HASTINGS NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 6

HASTINGS NOTES.

(By Teloerash-Speclal OorresDondentV „ '.. ....Hastings, July 2. At last night's meeting' of tho Borough Council, Councillor Styles-moved a- motion to tho eliect that, as a voto was to be taken shortly on tho loan proposals, the striking of a rate' be'deferred. Mr. Collingo (Town ..Clerk) said nothing would bo, gained by deferring.tho striking of the rate. In fact, if it .was deferred it would delay i the current year's rates,' and affect the financial position of the council. Mr. Collinge then explained that if tho voto were taken and cjrried, the council must strike a 'fresh rate. As the poll could not, be held under two months, it would be October at least before the current year's rates were issued, and it would ,bo April, 1310, before the ten per cent, penalty on unpaid ratesV conld' be enforced. This would leave current , rates outstanding at tho end of the financial year, and the council would have a large overdraft. With' the exception of the current year's rates, the council had no revenue till next year's licenses were due. If the proposed loan were carried, the council could pay the first year's interest out of the loan. A'majority of the ratepayers would pay less than in the past year. Owing to the unimproved values, owners of empty sections, valuable building-sites, etc., would pay more. The motion was then put and lost on the voices. Tho following rates were then struck: General, lfd. j library, 1-MJd-special, 5-16 d. '

The Very Eev. Dean Smyth, who is leaving tho Meeanoo College, was presented this morning with an-address and photographic albtun.by tho children attending tho Bomai Catholic School.' Father Quinn made vje presentation. The ordinary meeting of the Borongh Council was held on Thursday night. Tho Mayor prosided, and there was a full attendance of councillors. Tho Public Works Committee recommended the.adoption of Mr. Hallet'e scheme for sower extension. A recommendation by'the Tree-Planting Committee to, the effect that the council might, on the request of a majority of ratepayers in a street, plant such street with trees, was also adopted. A petition was received from a large number of shopkeepers asking that the hour of closing bo extended till 9.30. The rates for tho year were fixed &i follow:—General rate 1 7-Bd. in the £; library rate, l-16d.: and special rate, 5-16 d. At last night's meeting of the Borougn Council Mr. H. W. Climie, C.E., submitted four alternative schemes for water supply and .electric lighting for the borough. In tho first scheme Mr. Clhnie recommended tho intake at the Tuki-Tuki River, at a point linown ae Horseshoe Bend. Tho river, he stated, was a natural reservoir, and there was no question as to ite being silted up at this point. The water could be'conveyed through a tnnnel to a point some forty chains abovo the Waimarama Bridge, and weuld give twice.the amount of power asked for. A power-station could also bo established thoro. Tho wator could bo pumped through mains to a reservoir on the Havelock hills, and convoyed from there to the town. In regard to electric lighting, the reticulation would bo tho same as for tho water supply. Ho was of opinion that Havelock would also desire to be supplied, and this would add to tho revenue of the council. Scheme No.' 2 placed tho intake in the Ngaruroro River near Marriekakaho, and otherwise would be the same as No. 1. Scheme No.'B proposed to draw the water from the Tuki-Tuki neat Waimarama by means of an 'open trench. It was not recommended, Scheme No. 4 located the power-station in Hastings, and entailed the nso of a prodocor gas plant to generate tho current. In this case tho charge for fuel would probably be expensive. Tho estimated cost of the various, schemes aro as follow:—No. 1, £39,822; No. 2, £37,922; No. 3, £37,493; No.. 4, £32,499. It was decided to hold a special meeting tonight for tho purposo of further discussing tho quostion.