PUBLIC MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3743, 14 July 1883, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT HASTINGS.

BRINGING THE TOWNSHIP UNDER THE TOAVN DISTRICTS ACT.

Pursuant to advertisement in the Daily Telegraph a meeting of ratepayers in the district of Hastings awis held last evening in tho Town Hall, Captain Russell in tho chair. There Avas a large attendance,

Tho Chairman, haA-ing stated tho object of the meeting, called upon Mr G. Ellis to lay his views before the ratepayers. Mr Ellis, in a forcible address, pointed out the provisions of the Town Districts Act, and urged the advisability of bringing Hastings under that Act. He showed that from tho progress of the toAvn and district it Avas necessary that the inhabitants should haA'c power to raise the means whereby thoy could undertake drainage works and enforce sanitary regulations. He then quoted figures to slioav that if satisfactory arrangements could be made with tho County Council, by avhich that "body -would hand over to the Town Board the rates collected Avitbin the area of the lattcr's administration, an income sufficient for all present requirements Avould be raised without any increase of the rates noAV paid. He then moved, "That it is desirable the district of Hastings should be brought under the Toavii Districts Act."

The motion was seconded by Mr T, Foreman.

Mr T. Tanner opposed the proposal, on tho ground that the toAA'iiship Avas not sufficiently advanced for the adoption of the Act, and that, Avith regard to drainage, he considered the existing open drain answered all purposes. He thought tho locality was the most healthy in Now Zealand.

Mr AVelhvood would request the medical men present to state their A-ieAVs on the sanitary condition of Hastings. Dr Faulkner stated that the principal cause of sickness in the locality arose from the noxious gases arising from cesspits and open drains, and he strongly urged tho meeting to support Mr Ellis' motion. Dr Hamilton would remind the meeting that doctors sometimes agreed to differ, and he said that ho had lived for some years ii*. a town of 10,000 Inhabitants, where there was nothing else but cesspits, and open gutters in the streets, and that was one of the healthiest toAvns in the world.

Mr Ellis replied, and the motion, being put, was carried Avith but ono dissentient voice, which came from a gentleman who does not happen to be a ratepayer. Tlie following Avere then elected a committee to give effect to the resolution:— Captain Russell, Messrs J. N. AVilliams, T. Tanner, T. Foreman, H. Smith, W. A. Beecroft, J. Reynolds, F. D. Luckie, J. Collinge, AY. Beilby, and G. Ellis. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. The committee then held a meeting, and chose the folloAving sub-committoe: —Messrs Tanner, Ellis, and Reynolds to interview the County Council in reference to tho county rate. Messrs Tanner, Williams, Beecroft, and Smith to define the boundaries of the proposed district. Messrs Foreman, Collinge, and Beilby to ascertain the ratable valuo of the district to be defined. The sub-committees to report to the general committee on AVednesday next. It Avas resolved to call a general meeting of the ratepayers for next Saturday, at 7.30 p.m.