HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 21

HASTINGS.

(prom our own correspondent.)

The new dairy inspector hopes to be able to inspect all the local dairies during this month.

During a disoussionon the collection of the Harbour Rate it was pointed out that onetenth of a penny on the annual ratable value of the borough would amount to £144 3s 4d.

As the Mayor (Mr Ellis) has not yefc re« turned from the Hot Lakes Mr Fitzroy is still acting as Mayor. The Borough Council have got a most awful rating from the local correspondents for the horrible state in which several of the roads now are. Some time ago two or three con. tracts were let, but owing to dilatoriness in starting very little was done, with the result that when the wet came on us, and stayed so persistently, the roads which had been cut up were all but impassable. Two of these are very noticeable. The Oraahu road is one which a few years back had hundreds of pounds spent on it, and was to all intents and purposes a thoroughly good thoroughfare—albeit it was rather high in the crown and the footpaths were not formed. These were not found necessary until the Stortford Lodge Hotel was shifted up on to the main road opposite where ' Frimley Gate ' formerly stood. The council thought it necessary to recently spend £4OO in taking away the top of the road, which cost hundreds of pounds to put there. The contractor, in his wisdom, broke up the road in much larger sections than was provided for in the contract, and made a perfect quagmire of it. I had occasion to traverse it a few days back in company with your Napier correspondent, while in quest of information re the late lamented Premier, and words fail to convey our feelings while whipping our sorry steed to get him along on a level road within the borough. If anything, the road in front of the main school is in a worse state, having also been cut and hacked about by a contractor. While cogitating over this road I looked through the names of the councillors and found that only two of them have any children at the school. There are 400 children at the school who bad to cross the road four times every day, and I am able to sav confidently that not one of those children have had dry feet for a whole month. It was perfectly pitiable to see the little ones coming home in the state they did day after day, more especially seeing that an expenditure of £5 would have obviated a great portion of the inconvenience the children had to put up with. Such a state of things is absolutely shameful, and shows a great want of sideration somewhere. One evening I had occasion to be round at the school in company with Captain Russell, and should be sorry to repeat his remarks on the state of the roads he had had to wade through to get there.

The railway authorities have lately erected a very large wooden water tank close to the crossing. For some time back there has been a proposal on foot to erect a drinking fountain at the railway crossing, and now that this large tank has been erected the supply for a drinking fountain could be got from it. The quantity of water required wquld not be large enough to make any appreciable differ* ence in interfering with the use for which the tank has been put up. The new tank would also be a great assistance in case of fire.

Our firemen are moving; in the matter of their annual ball. Once or twice this affair has been got up jointly by the brigade and tbeAthenseum Committee witli considerable success, and it is quite probable that the same course will be followed this time. Both these institutions deserve all the support they can get. Anyone who has not been round the outskirts of the town for a year or so would be quite astonished at the amount of building that has gone on during that time. A large portion of the Riverlsea Estate is now built up with a class of exceptionally neat and comfortable dwellings. The land between the main road and Tomoana is also largely covered with cottages, and what were for. /nerly paddocks adjoining the works now look more like a young township. This is the best and surest sign of the prosperity of a district.

Last week I attended a meat enjoyable gathering at Te Mala, the occasion being a farewell facial' to Mr and Mrs Fiokling, who are leaving the station after twelve yearsresidence there. Mr Fickling has been gardener, and as such has had muoh to do with the grapes which grow as mucb as five tons to the acre. Some of the wine made from these grapes was handed round at the 'social,' and was highly Bpoken of by all who partook of it. Mr and Mrs Fickling leave with the best wishes of their employees and fellow-workers. Affairs at Waipatu still go merrily on, and I see a good deal of busineis is now being done by the 'Upper House' in addition to the work of the 'Honore mema ote whare.' Notwithstanding the fearful weather of the last few weeks the Native in the yellow tights and the black petticoat still smiles serenely and waves the Union Jack from the flag-pole. The Council have decided to close the Heretaunga road, to which I have above referred to, as it is impossible to do anything with the road now.

When the shops now in band are completed tbere will be fifteen tobacco shops of one sort and another in tbe main streot. The local Lodge of Oddfellows, which has a membership of nearly 150, has resolved to buy a section near the main street and move tbeir hall on to it.

