HAWERA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 17

HAWERA.

Onco moro the citizens will be called upon to decide on the question of borrowingl for a water and drainage system. At a special meeting of the Borough Council the report and estimates of Mr J. E. Fulton were considered, and the Council decided that the ratepayers should be asked for their sanction to the above proposal. Some difference of opinion is expressed about the source of supply, as the stream from which it would be obtained is small, sluggish, and carries a quantity of vegetable matter, as the analysis shows. Xt is proposed to have filtration beds and to raise the water by moans of rams to a tower 100 ft high, which will give ample pressure all over the borough. There is also a complete sewage plan, which will meet the requirements of the town for many years to come, and as the drainage will cost more than half of the total amount required, the works would always be ample and come in with any other water supply should it be negessary in the near uture to adopt any more extensive scheme or water. As far as one is able to judge the general feeling is in favour of the proposal, j which is well within the means of the j borough. Mr Fulton’s estimate is £15,120 , and the Council have asked for borrowing powers up to -£IB,OOO, so as to allow a j margin for extras, and to be on the safe , 1

Bide, and I am sure that those who have the interest of the inhabitants at heart will do what they can to push forward such a necessary and permanent benefit to the whole community. Great sympathy is felt in this district for the losses sustained by our fellowcolonists in Hawke’s Bay, and especially for the loss of life of those noble fellows who attempted to rescue others. The Mayor called a public meeting, and has started subscription lists to relieve the sufferers to some extent, although it is feared that all our efforts will go but little towards feihstating the sufferers. So far, the Mayor has sent <£l2o, and hopes are entertained that, with the assistance of the country subscriptions, some <£3oo will be raised.

The annnal meeting of householders for election of a school committee was the largest meeting ever held here. The schoolhouse was crowded, and numbers could not gain admittance, and were clan*.bering up the windows outside to see and hear the proceedings. The master was recently charged With kissing the female teachers, .and after investigation the master was retained and the girls removed. This was the cause of such widespread interest in appointing a new committee. The proceedings were at times animated, although good order prevailed, and it was expected that a new committee would be elected, as both local papers, and certainly most of the public, considered the master to blame. However, the result was that seven of the nine old committee were re-elected, no doubt through so many leaving before the election was finished. There were over 200 ballot-papers issued, and the proceedings were not finished till 1 o’clock the following morning, and yet people are not satisfied now, and the Star says, “The affair is one of the most unfortunate and unsatisfactory in the annals of educational administration in this colony.”*

At the annual meeting of'the Agricultural aud Pastoral Association, the report, as I have before written, was quite satisfactory. The old officers and committee with slight alterations were re-elected, and it was decided to erect a new grandstand and new cattle yards. Our daily mail is running through to Wellington again. I think the railway authorities are to be complimented on the prompt way in which they have overcome their difficulties, notwithstanding the grumbling of some of the public, who really are not in a position, from want of knowledge of the facts, to form an opinion on the subject. At the Maori sports last week there was <£l3 taken at the gates, increased to <£l7 in other ways, which amount is our Maori contribution to the Hawke’s Bay Belief Fund.