LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 108, 31 August 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Itev. W. Morley preached in the Wesley an Church yesterday morning, and a very large congregation listened with rapt attention to a very eloquent sermon. The tickets for the Knights of Labor annual ball are going off rapidly, and one member succeeded in disposing of close on a score in an hour on Saturday night. The affair is being looked forward to, and is certain to be a success in every particular. The funeral of the late Mr B. M'Clelland took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. The impressive Church of England service was conducted by Rev. J. Hobbs, and there were genuine expressions of sympathy from all quarters with the wife and family of deceased. The very large cortege was a testimony of the respect in which M'Clelland was held throughout the district. A branch of the Apostleship of Prayer, a devotion to the " Sacred Heart of Jesus," has been established by Father Smyth in connection with the Catholic Church. "With his usual energy. Father Smyth has put his whole heart into the work of organisation, with the result that a large number of the congregation have enrolled themselves in the order.

At the Columbia Skating Bink on Saturday night a blindfold race caused much amusement, the winner turning up in J. Hay, with J. Fox second. The other competitors were Messrs Woolley, Harris, Kessell, liice, Kingswell, and Bishop. During the evening Mr H. Sollitt was presented with a handsome silver medal, suitably engraved, for his victory in the Two-mile Championship. The prize was a valuable one, and speaks well for the enterprising management. The Hastings Volunteers have taken the Te Mata range in hand again, and the great amount of damage done by the deluge of iain in June will be repaired before the end of the week, after which the shooting season will commence. No expense has been spared in making the mounds stronger than ever, and when it is stated that Colonel Newall has given the opinion that it is the best range in the colony some idea can be formed of the amount of work done by the local company. The Colonel's opinion is backed up by no less an authority than SergeantMajor Hopkins, who has seen active service, and who thinks that no better range could be found anywhere. The local Volunteers are to be congratulated on their goaheadedness. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Oddfellows was held in their hall on Saturday last. After a considerable amount of routine business had been transacted, one candidate was initiated and two others proposed. P.G. Bro. Livesey brought under the notice of the Lodge an arrangement between the Eotorua Sanitorium and the Friendly Societies of New Zealand, which has been in force since 1892, but which is, however, not generally known. Under theconditions of contract, the Sanitorium holds three vacancies at the Hot Lakes for the accommodation of members of the various lodges, who will be taken at a reduced charge of 21s weekly, including maintenance and treatment. In making an application to the Resident Medical Officer of the Sanitorium the candidate for admission must forward a recommendation from the lodge of which he is a member, together with a certificate from the lodge doctor certifying that the ailment from which he is suffering is capable of being benefited by a course at the lakes, and then if there happens to be a vacancy he is admitted, but if not, his case is dealt with on its merits when a vacancy occurs. A Napier print, which, at times when short of copy, manufactures stories and deals them out as facts, has caused some annoyance to a local firm by connecting thein with the immediate manufacture of hofseless carriages. Mr W. Symonds happened a few days ago to make a remark as to the chances of an auto-car in the colony, and it was immediately seized upon by a newspaper man and translated into an account that the manufacture of the machine was to take place at once. Mr Symonds objects to such exaggeration, but informs us that he is now making all necessary enquiries with regard to the utility and desirableness of the light motors, and will be prepared to build or supply horseless cars as soon as they can be used on the public roads. When first introduced in France the cars were re*stricted to a pace of four miles per hour and each car was compelled to send an advance guard on to warn people of what was coming. In New Zealand the byelaws would have to be regulated for the innovation, and it is not likely that Hastings will see the horseless carriages careering round for some time to eame. It is certain, however, that when the time arrives no factory in the colony will be in advance of that of Mr W. Symonds, who is thoroughly up to date in all things pertaining to carriage taaimf&ctee.

The very latest political rumor is that Rev. L. Issitt will contest the Westland seat with the Premier. Mackenzie's popular entertainments have received the highest kudos from the Press wherever they have been given. The Examiner- mentions Mr H. HBridge, of Onga Onga, as an opponent to Captain Russell for the Hawke's Bay seat. News has been received at_ Feilding that a man named Samuel Wigg, from Ohingaiti, had been killed-in the bush by the fall of a tree. Judge Mair leaves Hastings at the end of the week to take up the Appellate Court work with Judge Butler at Gisborne. In his place Judge Gudgeon, of the Validation Court, will sit here. Mr M. J. Brookes, manager of the Dresden Piano Company, Wellington, has arranged to import a full set of Boosey s band instruments for the Volunteer Band at Wanganui, at a cost of .£450. Three boys have been served with summonses in connection with the cannonfiring at Wanganui. It is understood that no arrests have been made in connection with another freak—the ringing of the Hastings fire-bell a few nights ago. Mr J. M'Kittrick, who has been transferred from Pahiatua post and telegraph office to the Hastings station, arrived by the express on Saturday evening, and commenced his duties under Mr Haszard this morning. A neat thing in the way of advertising is being placed on all the railway stations between Hastings and Palmerston. It is a nicely got up frame containing photographs of landaus, phaetons, buggies, carts, traps, &c., built by the firm of W. Symonds. Besides showing to perfection the handiwork of the local firm, it makes a very attractive show-case. Some school children at Toko, near Ilawera, lit a fire in the school grounds one day last week, and a girl named Florrie Divehall was so badly burned that she has since died. The school teacher, Miss King, received injuries to her hands in endeavoring to extinguish her unfortunate pupil's burning clothing. In consequence of the numerous pupils lately drafted from the infant department into the standards at the local State school, and, as a result of the general increase in the attendance, the building is taxed to its utmost capacity, and considerable difficulty is experienced in organising the children. In view of this, the committee should apply to the Board for increased facilities, in the direction of building an infant department. Mr H. Alder, the genial agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, had a narrow escape from a serious accident on Saturday last. When about to return to Napier from Havelock the young horse between the shafts of his trap took fright and bolted, but Mr Adler, who was not in the vehicle, seized hold of the reins and stuck manfully to them, bringing the animal to a stand in a couple of hundred yards. Though he got a few bruises here and there, Mr Alder fortunately escaped without any grave results.

The gardener at Flaxmere last week found the nest of a song thrush with four eggs in one of the bushes there. The bird is still sitting. This is very early, and he does not remember an instance of a nest in the month of August. The thrush is one of the best birds we have in the colony for picking up and eating insects all the year. A couple of the black humble bees I were observed for the first time this season one day last week. I Tailors tweeds and trimmings are being j given away for less than half-price ; also [ a good Singer's sewing machine —a sacrifice, owing to P. Campbell leaving the i district. See window to-night, next to i Yicker's and Co.'s auction mart. —Advt. \ Stop that Cough by taking Neil's Balm of Gilead, a positive cure for coughs, colds, chronic bronchitis, influenza, &c. In large bottles at 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Corn Curb removes either hard or soft Corns. A few applications only necessary. Is per bottle at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt.