HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 8034, 23 April 1888, Page 3

HASTINGS.

(FROM OUR O\?s CORRESPONDENT.)

April 21, 188 S.

A four-roomed house in Knowles' Folly was found to be on fire at 12.30 this morning, The fire-bell was immediately rung, and the fire brigade turned out smartly, and under the direction of Superintendent Tong and Subsuperinfjendent Beck went oft' with the engine to the scene of action. Fortunately an artesian well recently sunk on Mr W. (). M'Leod's premises afforded a supply of water, and the men went to work with a will. Of course the fire had got too strong a hold on the house for that to be saved, bnt the firemen succeeded in preventing the flames from setting fire to the next one a few feet off. The house

destroyed belonged to Sir Joshua James Blackburn, and was in the occupation of Mr Cole. It was, I understand, insured in the New Zealand office for £170. The recent Council tlcliatc on the public pound question, although not very satisfactory to the paldic.lwho are denied the protection for which they have a right to look to that august body, was amusing and instructive as showing what flimsy arguments some people are not ashamed to bring forward m support of a foregone conclusion. The question at issue was a narrow one. The pound had been removed to a iemole corner of the borough to which it was practically impossible to drive stray cattle and Cr. Fitzßoy tried to get it placed in a more accessible situation. On the principle of "first making giants and then killing them" the opponents of Ur. Fitzßoy's motion chose to assume that the proposed change must necessarily be the centra of the town (although Cr. FitzKoy expressly disclaimed any such intention) and then proceeded to argue that it would be dangerous to drive cattle through the centre of the town. Cr. Luckie "thought the present site more convenient than one in the centre of the town"; but did not ex-

lain whether he meant by that term

more convenient to " free-graziers " who don't want stray cattle impounded or to owners of property who do. With respect to the assumed danger of driving cattle to a conveniently situated pound (say at Wcllwood's yards) do the ingenious gentlemen who used this argument consider it lam dangerous for butchers' homes to be driven full galop thronsli the centre of the town '! If they do not, why do not

they summon the owners under the byelaw which provides that " H shall not be lawful tor any person to drive any horse or horses loose through or upon any portion of No. 1 and 2 districts of the borough of Hastings !" If tho gnatandcamel

philosophers who strailt at the driving of stray cattle to the pound and swallow troops of rampaging horses would enforce tills bye-law they would at least have the merit of consistency and tho Hastings public like a little of that article now and then just as a change llcides,

the names of the offenders in print ini«lit be very edifying. "His Worship" was unintentionally funny. Having stated that the clause referred to ought to be framed in the interest of every person concerned, he, in order to protect one portion of the borough against a problematical danger, voted against a yiotion made for the safety of the whole of the Hastings public and also for the safety of the public travelling through it by road or rail. This is " localism " with a vengeance. He treated the Council to a pretty little flourish of trumpets respecting the great savings being effected under his rule, but ignored the fact so pertinently put by Cr. FitzHoy that " they were not doing their duty to the ratepayers or husbanding their resources as they ought to.be in. allowing the loads to be damaged and expense to be incurred from a cause which ought to be put down." In vain also did Cr. FitzKoy state that he was willing to refer to a. committee the

lestion of a suitable site.

In vain did

lie call the attention of the Council to the fact that the pound was not now being kept in accordance with the provisions* of the Act. Owing to the regretable absence of twf> clear-headed and publiedpirited councillors who would probably, have voted for it, his motion was lost. As it is, the vltima Thnlitcs have gained a victory which is likely to cost Hasting.-, dear by hindering that influx of population so ardently (and justly) desired by our chief magistrate for this resuscitation of its fallen fortunes. Intending residents of the more respectable class are not likely to be attracted by the spectacle of cattleinfested roads and streets, and now they know that if they are foolish enongli to come here they will have to pay rates for repairing preventible damage to roads, and to submit to infury to property and danger to life and limb, for which there is no practical remedy, they will probably seek some more civilised and better governed town.