LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 419, 7 September 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Supreme Court sittings in Napier have been postponed till Tuesday, 14th inst. Chief Justice Prendergast will preside. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Debating Society takes place this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall. The public are invited. Mr J. A. Smith is to be congratulated 011 the flattering nature of the Inspector's report of his school. Of the 578 children on the roll, 192 were in the preparatory classes and therefore ineligible for examination. Of the 881 pupils who underwent examination 828 passed. Referring to the division on the question of the transfer of the A. and P. Society's headquarters from Napier to Hastings, the N.Z. Times says:—"lt is looked upon as certain that the change will eventually be made." Some very angry comments were made at a meeting of the Melbourne Deposit Bank shareholders the other day. The directors' report was not very re-assuring, and one shareholder suggested that they should close the bank and turn it into a soup kitchen. An aged lady said it was time the preference shareholders received something. They ware promised o per cent, hatf never received a penny, but were left to starve. There was considerable discussion as to the continuance of current accounts, opposition being shown to the directors' recommendation that they tjhpulcJ not be abolished. Another sharebolder feaid, ir ( an excited tone, that he didn't respect any ruaij. hi the room, and did not care for any of them. Xf there were 20 men present of his opinion ho would soon clear the bench (pointing to where the directors were seated). The chairman. said tb.nt.it was unwise aud improper for a small knot of people to attend the meetings year after y.=ar to depreciate the institution and throw difficulties jn the way or re overy. Eventually the recouameaqatioßS pf the directors were adopted,

A bundle of keys are advertised as lost. Mr W. "White is selling potatoes at reduced rates. An experienced gardener advertises forja position. Late Australian News appears on our fourth page to-day. Blythe and Co. announce a gaslight show of spring goods for Friday evening nest. A number of Napier and Hastings residents took advantage of the excursion train to Wellington this morning. The well-known stallion Earl of Salisbury left by express this morning for Woodville, Mr M'Kee of that town having purchased him from Mr W. Simpson, of the Albert stables. To-day Mr Vosper, while engaged in sinking a well on the property of the Defiance Packing Co. had bored to a depth of 110 ft. when he removed the plug. Hearing a gurgling sound in the pipes he struck a match and a stream of llame leaped 2ft. from the pipe aud continued alight for nearly an hour when it was extinguished. Mr Jago, exchange clerk in the local branch of the Bank of New South Wales has been promoted to the vacancy caused by the transfer of Mr Galbraith to the Thames. Mr Jago is a son of the Chief Postmaster in Napier, and is a young gentleman of considerable promise. Mr Roberts of the Wellington staff undertakes the duties of junior.