HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7065, 17 January 1885, Page 3

HASTINGS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 16. The T.own Board met yesterday. Present— Messrs Foreman, Ellis, Tanner, and Well wood (chairman). A letter was read from Messrs Knight Brothers, offering the Board room in their yard for a building placed on a sledge, also ground adjoining for the storage of material for the sum of £20 per annum. It was decided on the motion of Mr Ellis, seconded by Mr Foreman, " That the Board accept the use of the section placed at their disposal by Mr Tanner, and that the chairman be authorised to get a small building to be used a3 a storage shed erected thereon." The agent of the Bank of New Zealand wrote informing the Board that he declined to submit any tender for the Board's consideration, such a course beiug contrary to the established banking usage of this colony, but he would be prepared to take the Board's business at current rates, viz., 9 per cent, per annum for advances by overdraft. The agent of the Union Bank of Australia wrote informing the Board that he would be prepared to make them advances by overdraft at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum. The agent of the Bank of New South Wales wrote offering to take over the Board's account upon the following termß, viz., to grant an overdraft to the extent of £750, the rate of interest to be 8 percent, per annum, at the same time offering the Board the advantage of any concession in his rates. It was decided on the motion of Mr Tanner, seconded by Mr ElliSj that the ofter of the Bank of New South Wales be accepted. A petition was received from a number of residents in Hastings, requesting the Board to apply to the Defence Minister for an additional constable for the township of Hastings. The petition was approved, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Ellis, "That Mr Tanner be requested to take charge of the petition, and take the necessary steps for having it laid before the proper authorities." The clerk was instructed to again write to the district engineer, Mr Carr, calling his attention to the urgent necessity of having a crossing made over the railway lino in Eastbourne-street, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Foreman, seconded by Mr Ellis " That the agents of the Banks of New Zealand and New South Wales, Messrs E. Beck and Co. and Mr C. E. Taylor, receive 14 days' notice to remove their verandah posts to the outer edge of the footpath, and to remove any material used by them in the making or raising thereof, failing which the Board will undertake the work at their risk and cost." It was resolved that the clerk be instructed to write to Mr Rochfoit asking when he could furnish the Board with the plans of the proposed drainage scheme. Mr Tanner moved " That Mr Curtis be requested to act as inspector of nuisances to the Board, and that his remuneration be Is per day in addition to the pay now received by him." The motion was seconded by Mr Ellis and carried. The clerk was instructed to procure a copy of the Impounding Act Amendment Act. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned. Messrs Millis and O'Neil gave another performance at the Town Hall on Thursday evening to an appreciative audience inside and some mean skunks outside. Money must indeed be as scarce as manners when able-bodied men sit on the steps outside a place of entertainment to enjoy themselves in forma pauperis. Some of these gentry even mounted on the gates which they took off for that purpose and placed under the windows to get a peep gratis, wlaile others walked off with the lamp outside. I regret that strangers visiting our town should, owing to the antics of a few larrikina, carry away an unfavorable impression. To turn to a more pleasant subject, the entertainment itself, among the novelties were the pathetic song " Dawkins's Night," sung with great expression by Mr Millis, a humorous Yorkshire song, and a " Celestial" who made one think that c genuine "Ah Sing" waa before tha audience, i The impersonation recalled

Willie Edouin's " Heathen Chinee," which created so much mirth in "Blue Beard." i Two sharp shocks of earthquake yesterday evening converted many of the inhabitants of Hastings for the nonce into Quakers and Shakers* The first shock, which was preceded by a rumbling noisp, occurred at ten minutes past six o'clock ; a second and more severe shock followed in less than a mioute, houses being shaken till the windows and the pictures on the walls rattled. "All's well that ends well," however; no damage was done, and we remain Unshaken in our determination to have the harbor.