LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 202, 21 December 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On account of the holidays occurring this week business places will remain open on Wednesday next. Mr T. Wilfokl, M.11.1i.. for Wellington Suburbs, passed through Hastings by Saturday's express, en route for liotorua. A number of picnics are to be held at the Grange, Clifton, and Mount Erin on Saturday next. Should the. weather remain line an enjoyable time should be spent by those present. The terrible death that took place at the Napier l'arade yesterday morning should act as a warning to sea bathers. The blood-hounds of the deep are sure to bclurking near the]shore during the present calm weather. Two tires broke out simultaneously at Napier on Saturday night—one at Wilson and C'o's branch boot shop, and the other at Smith's fruiterer's shop. Both fires were extinguished without the aid of the brigade. The Wesleyan Industrial Exhibition was crowded with visitors on Saturday, the closing evening, who seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The Misses.Tames and M. Langley, as flower girls, were particularly successful in their department throughout the season, and they deserve the thanks of the management for the thorough manner in which they threw themselves into their work. Dr Hosking, at the conclusion, thanked Mrs Pilmer for the excellent manner in which the Maypole children were trained, and he also thanked every one who had in any way assisted in bringing the exhibition to a successfu issue. It is reported that the promoters cleared over £oo net. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the Special Christmas and Exhibition number of the New Zealand Mail. As a rule publications of this description seldom come up to anticipation, but in this instance it far exceeds what was expected. There are eightypages of reading matter, on almost all subjects of local and general topics, which have been specially written for this number, and these are illustrated by no less than 150 engravings. Taken altogether, either for Home or Colonial readers, we consider this copy of the Mail the best sixpennorth ever issued from a New Zealand printing office. The annual meeting of the Royal Hastings Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., was held in the Lodge Room on Saturday evening last there being a very large attendance of members. A motion to the effect that the superannuation scales adopted by the district at a meeting held in June last, be not enforced until after further consideration by delegates in January next, was unanimously carried. Bro. W. G. Martin's application to be relieved from his duties as secretary for 9 months of the ensuing year for the purpose of visiting England was cordially granted and Bro. A. A. George P.P.G.M. was appointed to act for Bro. Martin during his absence. The following officers were duly elected and installed for the ensuing six months. N.G. Bro. Wellwood, V.G. Bro. Brooking, E.S. Bro Bishop. The receipts for th« evening amounted to £BO.

Mr H. H. Hunt notifies the arrival of his stock of Christmas goods, including cards, toys &c. Yesterday was the hottest day of the season, and the cry now all over the district is for rain, hut with the exception of a few drops each afternoon none has come. Applications for teachers for the AshleyClinton and Wimbledon schools are invited by the Education Board in another column. At the Police Court this morning, before W. Beilby, Esq., a man named Mick Barrett was convicted of drunkenness and discharged. Frederick Sykes was charged with being drunk and disorderly in the streets on Sunday morning, going about in his shirt sleeves and causing a disturbance, when Constable Butler arrested him. The police represented that this was the second or third Sunday morning on which one or more men were openly drunk on the streets. Mr Beilby commented severely 011 the conduct of this class of persons who caused grave scandal|to the public by their shameless exhibition on the Sabbath ; and he desired the press to state that cases similar to the one before him would be dealt with rigorously for the future. Accused was fined 10s and costs, or seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. The Wellington Technical School is the largest institution of the kind in the colony. There are 110 fewer than 600 students. The Premier will be the only member of the Government in Wellington during the holidays. Professor Watson, who was recently dismissed from the Adelaide Hospital, has pnbished an elaborate statement of the trouble, so far as it concerned himself. He makes a number of serious allegations. A question as to how often hotel bedlinen was required to be renewed seemed to puzzle a professional valuator in the Wellington Supreme Court on Thursday last, lie eventually stated that a hotel would be most extravagantly managed if renewal was required once a year ! According to the evidence of a police constable, who ought to know, there is a class of persons to be found in London who jump into the water to rescue people who pretend to be drowning. The monotony of the proceeding is sometimes varied by inducing a boy to fall into some stream or pond, and then to wade in and rescue him. Subsequently a collection is made among sympathetic bystanders in recognition of the rescuer's bravery- This occupation is said to be very profitable. Mr Clement "Wragge, the Australian meteorologist, says that had he necessary stations he could forecast disturbances dependent upon latitude and the season of the year up to 16 days ahead, and had he the necessary data from the Antarctic regions—oll which portion of the world, in his opinion, the character of Australian seasons largely depends—he might be able to give a fair idea as to coming weather for a few months ahead in Australia. Mr Wragge has been granted two additional stations of great meteorological value. A corporation styled the Australian Incandescent Gaslight Company (Limited), registered in London, is about to apply in the Supreme Court for an injunction preventing Messrs Wilkins and Field from selling what arc know as mantles —textile substance used for incandescent lighting purpose —which the plaintiffs claim, though it is denied by the local firm, are an infringe, ment of their patent. The injunction is sought to be enforced until evidence regarding the patent can be taken on commission in Germany. Eccles' Quinine and Iron Toxic contains Ouininc and Iron in a high state of purity, and is the most agreeable, strengthening, and efficient agent yet discovered. 2s 6d per bottle. To be obtaiiu d from A. Eccles, chemist. Napier and Hastings, and at all leading country stores. —Al>vt. Wellington warehouse prices are in every instance charged by the D. I. C. when executing orders received by post. Those of our residents who want really nice fashionable goods need not hesitate about communicating with the D. I. C., Wellington. Complete furnishing is now a special feature of the D. I. C., and those who anticipate requirements in this direction will be supplied with catalogues and estimates post free. —Advt. Neil's Celebrated Liver Tonic, a pure botanic remedy for all affections of the liver, biliousness, jaundice, yellowness of the sldn, indigestion, &c. In bottles 2s and 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt.