HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9835, 7 August 1900, Page 5

HASTINGS.

[own correspondent.]

Mr J. T. Cassin informs me that it is his son Fred, not Bert, who has been admitted into the Permanent Artillery. Speaking of frozen meat an English journa| states that Great Britain imports from New Zealand an average of 18,000 sheep daily, which amounts to about 6,500,000 per annum. The Fire Brigade monthly meetinc will beheld to-night. Your article of yesterday on the land ballot recalls an incident of many years ago, but in which case the result was the reverse from that quoted. The block in question was not a great way from Napier, and great enthusiasm was displayed. In fact, the man who succeeded in getting the last available share was offered £5 for his chance at the ballot box. I may mention, by the way, that he has often wanted to kick himself since for not taking it. This shareholder and a well-known Napier chemist were appointed scrutineer-, and a very different fate awaited them from the Auckland case quoted. It was grim satisfaction to them that no one could accuse them ot assisting themselves in any way. They drew for themselves the two worst sections in the whole block, which, after hanging on them for a year or two, 'hey abandoned, losing all their time and money. Another incident at the ballot is worth telling. The rule was that the secretary should have a certain amount per acre for his trouble. This was a legal liability which could be enforced like any other rate. An alternative to this was provided. If, at the ballot meeting, a majority consented to it, and the secretary wished it, he could take his choice of the sections, before the ballot was taken, instead of receiving the rate. Well, there was in this particular block a section on which all looked with greedy eyes, which was extra valuable for many reasons not necessary to specify now. All those present—and there were few if any of the applicants absent—were willing to let the secretary, who had been largely instrumental ia obtaining the block, have his pick. He told me himself that had the meeting been unanimous he should not have taken the best block but only a fairly good one. Only one mau, who wanted the plum himself, stuck out. The secretary told the chairman that although a majority would do, he would not c'aim his privilege while thero was a single disseutient. The ballot took place, when lo and behold, the much coveted prize fell to the secretary's lot, amidst the applause of all the meeting except the objector, who drew only a middling lot, aDd retired in high dudgeoD. Besides this stroke of luck, the secretary, of course, got his rate as well.

The District School Committee held their ordinary monthly meeting last night. Present—Messrs Maddison (chairman), Ross, Thornton, Hart, Land, Fail, and Tickner. The only correspondence was a letter from the Education Board, in answer to the application of the committee for the Board to purchase 3 acres 2 roods of land adjacent to the school for an addition to the school grounds. The answer of the Board was that the matter was deferred until the October meeting of the Board. Mr J. A. Smith, headmaster, who attended the meeting to interview the Committee about this matter, explained that in October the Board received the annual amount from the Government, for new buildings, alterations and improvements, and divided the amount according to the importance of the various applications. The chairman confirmed this, and had no doubt that the Board would favorably consider the application. In hia opinion, the additional ground would not only prove, a boon to the chddren but. would be an ornament to the town. What wan now an unsightly and useless space would bean attraction instead.—The secretary said that he had received no report from the headmaster. Mr J. A. Smith eyp'ained that he had not sent in a written report, preferring to wait until the inspector, who had just finished the examination, had sent in his report. Mr Smith said that to get the proposed site in good order would, he thought, cost £100. The teachers were willing, if the Committee would to get up entertain men is to pay this, and without interfering with the prizes' concert. He suggested a concert, provided entirely by the school, at one shilling admission all | round, a progressive euchre party, and a children's ball. This and a similar course next year would, he thought, provide enough funds. Mr Thornton proposed and Mr Fail seconded, that the offer of Mr J. A. Smith and the teachers be accepted, the Committee promising to assist in any way required. —The inspector's report of the scholarship and pupil teachers examinations were taken as read, they having been already pubished in the newspaper. —A vote ot thanks was passed to Messrs W. B. Jones, Tong, Holt and Sons, and Symonds for their donation of imitation guns for school drilling purposes. It was resolved to write to Captain Russell, M.H.R., to ask him to obtain the same privilege as had been gi anted to the Napier and Spit schools, namely, a grant of carbines for the older boys, fifty being the number required ; also to write the member for Napier asking for his co-operation. — Messrs Tickner, and Thornton were appointed visitors for the month. —Some small accounts were passed t for payment and the meeting terminated. I wish to call the attention of your Hastings readers to the pantomine and Jarley's waxworks at St. Matthew's Hall to-night. An entertainmeut will be given in St. Matthew's schoolroom on Thursday evening in aid of the Indian Famine Fund. An excellent programme has been arranged, and patrons may rely upon receiving full value for the price of admission. The principal feature of the entertainment will be the production of a farce by W. Suter, entitled " A Quiet Family," which has been strongly cast, and a successful performance may confidently be looked for.