Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Volume III, Issue 864, 7 March 1899, Page 3

Hastings Borough Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Hastings Borough Council was held on Monday afternoon, to confirm the by-law in respect to brick dividing walls. There were present His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. A. Fitzßoy) and Crs Dennett, Hughes, Wellwood, Beilby, and Beecroft.

Cr Dennett said that he had a petition, signed by thirteen leaseholders, in reference to the by-law. He did not know whether he was in order in submitting the petition now. The Mayor ruled in the affirmative, Cr Dennett then read the petition as follows :

We, the undersigned, leaseholders in the Borough of Hastings, would respectfully point out to the Borough Council the hardship accruing to us should the by-law re brick walls become law, and we ask the Council to give the proposed by-law its re-consideration. We would suggest that the words " not to apply to present leaseholders be added to the by-law.

His Worship said the proposal of the petitioners was that the by-law should apply to no leaseholders. If that were so they would practically never enforce the by-law. He (His Worship) had made inquiries concerning the by-law since the last meeting. He had discovered a case in which the Insurance Companies had been compelled to erect a buiitling according to the by-laws then in force. He hoped the Council would consider the matter from a broad standpoint. He thought they might forego the provision regarding a back wall. The petitioners, seemed to think that they were all going to fall victims to fire. He did not think they were right in taking this view. He hoped the Council would consider the interests of the town in this matter.

Cr Dennett said it would be necessary to start ib- H»n> if they altered the by-law. His Worship the Mayor said this was so.

Cr Dennett asked if they could not suspend its operations for a few years. Cr Hughes would be be sorry to see such an important by-law as this crushed by a small petition. He spoke both as a freeholder and a leaseholder, and he thought brick walls would be just as important to the Borough as the fire engine., Cr Dennett considered the by-law premature, and he was afraid he would have to oppose it. It would mean that a poor lot of buildings would go up. If they left the matter alone it would work itself out in time.

Cr Wellwood differed from Cr Dennett. He thought that the by-law would mean that a better class of buildings would go up. It was in the interests of the Borough that they should have brick walls. There would, at anyrate, be a reduction in insurances. Thti by-law, instead of being premature, should have been brought on years ago.

Cr Beecrofs supported the by-law, though he had not taken any interest in the matter one way or another. Cr lieilby, although haviug a lease which shortly fell in, was in favor of the by-law. He considered it a step in the right direction. Had the bylaw been in force some years ago his firm would have benefitted. Cr Beecroft thought the by-law would mean a substantial reduction in insurances.

Cr Dennett differed. He did not think that it would mean the slightest reduction.

The Mayor cited the case of Mr Blythe to show that it would. On the motion of Cr Hughes, seconded by Cr Heilby, the by-law was confirmed, Cr Dennett iiona dissenting.