HAWKE'S BAY ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 816, 13 May 1910, Page 8

HAWKE'S BAY ITEMS.

A BOROUGH LOAN. THE FLOOD PROBLEM. IBy Tcleerapn.-Spcciiil Correspondent.! Napier, May 12. The Mayor of "Napier (.Mr. .1. Vigor Brown, M.P.), has been in further communication with Sir .losepli Ward on tho subject of the borough loan, with the object of obtaining from the frime Minister an offer to hold back tho loan till tho law is amended so that the diflicultj; concerning the security and division ot the amount authorised might bo overcome. Bad this offer been forthcoming, it would lutvo lweti submitted to tho Borough.*, Council for consideration when the tenders for tho ■ loan were being opened. Incidentally, in the courso of correspondence, iUr. Brown referred to the impression that exists in the public mind, that Sir Joseph is opposed to tho construction of trams where- tlie population is less than 20.0011. ■ A telegram from Sir Joseph, in reply, is as follows:— "Your telegram regarding borough Joan. I am not, and never have been, against trams, but it was never intended to put them bufore necessities. I think you had better see me on the points in your telegram. Naturally, 1 am not inclined to send any further assurances to a corporation that has already had them, and prefers to w.isto about one pounds a year of * their ratepayers' money, to following a sensible course.' Commenting on , the Hood problem, the "Daily Telegraph" says:--Tho Hooding dive h> recent rains once more calls attention le the need for prompt action in the matter, of a scheme for dealing comprehensively with surface drainage in the northern portion of Hawkc's Bay. The Government ond the Hawfce's Bay County .Council are moving, but the action of both is tentative, rather than emphatic, owing to divisions existing amou? the residents of the district liable to be flooded ont. In Hnwke's Bay we havo become so accustomed to the outlook tnat it is barely in our thoughts except at times'-when the "waters are out." "Secent rains have not been heavy, and no substantial fall of water has been registered compared ivith v-hat we frequently have, yet Clive was flooded, a considerable portion of Mceance was under deep surface water, and tho river at Hie Waitangi Bridge was closer lo tho decking than was pleasant "tovcontemplarc. But why dilate upon what everybody that cares to know is cognisant of. The only hope for improvements consists in legislation which shall have- force in ITawke's Bay, if it still needs forcing and cannot be persuaded to have a central river board to deal with the problem of flood prevention.