a good start immediately the money was assured.

Eventually, it was decided that the original committee should continue in making arrangements.

MR. COLLIS' LETTER. " Following up the conversation I had with you on the question of improved accommodation at the North Egmoni Mountain House, and the question of a Government subsidy to assist the local efforts to obtain same, I have to report to you as follows: "A cahvass lias been made, and ia, being made, for cash donations, and wc have promises and cash in hand at the present time of about .€4OO, and we still have Jnglewood and portions of New/ Plymouth to canvass, and we have every hope of getting a considerable advance on this sum. In addition to this, we have a guarantee fund of about £IBOO. .... If the Govern-

ment assistance is not forthcoming now we will lose another year, and this is a contingency which we wish to avoid. The request we now make is that you have placed on the Estimates a £1 for £1 subsidy up to £SOO. If this is done, and we succeed in raising £SOO more in cash, we will 'have a good working basis to start on, and then we can draw on our guarantee as circumstances require for completing our building, water, drainage and furniture. If the proposal as now outlined by me can be carried out, we will be in the position of haying an up-to-date tourist resort within one and a half hour's motor ride of N«W Plymouth, the total cost of which wtt probably be not less than £*2ooo. Yi4fc" will therefore see that we propose to carry out what will be of assistance to, the Government in providing awther resort to be added to the list of up-to* date places for visitors on holiday bent or in search of health. Such being too case, we consider that our request for, assistance to the extent of £SOO i« «•,; tremely fair, as it will amount, on tgfcj total proposed cost of £2OOO, to sidy from the Government of 26 WStr cent., local effort thus being for 75 per cent. We realise that ffIJD Government are always willing to aMjfjji those who show a tendency to a«#E themselves, and in this case, while fW eisting ourselves we are most as6nredra| assisting' the general tourist busineM OSgl der your control. We therefore feel we have a good case, and hope, the'JBMH ter will have the favorable conadeMgj tion from you that the importance Oe| the proposal warrant*. In~the maagg time, while leaving the matter in yjJW hands, we will still go on with our oatf vass for funds, and we hope to nave m building ready for use by the end « this year, and this -wHlmake it avwh able for the principal jaxt of the conu» tourist season." .'."13 The amount of the guarantee flnffi 1 was shown to be £2030, and the CMM > donations totalled £225, excl urivfr . 1 any cash that might be obtaineff. tejMß 1 the guarantors. It was desired fettgM the cash donations to at least.