VISION OF THE FUTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 43 (Supplement)

VISION OF THE FUTURE

How Civic Development Be^an in Hastings WHEN ELECTRICITY WAS A LUXURY

"Looking at our town at night, at the flashlng colours of the many eleetric signs, tbe brilliant lights illuminating our handsome' buildings with the shop windows aglow and displaying'the col'ours of the modem goods for.men's and women 's • use and adornment, I am -reminded of the Hastings of 1909-10," writes Mr.- J* A. Miller,. Mayor from 1909 to 1911. "Wooden buildings, sinai! shopsr gravelled roads, very poor lights and business that was confmed to almost four blocks were the conditions in those days. "It was then that a raodilied vision- of tke - present day came to a few, and the first big loan of £85;000 was carried. This was to provide sewer,- water, -icdncrete channelling, footpaths, roads, eleetric light ahd power/ To-day wa - ean see that vision has not only been confirmed but fourfold enhanced by the progressiveness aud.perseyerance of our citizens. So congratulati'ons to them . on this, the fiftieth anniversary of the borough. ■ ^ "So far as eleetric, light is concerned, in 1910, when the loan was. being arranged with the Advances Board, the board strdngly objected to the electricity part* However, they were persuaded that eleetric power.was neeessary for the pumping of water • and sewerage, ahd" finbliy-' they granted £78;000 of the £85,000, deleting eleetric light • reticulation, £7000 (which was raised elsewhere). They eonsidered eleetric light a luxury. "What have thqy speht .sinee? Millions on the development of electriciviy, . Where was their vision at that time? - • J "A'memorial to a Napier citizen has inscribed on its ^Without . vision the people perish.' . This is true not only of empires, countries and towns, hut also of ourselves, Therefore, . cultivate • vision and investigate and develop" every worthy idea. It is ignorant eritieism to say that a new idea is mad." Remember, the impossible things of to-day are the accomplished faets of to-morrow* By cultivating and • inyestigating these ideas you will promote' and develop yonr district, your. town and yourselves. Believe me, you will see the progress mad/ during the next few yearp will surpass ; the progress made in the past. ' ' May I finally beg ' of you," concludes Mr. Miller, "to . remember with grateful thanks the donors of many parka "" and. other amenities that make this town a beauty town and. also ta-remember those who have given serviee to ybu? town, district and country."