A COMBINED MUNICIPALITY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 19, 16 June 1880, Page 3

A COMBINED MUNICIPALITY.

TO THE EDITOB OT THE STAB.

Sir, — I am pleased that the Town Board of Hawera has taken the initiative, and followed out the idea promulgated at a late Normanby public meeting, and that it has decided to consider the advisability, or otherwise, of forming a borough for the towns of Hawera and Noimanby conjointly. This corporation business is one which requires deep consideration. At first, when mentioned to Hawera people, some of them said, no doubt witnout thought, " Oh, we're not going to give Normanby a start, by being tacked on to them ; they can't even form a Town Board yet, and even if they could, they would not have a penny to spend ; they cannot improve their streets, because the Boad Board and County Council have other ways of spending money." Likewise, when the subject was mooted, the men of Normanby stuck up their independent chins, and said, " Oh, a likely thing; you cannot, form a borough by yourselves, and want to make a stepping-stone of Normanby ; it's not good enough." There is an element of truth in both these statements. But, on looking into the matter, it can soon be proved that they are shallow reasons, indeed, for advancing against conferring such a mutual benefit upon both places. I will be perfectly candid, and admit that we cannot form a borough in Hawera at present, although we could in about a year or so ; I admit, also, that we expect to benefit substantially by Normanby joining us (without in the least injuring that town). Don't think for a moment that we are agitating this momentous question from purely unselfish motives. I know that, as reasonable men, Normandyites would look with suspicion upon any such pretensions. Well, then, what do we gain? For the last five years, Hawera has been dragging out an existence. Eveiy year we have been doubly rated — that is, by our own Town Board and the County Council. Then we have loßt a subsidy on the latter ; also publicans', auctioneers', and other licenses, which have Bwelled the County Council funds, amounting to more than £400 annually. That is to say, we have lost about £2000 since the constitution of our ancient Taranaki form of government by Town Board, which i'2ooo could well bave been spent on our streets. This is what we want and will save by being under a corporation. How will such saving injure, Normanby ? Such innocent robbery we-' can surely perform with clean hands.

Look now, sir, to Normanby — its present position* and future prospects. Like Hawera, they are doubly rated, with this sad difference; that ; neither rate is spent in the town.- They have lost the subsidies on both' of these rates; publicans', auctioneers', and other licenses all gone ; and there is only one hope or prospect of saving the same. The hopesof Normanby forming a Town Board are, or- should be, extinct ; no sensible body of men would dream of such a tiling. The legal expenses, advertising, &c, which would nave to be incurred in forming the Town Board, would swallow tip the first year's rates, and each year after the Board would have no chance of doing more than paying for a clerk, advertising, valuation roll, and other things demanded by law. Being a private township, the residents bave not the least chance of acquiring reserves ; their only prospect of having anything done to their streets is by direct voluntary taxation, as in the past, in addition to their present double rate. With the corporation, Normanby then would save one rate, for it would be cut off from the blighting influence of the Road Board and County Council, and would be under the jurisdiction of their own borough, because they would then have their own rates, which could be spent within their own borders. The borough, I think, should be divided into three wards — the first comprising Normanby ; the second, the northern portion of Hawera'; and the third, its southern portion. The borough would then consist of, Normanby ward, central ward, and Hawera word. This division would enable accounts te be kept separate; there could then be no juggling with the finances, as there is such a wide stretch of neutral country (so to speak) between the two towns proper. Again, a reserve of 2000 acres could be obtained for the borough, in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Ol course, we would like to be independent, and have a local governing body of our own, and so would Normanby ; but that cannot be — at all events, not with profit to either. The question then arises — Shall we sink all little local jealousies, and form one strong borough by mutual consent ? Or shall we drag along, as in the past, with the certain hope ot being able to form a borough for ourselves before long? Nprmanby cannot be a borough for many years to come ; and the present will be the last chance it will have of uniting with us, and forming part of a combined municipality. Everything is so clear to my mind ; the mutual gain is so apparent, that I fail io Ree how any one, casting aside his prejudice, con go against the proposed union. Let us, then, be bound together by the bonds of municipal matrimony, and the fruits thereof must be good roads and -pleasant walks for both places. Instead of Normanby being witnout a name in the Hawera Boad Board, a nonentity in the County Couuoil, it would share with us the benefits and returns, honor and glory, of a full-blown corporation. Success, then, to the proposed borough of Normanby and Hawera is the earnest wish of—Yours, &c, Unity.

A man named Charles Dinwiddie, (says the Waipawa Mail) who was working in the Hampden Busb, was found by Mr J. Ingles in a whare in a deplorable state of helplessness. It appears the poor fellow, in addition to fever, came in contact with the fire, and was severely burned on the arm. H e was brought last week to the Waipukurau hospital by Mr Austin. He was in the whare for a whole week whithout any one at hand to attend to his wants