HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 147, 6 September 1876, Page 2

HAWERA.

[from a correspondent.] September 4. A meeting was held at Mr Greig’s office on Saturday evening last, to takg steps to form a company under the “Joint Stock Companies Act, 18G0,” for the erecting of a Town Hall in Hawera. There was a large attendance of the residents, groat interest being evinced in the movement. Mr Bate was voted to the chair, and opened the meeting by pointing out the advisability of building a Town Hall in the township without delay. After a discussion had taken place with reference to the size and probable cost of constructing a building suitable for the requirements of the township, it was determined to form a company, to be called the Hawera Town Hall Company (limited), with a capital of £GOO, in shares of £1 each, to bo called up as follows: —2s Gd per share on application, 5s on allotment, and the balance in calls of 2s Gd, at intervals of one 'month. Messrs Bate, Bryne, A’Court, G. Tait, Baker, Furlong, and McL’Dowio were appointed as provisional directors ; the Bank of New South Wales, Hawera, bankers to the company ; Mr H. E. P. Adams, solicitor, and Mr Greig secretary pro tern. A large number of shares were applied for in the room, and the provisional directors will wait jpon the residents of the district during the present week tor the purpose of getting shares taken up.

Votes of thanks to Mr Dale for the information he gave the meeting on the subject, and to the chairman, concluded the business of the meeting. It is tho intention of the promoters to have the hall erected before the close of tho present 3’ ear, which will supply a want long felt in the township. The Presbyterian Church is rapidly approaching completion. Tho contractor expects to hive it finished in about a fortnight from tho present date, and when completed it will be an ornament to the township. The Weslo3 r an body will shortly have their place of worship erected on a site behind the Bank of New South Wales, instead of building it on the site laid off by the Government, at the rear of the Blockhouse. The Roman Catholic Chapel, which was partty erected some time since, will also be finished shortly. The necessaiy materials are now being placed upon the ground. I suppose the Church of England people will begin to think it is? nearly time for them to take some steps towards erecting a suitable building for their accommodation. I hear that some action will shortly be taken in asking the Government to erect a court house and lock-up in the town, which in tin's rapidly rising place is becoming' necessary. The contractor for gravelling tho road from Ilawera to Normanby intends to commence operations as soon as the fine weather sots in, so that during next winto.r persons will not have occasion to complain of the hitherto bad state of this particular road.

A new business will shortly bo established here, Mr A’Court, a brother of onr resident blacksmith, having made up his mind to commence business in the wheelwright line. The necessary building* for workshop, &c., are now being erected. There was a large number of persons in the township on Saturday last, the attraction being the disposal by Mr Dale of the reserves lately handed over by the General Government to the Town Board, and a sale of merchandise on account of Mr Furlong. The leases of the different sections fetched good prices, viz., from £1 to £1 7s. per acre per annum for fiyc-acre paddocks, fencing, &c., to be erected by the lessees. The Recreation reserve fetched 7s per acre per annum, there being certain exceptional conditions attached to this reserve. New buildings are going up in every direction, among others a handsome villa residence for Mr T. Espagne, and a brewery for Mr Secombe, late of Wanganui. Mr Davidson has also been making additions to his business premises. With the coming spring it is expected that this township will make rapid strides towards becoming a large place. There are already two hotels here ; and Mr J. Milroy, of Carlyle, having purchased the building lately used by Mr Muir as a store, intends converting it into an hotel. Mr J. Black, who formerly acted as postmaster and telegraphist here, has been appointed to take charge of the Opunake station, and left here for that purpose on Saturday last. Mr J. Winks left here for Wanganui with a splendid mob of fat cattle, intended for shipment, on Friday last. One of our respected residents, Mr John Twigg, is suffering at present from an enlargement of the heart, the services of Dr. Warren, of New Plymouth, having had to be called into requisition. At the present time he is slightly better. The second telegraph wire is nowstretched from Hawera to New Plymouth. It was completed on Friday last. The Hawera Road Board lately constructed a bridge over the Tawhiti stream on Glover road, and made the approaches an the seaward side of the bridge, and the Taipurunenui natives are making the approaches on tho other side at their own cost. The road is therefore now fit for cart traffic. Fencing and cropping is going on in every direction. The spring grass is also coming up, which gives the land a firstclass appearance, and is evidence of its fertility.