Stock's new hotel, which is all but completed, is quite a handsome structure, while

the trotting course alongside it looks really splendid.

A' social,' in order to introduce the new Wesleyan Minister to his congregation, was held on Thursday evening, and was a great success.

The Council asked the Kailway Commissioners for permission to use part of the railway reserve whare the fire-bell tower stands, in order to erect a sbed fcr the steam fire engine. The Commissioners would not grant it, but offered a further piece on the opposite side of the road, between the railway line and the roadway. They can surely not have considered that a building put up there would completely block the view of the train from the main street, thereby adding to the already existing danger to anyone crossing the line. The Council de« clined the offer.

It is hard to say why the Council should want to build a new shed at all, When a few pounds would make the present shed, which is in a thoroughly central position, available.

Be the railway crossing, it has always been a mystery to me why the Commissioners persist in keeping the crossing at Eastbourne street closed when by having it opened the blocking which now oocurs wij;h every train which, comes in could be avoided. Besides the convenience there is the important fact that from this crossing a clear view of the line can be had from both directions. The subject is well worth consideration.

The Morning Star Assembly of the Knights of Labour intend to have a 'social' the night before the Queen's Birthday. On Ascension Dpy a sort of service of song will be given in connection with St Matthew's Church, when a.tolerably complete orchestra will assist.

The Council estimate their receipts for the ensuing year at £2277 16s lOd and the expenditure for the same period £3420 2s 6d, a deficiency of £1143. This is irrespective of several contingencies which may reach a few hundred more.

The borough has not a farthing of outstanding rates, except those for the present year, since Hastings first cams under the domination of the Town Board.

Matters politioal are beginning to move a little, and no doubt the lamented death of the late Premier has had something todo with the apparent livening up of things in this line. I am told that the recent election for school committee, for instance, resulted in the re< turn of the old members (who, bythe. bye, are all supporters of Captain Russell), notwithstanding an active canvass by the Liberal Party. Of the canvass I know nothing, but I spoko to a couple of the defeated candidates, who are generally supposed to be on the Liberal side, and they told me they had no idea whatever of standing until they heard their names proposed at the meeting. So the canvass (if there was any at all, which \ very much doubt) must have been particularly active, seeing the principal parties were not even informed of it, For some time past it has been generally understood that Mr T. Tanner (the popular ' Tommy' to wit) would ran tbe gallant skipper for the Hawke's Bay seat when the next vacancy occurred, and it was generally believed that with a fair start the race be> tween these two would be a most interest* ing one. Both have popularity on their side, both are old hands at the game, and, therefore, the chances were looked upon as about equally balanced. Mr Tanner was to run in the Government interest, or rather in the Liberal interest generally. A few days baok, however, I heard that Mr Tanner would not be run aa a Government, but rather as an independent candidate. It is farther rumoured aj more than likely that a former aspirant to the position will again sport silk ; and further still, that yet another candidate will make his appearanoe for the direction of Waipawa. So far that (in certain quarters) body, the Knights of L.bour, have not allowed any rumour* to got outside the walla of their meeting room, so that pethaps also they may have a dark 'un to trot out, for I am assured that the Waipawa candidate has no connection with the Knights. The local branch have a smoke concert on the 23rd, so that under the soothing influence of the weed something may leak out. We have therefore the prospect of five candidates for the hoaonr of representing the constituency of Hawke's Bay. What a time we will havq to be sure ! A gentleman here, whose Qipa».Q, Is -' reporting,' informed me the ftther days that he had been thrice, for* ' justice,' but had ao possibly has might see the 'justice,'' of allowing himself to be nominated alqo fop the captain's seat. Then, there would be half a dozen, or is he likely tq be the choice of the Knights ?• Time will show.

The Mayor (Mr Geo. Ellis) has returned! from a trip to the Hot Lakes and looka ex-* oeedingly well.

The statement of aooounts read at the last meeting of the B,oro,ugh Council showed that the overdraft on special loan account was still £18,00.3, and on the general account over £ISOO, while the statement of estimated reoeipts and expenditure for the ensuing year showed a balance on the wrong aide of over £IOOO, not making any provision for the £IOOO fire engine, and a few hundreds more that it is quite likely will be wanted. It was proposed to strike a special loan rate of 9d and a general rate of Is in tbe pound. The weather shows signs of clearing up, after more than three weeks of continuous rain.