HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9938, 8 December 1900, Page 5

HASTINGS.

(own correspondent.) Captain A. H. Russell, of the Hawke's Bay Mounted Infantry corps, informs me that the camp is postponed until Monday evening. The weather would have prevented it, but in any case the camp could not have been held as the tents have not arrived. In consequence the church parade fixed for to-morrow will not take place. At tlie Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr Beilby, J.P., a first offender, a Maori this time, was convicted of drunkenness and discharged. The Clerk of the weather said "No" Ito the fancy fair last night, but Mr J. A. Smith and his staff and the school committee said " Yes," and won hands down, for in spite of the drizzling rain, the Princess Theatre was crowded. The stage was partly fenced off with greenery, lanterns, etc., tor the Geisha tea rooms, which were well patronised. In the centre of the floor of the theatre was a bower wherein strawberries aud cream were dispensed, and this department was liberally patronised. A prominent side show of the fair was the art gallery, presided over by Messrs Hunter and Cnllen, and , containing many interesting and curious specimens. Mr Moeller, of the Masonic Hotel, Napier, interested a large number of those present by an excellent phonograph from which a grand selection of songs, comic and otherwise, were produced. There is a fish pond, a bran tub, a produce shed, aud flower stall, a fancy goods stall, and lots of other attractions. The fun of the evening was the reversal of pursuits ol the eexee, a nail driving competition b?ing won by Mrs Stewart, and a ladies' hat trimming competition by Mr Spencer, junr. There were about ,a dozen competitors, all of' whom had to do their work in full sight of the audience. Some say that &• suspicion of favoritism was shown, by Mrs J. A. Smith in the distribution of feathers and ribbon, but in any case Mr Smith did not win although his performance was a meritorious one. Ten minutes was the limit for the work. Mrs Manneting was the judge. Musical selections were given durioa" the evening. A special feature of the show was a number of Hustings young ladies in picturesque Japanese costume, and one Dannevirke gentleman as a full blown Chinaman, pigtail and all. The following were amongst the ladies assisting : Mesdames Percy Martin, Mackenzie, Misses Luckie, Danvers, G. Roach, Percy, Joll (2), Cooper, Robertson, Wellwood (2), Jessie Brown, Taylor, Maud Cooper, and Bessie Hartshorn. On the doll stall was a noticeable exhibit, a dwarf wedding cake, a three-decker of elaborate workmanship, the present of Mr R. Warren.