HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9109, 9 March 1898, Page 3

HASTINGS.

[OWX OOBEBOTOKDEBtI.]

The hop-picking season at Eiverslea oonolades to-morrow. Although the area under cultivation is not nearly so great as at former ti-ues, it is still an important local industry, and the season is looked forward to annually by many persons as a pleasant method of earning money. Mr Masters inJopms me that the yield ia surprieingly favorable, considering the stormy and windy weather that has prevailed. Constable Gain, of Napier, has been appointed to the position, pf third constable at Hastinge, in plaoe ef Constable Poster (reeigned). Hastings famishes its due contingent to every enterprise. When the Kermadeo Islapd toherne, which was to furnish a Utopia straight off, waa pcopoeed we were to the front in spite of all wainings, and in duo course thia South Sea bubble exploded. Then (jama the Ooolgardie gold rnsh, from which many of us (not all that went) came back sorrowing. Now the Klondike Eldorado ia on, and aoma of us are ofi to tho land of frostbites and gold. We s>ll hope that the Klondike contingent wiilfiome baok to Hastings with their gold duet, ac the fourth of the month comes round so unpleasantly oftan. I wish again to refer your readore j;o the question ol the permanent levels, wiiioh is cl l%t more interest to the residents than they may think. It U not a very desirable thing to build yoyr house and in the oouree of a year or so find th-.t road is on the level of the sill of the parloi , window, neither, upon the other hand, is it desirable to find your fronj; doo.'-stop four feet above tho road by reason of the road having been foooped &yiiy, to meet tho requirements of the permanent levels. A case in point is Victosia atre&t, so»b to bo an important B»burb of itaelf. >-'ii fcpnl 7th, 1898, the levels will be fixed, and objeotlone caiiei be lodged ten dajs before that. The Jeremiahs whe prophesied that rain would not come until Juuo are at fault Heavy rain fell last night, and light showers have fallen frequently, filling tho watep tanks and doing incalculable good to the grass and crops. 1 he Governor arrives in Napier on Maroh 30th. Seing on official visits down south, he will not a?riva in time for the Jookey Club races, bat will prsbably be present at the texk races. It waa supposed that he would arrive at Napier on the 24th, buj; that was apparently a mistake in wiriDg, for he ja not expected in Wellington till the 2'/th. One of bis ohief reasons for visiting Hawke'fl Bay ia tp attend the much-talked-of conference with thp at their espeoial inyitation Thp .conference wiil be at Waipatu p»; of whioh H.enara Tomoana is chief- Here will come the chiefs from north couth, we t, and east, But wi'-b tfre Maoris it is pleasure and hospitality flrafc and bsflipoas afterwards. They are making preparations $.4 Waipatu to entertain his Excellenoy right roy&liy, and a great feast will be given oa the first aay. A grand halca is being rehearsed by the best pesr-formere-from the looal pas, and the Governor, fremie?, and visitors will be invited to dinner. Nest (Jay the /torero will begin, and of thia some explanation may be useful It has been stated that ti+.ia meeting ia the Maori Parliament, but that is uo'i so, I em indebted to Mf A., L. D. Fraser for the real faote of the oasa. During the last sitting of the New Zealand Parliament depu- j tatione of tho Maori race went to and interviewed Mr Keddon upon vatioue matters of interest to the natives Ihe Premier pointed cut that as Parliament was busy with many matters the was inopportune. He, however, euggested to t lip Maoris that they thouid their grievances and he would meet them enJ confer with them on tho matter duung the reoeaa of Parliament. Henoe the forthcoming luteting at Wwpotu. I am, however, desired to state that tho Governor's visit is non-political, and thatit is at tbo request of the MaoriH to receive as the Vioeroy of tho Queen a hdftrty uud loyal weloooao