Mr Doan was appointed secretary. The following were appointed a sub committee to draw up the petition, and arrange preliminaries as to boundaries : Messrs Davies, Burgess, Banks, Warmoll, Kilgour, Tyler, Goodall. Mr Swan said when the Corporation of Otago was founded the Provincial Govern ment assisted. Would it be any use to apply to Mr Gillies in the matter? He only threw it out as a suggestion. (A laugh.) The Chairman said lie was afraid such an application would not bo very success ful. Mr Swan said lie had made the sugges tion, as he doubted the powers of the High way Boards to expend thoir funds for this purpose, and any cantankerous ratepayer might create trouble. Mr Banks said there were many can tankerous ratepayers in his district. (Laughter.) The Chairman said it was most desir able to settle the question of preliminary expenses. Mr Allom said if Parawai remained neutral they should be exempt from ex penses. The Chairman said he could hardly understand the position of Mr Allom and Mr Banks in this matter. Mr Allom had had apparently supported the movement for a Municipality but yet intimated that he should oppose the payment of any ex penses, and also intimated that there would be a counter-petition. Mr Allom explained that at the recei.t public meeting lie distinctly stated that the Parawai Board assented to the resolu tion with the reservation that it was open to them, if they thought fit, to bring for ward a counter-petition within two months. He had himself written to Mr Dean on the day of the meeting requesting his name to be withdrawn from the Com mittee. Mr Swan said it was most desirable to bring in Parawai. otherwise the control of the harbour would he lost. Mr Burgess said a portion of the water works was in this district. | Mr Banks said lie was here as a mem ber of the committee, not as a member of the Parawai Board. lie was himself in favour of a Municipality, hut lie believed the feeling of the majority of the residents of Parawai was not in favour of it. Mr Dean said lie understood the con trary. I The Chairman said it was very desir j able to have unity in this matter, and that ! it was hardly worth going on unless Para i wai were included. 