Hastings.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5898, 1 August 1890, Page 2

Hastings.

I OWN COHRESPONDKNT. |

A local bonifaco had a singular experience lately, which 1 have no doubt that ho hopes to bo the only one of tho kind. Opcuiug tho bung-hole of a spirit cask he tried to pot a look ac the inside by the light of :i CJiudiu. Something like tho result of touching oft' ;i barrel of gunpowder resulted —an explosion took plate. Mine host now wears something white about his hoad that isn't a glove.

There w.ts a strango find yesterday. In a gardoa in Hustings Mr Sturm, juiir., fouud a bottle, about which ho noticed something peculiar. He broke it, and saw in the buttle three green lizards. I understand that these reptiles are often seen down South, and in tho mountains, but aro unknown on tho plains, and how thoy eiime here is a mystery. Perhaps Mr Colenso will enlighten us on that pnint. They wero htill alive when I saw them, but dormant. Mr Sturm intei-ds preserving them in spirits. A few days since you spoko of the practice in tho House of" ivoprosontativr'B of the press (who get no thanks for i<) turning tho bald utioi'iuiius of members into eloquent speeches. You very properly condemned tho system. Curiously enough I was reading in cmo of tho shorthand iiiiiirtiisiues, of " .How They Do It In I'Y.'ince.'' Tho members of tho French Parliament luivo the privilege of revising their speeches, but only to correct gramuiuiical errors, or sentences that read awkwardly —but thoy must doit themselves, and they must in no way alter tho sense. Tho tunny part of it is that tho muster reporter revises it again if hu likes, and it is forthwith published. Vvom him there ia no appeal. Tho Curlton and Albert Hotels aro nbout to change hands. ill , \V. Y. Dennett has, 1 hear, purchased the Oirlton. This hotel haw been a sort of Great Eastern, and anything but a Mascotte to its promoters. Proprietor, contractors, and landlord $llike suffered. For v long time past the hotel has been under tho management of Mr Joseph Ellis, whose now location I have not as yet learnt. The purchase is, X mix told, £2000, a loss on the building of about £1.")00. Mi'Douiiett is too well known bjtii in K:ipierand Hastings as an obliging and competent host to speak more of him! Tli'j new landlord at tho Albert, I belinvo luils from Woodville.