Hastings.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6375, 10 February 1892, Page 3

Hastings.

(OWN COltl'.KSl-NDK.NT.j

The Mayor presided last night at a meeting held at Mr Tyerman's to receive tbe , report of the Committee appoint, d to canvas for subscriptions for increasing th.- salary of the nightwatuhman. The watohiu4.ii.__lr Niblet, had reported that the subscriptions had diminished down to an unremuuerattve , amount, and in consequence he had resigned. It was, however, stated at the former meeting that he would i-ontmue the duties if the subscriptions amounted to a fair price for the work. The committee reported that they had succeeded in obtaining subsciiptious amounting in ail to_.C2 lGs 6d p._ week, and moO was expected fi'-.m the fire insurance offices. Th" i-htnr-man announced that thsrc v.--. ro five applications for tho position, one on beh.lf of Mr Niblet. -ot.-.o ot those present suggested that, applications should be advertised for, and th-? meeting b? ail- . journcd tor the purpose of roc .mug them, but a majority ot th . meeting do-ide- to deal with those alreaay in, and settle the matter at once. A ballot was then taken, the reporters present being appointed scrutineers. Tho result was that the present wiitchman was ro elected by a large majority. It was then resolved to appoint a permanent Watch Committee, to whom the nightwatchuian would be responsible, and under wh-se directions that official would act. Any person having any complaints to make about the watchman to send the same in writing to tho Committee, when they would meet and consider it. ' The following subscribers consented to act as the Committee : Messrs Tyennau, Tong, Knight, Maddisoo, and Foreman. Ihe meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the Mayor and the Press. At the K.M. Court yesterday, before Mr G Ellis Mayor, J.P., John Burt aud fhos. k Smith wore fined 6s and 2s costs each, or 24 W hours iv Napier gaol, for being drunk.—W. MaoManus, charged with a similar offence, having been discharged with a caution for a I like c_use a few days before, was fined 10s and 2s costs or 48 hours. _. , , ■ Tho annual meeting of the Presbyterian -on_regation took place last night, when a s_tt_r_ent and balance-sheet was read and approved unanimously. The following are the chief items :-Total receipts rom all sources, £530, of which a net balance ot 4.9. remains, besides the manee fund The balance in Bank is larger, but grants to various purpose voted by tho Commit too reduces it to that amount. The chief items are as follows:----j* Manse fund, bazaar and subscription £224 ; m general fund, Sunday collections £101 10s, mb-eription lists _M 13s, Olive collection £21 from church extension tuna _-0, Havelock grant, £1-, Sunday school collections £24. Among tho expenditure items is •£Ol 10s for ventilating and painting_ tho church, -nd £i 17s 9d to foreign missions. Bixtv-eiKht members were on the Communion roll of Hastings and Clive. During the year Band of Hope meetings had been frequently hold ■ the membership roll was sixty. During five months of the year meetings bad been held by the Mutual Improvement Society; membership roll 2 ? . The names S Messrs D. M'Leod and Gibson were • • added to the church committee. After the busiues- tea and coffee and cako were handed round and enjoyed. The choir relieved the proceedings by _ some, wel practised solos aud choruses. Ihe Roy. Mr Douglas, of Taradale, id response to the chairman, addressed the meeting, taking for his theme, "A Sunday in Melbourne, and a Sunday in London," which latter included a visit to the Tabernacle and a sermon by the lato Mr Spurge.v. Ihese reminiscences were highly interesting. The Rev. Mr Grant, Waipukurau, also addressed the meeting. The chairman the Key Mr Morrison (incumbent!, in his final address, ttated that in all probability his connection with the Hastings church would soon bo severed. He regretted this very much, but circumstances beyond his own control ruled it so, and he asked for his successor the same sympathy with the work as had always been extended to him Mr Morrison referred with regret to the approaching departure ot Mr Hogg, their treasurer. The rev. chairman concluded by thanking the committee, the Sunday school teachers, and the choir with 1 graceful compliment to tho Fourth Estate for the prominence that had been given during the year to tho meetings v connection ■■with the Presbyterian Cuurch.