RAGLAN. PROPOSED WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2005, 14 May 1885, Page 2

RAGLAN. PROPOSED WOOLLEN FACTORY.

A LARGE and important public meeting was held in the council chambers on the afternoon of Saturday, May 11th, to take into consideration the desirability of inducing the Noirh New Zealand Woollen Manufacturing Company to erect their factory and carry on the business of the company at the Okete Falls, Raglan. A very large number of settlers from all parts of the district attended, the meeting being one of the largest ever gathered for many years. All present seemed most desirous to assist in carrying out the object of the meeting. Mr W. H. Wallis, J.P., took the chair, and at some length addressed the meeting. On hearing that it was intended to start a manufactory of nails and iron goods he went to Auckland to see the promoters of the enterprise, but owing to their absence he was unable to come to any arrangement. Whilst in Auckland his attention was directed by Mr T. B. Hill and other gentlemen interested in the welfare of the district to the prospectus of the North New Zealand Woollen Company, and knowing that we possessed in the Okete Falls an excellent supply of water for all purposes of the factory it was thought best to call a public meeting of the settlers, to see if they would take up sufficient shares to induce the directors of the company to establish their manufactory here. After reading the prospectus of the proposed company, with the names of the directors, attention was drawn to the benefit Raglan would received by the commencement of this local enterprise. He hoped all those present would express their views upon the subject before the meeting. Mr Coxwell, (the oldest settler present, and who comes from the seat of the woollen industry in the West of England,) then, in a very able and instructive speech, gave those present the benefit of his knowledge of the woollen trade. He stated that the wool he sent to market, and which was purchased by Yorkshire buyers, fetched a high price, thus showing that good wool could be grown in the district. They had an excellent streams of water which was suited for all purposes, but it would be necessary to employ steam power also, thereby securing a more regular power. Steam was also requisite for many other purposes in the factory. Having coal around them, and an excellent harbour, a much higher class of goods might be made than those turned out in the Southern mills, for which a ready market could be found, and whatever had been done in other places could be as well done here. Another branch of trade — the hosiery line — might be started here with good success, as no manufacture of the kind was carried on in the colony. Machinery, looms, &c, weie now much cheaper, many patents having expired. After giving the meeting a description of the machines employed, and the process carried out, he impressed upon the settlers of the district the importance of this industry, with reference to the employment of members of their families, the finding of a market for their produce, and the advancement of the whole distict. The lowest figure that the concern could be started at was £20.000. Mr Pegler said that whilst Mr Coxwell represented the West of England clothing trade, he, coming from the seat of that industry in the west riding of Yorkshire, could speak as to its importance, and hoped all the settlers would take up as large a number of shares as they could to induce the company to start here. He felt proud that so large a number of settlers had come to this meeting, thus showing that the people of Raglan saw the importance of local enterprise, and the establishment of local industries in their midst, which must benefit each member of the community. Mr Duncan, J.P., county chairman, in an exhaustive speech described his visit to tho Kaiapoi and other woollen factories in the South, and the difficulties they had to contend with, and whose experiences we could profit by. He said a good market could be got, as the goods of New Zealand manufacture found a ready sale. The Okete site was one of the best he had ever seen, and if a sufficient number of shares were taken up to induce the company to start here, there was no doubt Raglan would turn out as good an article as any other factory. We had the elements of success within our own borders, and if we continued to push ahead in time should reap our reward. He felt we were most fortunate in having a gentleman of Mr Coxwell's experience amongst us, and he quite agreed with the Premier, Mr Stout, that local industries should be started in other places than Auckland. He thought that in Hamilton and Cambridge, along with Raglan and other places, local factories should be begun and carried out. Mr Sutton, chairman of the Whaingoroa Road Board, at this stage left the meeting. Before doing so he informed the chairman he wished the enterprise success, and would take up fifty shares in it. It wis proposed bv Mr Sutton, seconded by Mr W. Duncan. and carried, "That the offer of a suitable site in the Raglan district be made to the directors of the North New Zealand Woollen Manufacturing Company, upon which to erect tho proposed factory, and that such site be the Okete Falls, and that photographs of the said falls be forwarded to the directors." It was proposed by Mr Gilmour, seconded by Mr S. Wilson and carried, " That in the event of the North New Zealand Woollen Manufacturing Company accepting the offer of a site in the Raglan district, the inhabitants guarantee to take up at least 1000 shares in the said company." It was proposed by Mr Robertson, seconded by Mr Philp and carried, "That a committee consisting of Messrs S. Wilson, J. N. Pegler, T. B. Hill, W. Duncan, J. H. Phillips, Coxwell and A. Gilmour be formed to carry out the resolutions of this meeting." After a vote of thanks to the chairman for the able way in which he had conducted the proceedings, the meeting terminated. The counties act. As a large number of settlers were present at the above meeting, many thought it a good oppoitunity to express their views, and to hear the opinion of those present upon the desirability of bringing the Counties Act into force. Mr Duncan, J.P., took the chair, and after expressing his view in favour of bring the act into force, stated that the road boards would get little or no assistance from Government in future. Although he formerly opposed the introduction of the act, he now felt that altered circumstances required that we should at once bring it into force. Mr Wallis, J. P., expressed a wish that the act should be brought in. He had ever since he was first elected for the Karioi Riding favoured the introduction of the act, and worked with his colleague for that end whilst in the council. Mr Pegler also hoped the act would be brought into force, as we could get no assistance from Government under the road boards, and he had always supported the same. Mr S. Wilson now addressed the meeting, showing how the public money was wasted for want of a proper local body to have the supervision of works in the district. Mr Jerome asked if a double rate could be made? He was informed that both the county and road board could levy a rate. Mr Mitchell expressed his view, and hoped road boards would be abolished. It was proposed by Mr S. Wilson, seconded by Mr Robinson, and carried, " That the boundaries of the county be amended, that the watershed to be the dividing boundaiy." It was proposed by Mr T. Mitchell, Chairman of the Karioi Board, seconded by Mr W. H. Wallis, J.P., and carried, "That the Counties Act be brought into force and road boards abolished." It was proposed by Mr Philp, seconded by Mr Moon, and carried, "That the county Chairman, Mr W, Duncan, J.P., write to the Government informing them of the views of the meeting." After a vote of thanks to the chairman for his services, the meeting separated. It is proposed to call a meeting of the settlers with the special object of further considering this important subject. Those who feel strongly in favour of the introduction of the act desire that all may express their views, and it is to be hoped that both those who are against and those who are for the act will discuss the subject in a fair and impartial manner.— (Own Correspondent, May 12.)

It is no wonder that the Mormons think highly of their religion. It's very rewiveing. A little, girl met her death recently at Chester under peculiar circumstances. She saw a traction engine approaching. Terror stricken she ran into an adjacent house, where she dropped down dead. Mr Isaac Bates, manufacturer ami importer of saddlery and h irncss, Cambridge, makes an important business announcement in another column. Mr H. Cowper advertises the '■ale of a large assortment of merchandise at liii mart Cambridge, on luesdaj. .\laj 10th