PUBLIC MEETING.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 24, 5 November 1898, Page 1

PUBLIC MEETING.

send their applications in and no 'further trouble would need to be incurred. In *n estate like "Waikakahi every person would have to be on the spot to sign and to show that they were capable of farming the land, and it would be a great saving to Waimate people' if they had not to go away. He could guarantee that there would be 140 applicants. If these had to go to Ohristchurch they could see the amount of money that would be taken out of town. Mr Atwill thought this was an important meeting, and it was a disgrace to the business people that they had not turned out in greater numbers. They were trying to transact business that would bring thousands of pounds to the place, tind yet only a few turned up to fight the battles of the district. Mr <Jeo. Manchester asked if the Commissioners had ,power to grant the application, and the chairman read a letter from Major Steward stating that the Land Board had the power. Mr George Manchester seconded the motion, which was* put to the" meeting and carried unanimously.

The weather on Monday evening was ■very wet and cold, but nevertheless a good number of people turned up to the •meeting held in the Library Hall. His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. Nicol^ was voted to the chair, and explained the «bject of the meeting, which was to have the ballot for sections of the Waikakahi Estate held in Waimate. Mr Petit thought it was the right of the IVamaate people to have the ballot held •in their town, as the estate to be cut up was within a few miles of it, and much closer than Timaru or Oamaru. He would move, " That in the opinion of this meeting, "Waimate, owing to its proximity to the Waikakahi Estate, the accommodation people are prepared to place at the disposal of intending applicants and the - Crown Land Commissioners, should be the place at which the ballot for sections in the above estate might with great , .convenience to, all concerned be conducted:' Mr Boreham said it seemed to be the sdta in Waimate that they had only to

Mr Broadbent said it would be a shame to allow the * ballot to take -place in Oamaru or Timaru. He -would move, • r '_That the Hon. Major Steward, His' Worship the Mayor, Mr John Manchester, and Mr S. Boreharn be appointed a committee to carry out "the -wishes- of the meeting and lay'before the Commissioners the facilities offered by Waimatfe for the .efficient conducting of the ballot. And, further, the Committee, at the first opportunity, wait upon the Minister of Lands, -with a view to securing that gentleman's influence on behalf of Waimate." Mr Atwill the motion, and it •was carried. It was at "first - proposed to send -a deputation.to. Christchurch, but Mr Banpointed out that this was needless expense, and the motion was altered to read as above. .Proposed by Mr W. Scott, seconded by MrTetit and carried, " That all 'business to be now done be left in the hands of the committee and that it he a suggestion to committee from this meeting that the Hon. John M'Kenzie-, Minister of Lands, Tbe invited to give an address in Wahnate, for the purpose of giving a short resume of the^operations of his land legislation, and that' Major Steward be also .asked to attend the meeting." Proposed by Mr Boreham, seconded by Mr Kennard, " That this meeting expresses its thanks to the Horu John ( M'Kenzie, for the practical and beneficial 'land laws-introduced by him, and its confidence in the hon. gentleman as an im•partial administrator of land laws, which, 'in the opinion of this meeting, have been, .-and are a booh and a blessing to the The motion was carried. This concluded the business in reference fio the Waikaktihi Estate. ,B The chairman then brought up the | 'matter of public saleyards for Waimate. f* "He pointed out the need that existed, and fe %said that he had 23 signatures of men ' "-willing to take up shares, the amount being subject to approval '.of the specifications. It was proposed to a company with- a capital of sand some were in favour of the Borxjugh *^nnr>»il talrinor fVio mottoT lm Innt lio him.

self thought a company would manage better. Mr Boreham said -that he was certain that nctt many months would elapse before the Waihaorunga Estate would be on the market, and the need of saleyards would be greater. - j Mr Scott asked if an estimate had been 1 prepared for the yards. ! The chairman said it would cost about J6200, but he could not say for certain. , There was a section about 2f acres be- , tween the Park and the Show Grounds, i It could be got for about JGIO, and a' yearly rental of J6L j Mr G. Manchester thought it was not; wise to fix a definite site in the borough, i "When the land in town got settled, andj with the dairy factory so near, it would; not be quite the thing. He thought there' was a by-law .which prohibited driving 1 stock in the borough by day. ; The chairman said this section was thought suitable, as it was near the railway. Some others thought the A. and P. • Association should combine with the; saleyard company and have yards erected.' ,in the Show Grounds. Other sections, were looked at, but this matter would rest 1 with the company". The by-law referred,]

lie thought, to driving stock between ■8 a.m. ami 5 p.m. Mr Scott thought it highly necessary that .yards should be erected in Waimate. He had been in several places where thera were yards, and it seemed to create aif excitement that nothing else did. . People had to go to the Junction. He would propose that a company be formed to take up the matter. Mr Atwill did not think the Junction should be mentioned. They should go on with their own yards. Credit was due to the shareholders of the Junction Saleyards Company for the enterprise they had shown. Mr Petit agreed with the last speakers. He once took it upon himself to go to Makikihi, and measure the yards there. A meeting was called, but the Junction people forestalled them, otherwise the Borough Council "would have had yards erected near the railway station. He would second Mr Scott's motion. The motion was put, and carried unanimously. Mr Donoghue thought it should be settled whether the Council would give an extension of lease. Thex'e wag no use starting with less than a seven years' lease. His "Worship said the Borough Council, as far as he knew, would be willing to -extend the lease, but all that this meeting had to do was to express an opinion as to the desirability of having saleyards in Waimate. Mr F. M. Bickman said he was not now a resident of the town, but he formerly lived in it for a number of years. As one who had much experience in theso matters, he would advise that they work with the show ground till they saw how they were going to get on. This had been satisfactorily done in Ashburton. Ultimately it was resolved, " That it is desirable that saleyards be established in Waimate." A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.

Mrs Autocrat : " Goodnes« 1 That Jones girl! Such, impertinence 1 And she's quite nice-looking." " Miss Autocrat: " Yes ; 'ihes pretty, but she's hofrdcft". :