HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 20

HASTINGS.

Another evidence of progress was brought under my notice last week. For a long time the local gas works wore run by oue man, and now the same man has three permanent hands under him, and for some time past there has been a large gang employed in addition. The buildings have boon largely added to and I hear a second gasholder, extra purifiers, and a powerful engine are to be provided to meet the increasing demand f«>r gas. Something like two thousand pounds are to be expended in connection with the improvements now being made. Our dairy factory, too, is getting on famously, and all who have had sense enough to send their milk there are now satisfied that there is a great advantage to be gained by so doing. Ono of the largest runholders has signified his intention of sending a regular supply of cream to the factory. Notwithstanding the cry of dull times I have it on the best authority, that the sale of an estate (a clothing store), the articles of which were under the hammer for three days, realised L3OO in hard cash. A very pretty discussion is going on in the Borough Council just now—arising out of an application for an additional loan for drainage purposes from the Government Life Insurance Department. It is not long since, a then prominent gentle man told the Council he had fixed up this loan, and all that had to be done was the writing out of one or formal documents. What is causing the discussion now is the fact that the Government law officers have given their opinion that the advance of LIB,OOO already made to the Council is illegal, inasmuch a«i the civic authorities did not obtain the money within the time for which they had the authority of the burgesses, and before doing so the poll should have been retaken. Acting on this advice the Government are preparing a bill for presentation to Parliament validating the present loan and giving the necessary authority for further advances, and they positively decline to advance a single copper more until this is done.

Oa the other hand the Borough solicitors, iu a letter covering many sides of foolscap, which was read at tho last meeting, say that no such validating bill is necessary, and that the council have full authority for borrowing any sum up to L 25,000. The Government in their last communication, in reply to a wire, said they thought the Council ought to bear the cost of drafting the bill, and seem to wish to deal fairly with the Council in every way. Of course all these legal opinions and counter opinions have got to be paid for —at least I presume so. Mr J. N. Williams is about to cat up a large slice of land just beyond the new railway station, and has not only forwarded the plan to the Council for approval, but has informed them that ho intends to form and metal all the street* before the land is offered for sale. This is characteristic of Mr Williams, and will prevent the likelihood of people buying bogs and then crying for the Council to help them out of their troubles. Some time ago the steam tire engine was being worked when a piece of brown paper packing blew but through a tap being closed that ought to ha™ been open. The engineer on the occasion was doing the work of two men, and the result was that, without making any ii:quiriea the Council decided to ask him to send in his resignation. This he declined to do, and asked for an inquiry, which was granted, and the result was that ho was allowed to retain his position. This arrangement was confirmed on Thursday last, and at tho very time the subject was under discussion the ongina was being worked only a few yards away from the Council chamber, when in the presence of three engineers the identical bib of packing blew out ' This time tho tap was open, and the question agitating tho minds of maT.y people is—will the Council dismiss the three engineers and then hold an inquiry into the circumstance and re instate them once raoro. As a matter of fact this blowing out of packing makes no difference to the workieg of the engine.

It is stated that in response to a request, the insurance companies have offered to make a trivial reduction in the premiums charged in one part of the town, but will do nothing in the other. It is quite likely an amalgamation will be made shortly, and that the whole of the insurance business—some L 300,000 worth —will be offered to a foreign company at a reasonable rate. The citizens have gone to large expense to provide fire extinguishing appliances, and they have a right to expect a substantial reduction in their rates—and what is more, they intend to have it! The idea of a man being aaked to pay L 3 7s 6d per cent., with a steam tire engine and an immense body of water at his door !

The proportion of cost of the licensing election, the Borough was required to pay, was L 22 Ts 10d.,

Many people here wonder why there should be such a fuss and so much paraphernalia, and trips here, there and everywhere required in connection with a paltry L 20,000 loan, when the Mayor of Wanganui and the Council's banker (the same bank as our Council deals with, by the waj) could negotiate a L 55,000 loan at 5J per cent., without a shilling of cost to the ratepayers.

i Horses were sold by auction hero last week at one shilling and half-a crown a head. A gentleman asked me tho other day to take a hand in a new insurance cr.mpany, and pointed out that (being say 40 now) by paying three and elevenpence per week for 15 years, I could become the proud possessor of LIOO at the age of 55 I was much struck with this apparently easy means of making a fortune, and spent an hour or two figuring out how the company could give so much for so little ! The result was, I discovered that to cet tho LIOO, I should have to pay LlB7 10a, while, if I put 3s lid per week into the P.O. Savings Bank at four per cent., I shall have at the end of 15 years, just L 248. I haven't insured ! The Hastings Rifles arc calling tenders for a kharkeo uniform. Mr C. Wilson (editor of the Mail) and his bride were warmly congratulated on passing through here in the train on their honeymoon trip. Fancy a baker's boy having the temerity to run his cart into Mr H. Naphtali. Soma of our boys have front enough for anything. The genial * 4 Nap " was more frightened than hurt, and said it was only a simple addi'ion to his list of ups and of colonial lite ! The Rev John Hobbs continued his course of lectures in the open air after service on Sunday. The was a large attendance. The subject was, "Thei influence of one man upon another." 1 hoar we are to have a ladies club in connection with St. Matthew's Gymnasium. According to local statistics it requires | 17 people to look after 22 patients in the Napier Hospital.