PATEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 112, 11 May 1881, Page 3

PATEA.

(ntOXC OtJE OWN COEBEBPONDKNT.)

On Friday evening a special general meeting of the Harmonic Society was held; to consider' and decide the question of a site for the proposed new hall. Honorary members were invited to ex? press their opinions, but were not allowed to vote. The committee had three proposals to lay before the meeting, viz. : — Mr. T. Haywood had offered the society the free gift of a section in rear of the Albion Hotel, and opposite the Wesleyan Chapel, provided that the hall was built there. He merely reserved- the preemptive right to acquire the hall and section, at a fair valuation, in the event of the. society at any thn*e falling through. His section iB valued at about £130. This offer haft led to another from a number of property-owners in the lower end of the town, on whose behalf Mr. S. Taplin offered a gift of £120 to the society, on a contract being signed to build the hall on the society's site in Cambridge street. The third offer was from Mr. "W. Odgers, of the Australasian Hotel, who offered

site the English Church, in Taranaki Toad. An animated discussion" took place, but a ballot being taken, it was decided to accept Mr. Haywood's offer. Plans of the new hall have been already prepared and approved by the society, and the committee will now call for tenders for building. The committee appointed by the Town Board has decided* in favor of confining the proposed municipal boundary to the township side of the river, in consequence of the cost of cutting down the Patea hill, and maintaining the bridge, which would probably have to be rebuilt in the course of a few years. The other boundaries will extend from the Heads. to Patterson's road, then westward to the Spanish gardens, and on to Rhodea's estate, striking eastward to the sea in a right line. It is estimated that there will be the requisite 250 householders within the boundaries recommended in the course of a month or two.

% The Harbor Board has decided to dispose of its reserves by public auction, 'with the exception of the one in Mr. "White's ocoupfttion. Mr. Adams asked how the Board was to raise funds in the fature, and Mr. Sherwood replied that Major Atkinson would have three months to get a Bill passed through Parliament, granting farther endowments to . the Board.

There is a rumor that another public hall will shortly be built, near the Bite of the old Town Hall.

Mr. Long,' our postmaster and telegraphist, is enjoying a well-earned holiday, and Mr. Daweon, from Waitotara, has taken his place.