50 years ago

Hamilton ratepayers have been hit with the steepest rate rise in the city’s history. City councillors decided at Tuesday night’s meeting to fix the rate at 3.8c UCV in the dollar which represents a 30.6 per cent increase. The sharp increase was backed 100 per cent by councillors although the Mayor, Cr. Ron Peck, said he would have preferred the rate to be 3.76c in the dollar. Ratepayers have also been hit with a $1.50 increase in the garbage charges to make the bill $11 for a twice-weekly clearance. Council’s estimated expenditure for the coming year is $707,231 while its income is expected to be about $293,245, from other revenue sources. This left $413,986 to be raised from rate revenue.

HAMILTON Lawn Tennis Club, one of the few private tennis clubs in the Western District, is expected to go public. Hamilton City Council’s estimates’ meeting on Tuesday night agreed to make provision for a $10,000 loan to the courts if the club goes public. The club has resisted previous suggestions of going public, but in view of an increasing financial crisis, members are now certain to accept the move. HLTC secretary, Mr. Ross Hardwick, said yesterday his club had recently written to council asking what assistance it could expect if it went public. Mr. Hardwick said the club trustees would have to be informed and a special meeting called before a final decision could be made. “However, the general feeling which now exists among most members is for going public,” he added.

25 years ago

HAMILTON will be the first stop in Victoria on the largest Olympic torch relay in history. Casterton, Coleraine, Branxholme, Condah, Heywood, Portland, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Mortlake, Lake Bolac and Halls Gap are just some of the towns which the torch will pass through on its way to the opening of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. As reported by the Spectator last week, the torch will enter Victoria on July 19, 2000, making its way from Mt Gambier along the Glenelg Highway to Hamilton. A lunchtime celebration will be held in Hamilton with the torch stopping for a short period when related activities and a ceremonial lighting of a cauldron will take place. Forty Victorian communities will host either lunch or evening celebrations.

HAMILTON Gold overcame a middle order batting collapse to win its Lehmann-Fairbairn Shield cricket match against West Wimmera at Melville oval on Sunday. Casterton thrashed Hamilton Green at Island Park in the other inter-association match. Hamilton Gold defeated West Wimmera in the Hopper-Crisp under-21 competition, but Hamilton Green was beaten by Horsham Blue. Sunday’s results means the match between the two undefeated teams, Hamilton Gold and Casterton, on November 29 will decide the southern section winner of the Lehmann-Fairbairn Shield. At Hamilton’s Melville Oval, West Wimmera won the toss and decided to bat first, making a solid start with an opening partnership of 30. Mark McLean struck the first blow for Gold and the dismissal triggered a batting collapse.