HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 527, 1 June 1880, Page 3

HAWERA.

fFROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

Judging from Mr Jackson’s sale, business is looking up. There was a brisk demand for cattle, and sales were effected at increased prices. Some Southern money is coming into the district, and a good many inquiries are made for land, all tending to make the future prospects more bright. We shall want the Waimate Plains sold and settled upon, to make the future prosperity of the district assured. Many people here have been inspecting the Ngaire Block, advertised for sale, and numerous applications have been put in already. It is the best bush land about, and should carry a lot of settlers,, being easily cleared, a great part of it only scrubby bush. Another solicitor has made his appearance in Hawera, and I believe intends taking up his residence here. We have now three gentlemen of the wig and gown, and perhaps they will all be able to make fortunes. If not, we must regard the contest as fulfilling the theory of the survival of the fittest. The bad weather has at last broken, and we are having severe frosts, and delightfully fine days. HAWERA INSTITUTE. The annual meeting of this Institute was held on Saturday. Mr Barleyman presided. 'The Secretary read the report:— Your committee have much pleasure in laying before you the following report for the

past year :—At the last annual meeting the i lien committee informed you that they had accepted a tender for the erection of a build* ing to cost £248. 'Jhe building was finished in July. 1870. The committee have supplied I lie reading-room since the completion of the building with ten English newspapers, eight magazines, and the most important colonial papers; the library is now furnished with some 200 volumes. A contract for lining the whole building has just been completed. The Treasurer will hay before you a statement of the financial position of the Institute. The amount to our credit would have been much greater had the Wanganui Education Board dealt fairly with the Government subsidy; our portion in that case would have been £6O, instead of £73. The Treasurer read a statement of receipts and expenditure, showing the Institute is £2B 11s 8d in debt. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year then took place, as follows : —Mr J. H. Partridge, president; Mr W. G. White, vice-president; Mr G. V. Bate, hon. secretary ; Mr William Thomson, treasurer ; and Messrs M. D, King, J, Dufiill, W. Wilson, Isaac Bayly, and F. Riddiford, committeemen. A vote or thanks was accorded to Mr Barleyman for his services as president for the past year. Some discussion then took place as to ways and means. It was suggested that entertainments should 'bo got up during the winter evenings. Mr Tucker moved, and Mr Pears seconded, a resolution condemning the action of the Wanganui Education Board in withholding the full subsidy on the Public Library’s voluntary subscription. After some discussion, in which Messrs Thomson, White, King, Bate, Barleyman, and Galvin took part, the motion was earned. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs White and Bate for their services during the past year; and alike compliment to the Chairman concluded the business.

HAWBRA ROAD BOARD. The first meeting of the new Board was held at the Secretary’s office on Saturday. Present: Messrs Hunter, Riddiford, Morrison, Gane, Robson, and Allan. Resolved, u That notice bo given, as requested in Mr Barleyman’s letter, that tho road through Croftmoor has ceased to be a highway road.” Resolved, “ That the Engineer’s certificate bo obtained stating that upwards of £3OO has been expended on the Allan Road.” Proposed by Mr Gane, and seconded by Mr Allan, “ That the Chairman write to all the Road Boards within the Patea County, asking them to co-oporato in urging upon the Government to alter clause G of the Financial Arrangements Act (187 C) Amendment, so that it would read: ‘A separate account be kcjrt of the land revenues accruing within each Road Board District, and there shall be paid to such Road Board, out of the Consolidated Fund, quarterly, a sum equal to twenty per centum of such land revenue so accruing in each Road Board District, and shall ho expended in the Blocks from whence such revenue is derived.’ ” Carried.

Proposed by Mr Gane, and seconded by Mr Riddiford, “ That a rate of 3d in the £ for the ensuing year be struck at next meeting of the Board.” Proposed by Mr Morrison, and seconded by Mr Hunter, “ That a rate of 4d in the £ for ensuing year be struck at next meeting.” The amendment was carried. The Secretary read a statement showing that the Rates account was £ll7 7s 7d deficient for payment of outstanding liabilities, and the Deferred Payments £144 16s 9d. Resolved, “ That Mr A. Middlomas be allowed to place a gate across the Whcrcroa Road, provided he removes it at a week’s notice.” Mr Allan pointed out that the Allan Road at the crossing of the Otoki stream, required repairs. ‘ Resolved, “ That the Foreman of Works inspect the damage done to the bridge on the Ngaronga Road, and report to the Chairman ; and that he get the necessary work done at once.” Some discussion ensued re O’Coughlan’s contract on Wells’ Road. The Engineer reported that he could not say the work was done entirely to bis satisfaction, but the specifications were very loose, and he had no other coarse than to pass the work. Proposed by Mr Gane, and seconded by Mr Hunter, “ That O’Coughlan’s account for contract on Wells’ Road be passed for payment.” Proposed by Mr Allan, and seconded by Mr Riddiford, “ That the Engineer again go over the work.” The original motion was carried.

Resolved, “ That a third progress payment of £SO be paid to O’Connor for contract on West Road.” Resolved, “ That the Board meet only tbc first Saturday in every second month, the first meeting to be held on the first Saturday in July.” The following tenders were received for the position of Secretary and Treasurer:. W. H. E. Wanklyn, £32; F. C. H. McCutchan, £3O; G. V. Bate, £3O. Resolved, “ That Mr G. Y. Bate’s tender be accepted. Accounts passed amounted to £197 13s 9d,