RAGLAN

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2094, 8 December 1885, Page 2

RAGLAN

On the evening of Friday the 20th inst., the Raglan Hall was opened by the proprietor W. Wylie inviting his fellow settlers to meet him on the occasion. The building is constructed of limestone and has been built at considerable cost. Being of a very substantial character it speaks for itself, showing what might be done with the material so abundant in the district. A dinner of a most excellent kind being provided by our host, one hundred guests sat down, and did ample justice to all the delicacies of the season. Tho inner man having being replenished, the. cloth was removed. The Chairman W. J. H. Phillips proposed the health of their host Mr Wylie. In a neat speech iv which he stated he was pleased to have the oppoitunity of speaking in the building which Ithey had met to open this night, and in which they were now seated. It being a source of gratification, and heart-felt wishes of thoia present, that success might attend their host's undertaking, and may the place extend, and his trado increase. W. Wylie having erected this hall to meot the requirement of tho district, as u place of meeting either for social or political gatherings, it h to bo hoped that the general public will patroni/e him in his efforts on their behalf ; and in thanking our worthy host for his kindness in the name of all, I wish him long life and hippiness and success to tho Raglan hall which was given with musical honours. Mr Wylie responded m suitable and fitting language, and hoped it would bo tho beginning of social meetings in the distuct. The tables removed dancing began, and " Raglan's capital had gathered then, her beauty and her chivalry." A quadrille led off by tho Youth and Beauty of the district was first on the list. The busy feet kept going until the dawn, and the hills were tipped with tcold when the company departed, Considerable preparations ia being made for tho convenience of visitors. A subscription has been started, and soveral pounds raised for providing bathing accommodation. A meeting w to be held shortly to take into consideration tho best means to bo adopted to encourage visitors to our town, and to provide for them comfort and pleasure whilst here. Much might be done to further this good work, and if the Raglan people (who have the means m their own hands) would only do all in their power to promote this, no doubt Raglan would suon bo appreciated as a sea-side resort. A meeting was held of the three chairmen of tho Karioi, Raglan and Whaingoroa Highway Boards last Saturday, to consider the question of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act. It was resolved* to oppose all rates being levied in this county, and a letter was dnected to be wi itten to thech lirman of tho Waikato County asking to be supplied with the circular lettei they aro sending to tho local bodies, and expressing a desire to co-operate with the Waikato and Waipa counties and tho Borough of Hamilton in their endeavour to see justice done to the county district. At a subsequent meeting of tho Raglan Highway Board, held last Tuesday, the matter of hospital and charitable aid whs considered, .and the action of their chairman was sustained. The representativ^of the county in ihe Hospital and Charitable Aid Board having given a report of the meeting hold, a resolution was passed to resist taxation and unite with Hamilton, Waipa and Waikato to form one district. Tho opinion of all seems to condemn this Act, founded as it is upon lines that havo caused and aro causing misery in England now, driving the agiiciiltural population into tho towns, thoieby lowering wages of artisans and labourers, and at last filling tho big workhouses with paupers. It is said, " (ii.d helps those who help thornselvos." This Act destroys the poor countryman from .so doing, and doe^ woiso still, prevents anyone helping him. Thirty thousand agriculturalists are driven into towns in the old land, and so it is now in a less degieo mon pass those acts who know nothing of country life, and, what is more, care less Nothing tended more to destroy that sturdy yeoman class in old England that the pool law when mtioduced. Agi eat cry is made by these mon of a national plan of Chaiitable Aid, &c, which means big work -houses in Auckland. Why not have a big wooden work-house in Weljmffton ? I*5 T o ! Society is not built up on this foundation,, b,"t upon th.o old, Saxon plan of tho family. Surely each, locality knows best about its own, poor fuels most for thorn, and can administer to their wants best of all, and instead of a man being as in old Saxon timos, " a fj-oe necked man," he will soon bo, if legislation goes much furthor, a "shackled slave." Let then tho " free necked mon " of Waikato, Waipa and Raglan unito m one effort to prevent this being worked at all.— (Own Correspondent.) Raglan, 3id Dec, 1885.

"the art union in aid ofS. Mary's Monastery, Hamilton, will bo drawn on December *Sth. Hlocki of tickets should bo returned by tbo