Untitled

Hastings Standard, Issue 506, 20 December 1897, Page 2

The Railway Department has suddenly become very considerate for Hastings. It lias put on a train to leave Napier at 11 o clock on Christinas eve, reaching Hastings at 11.45. Thus, any resident of Hastings who may be possessed of a few stray bawbees can take them to Napier, make his purchases and return home just in time to ask his better half why business is so dull in this community. Business dull ! Is there any wonder, when people rush to Napier with every penny they have got ? Who is to blame for the special trains to Napier'? Echo answers, who ? The prohibition body in Hastings appears just now to be in a moribund condition. A meeting was called for one day last week and only about a score of people put in an appearance. This does not speak well for an institution which claims to be revolutionising the colony. There is plenty of scope for the prohibitionist, be the community as sober as it may, and it is a bad sign to see the reforming element languishing. It removes one of the greatest checks to excessive and illicit indigencies that can be found. 1., his annual repoit to the Education Department, Inspector Hill says: •' "Members of Committees are so bound up with tiieir several districts that they do not like the unpleasant task of enforcing atteu4*ae& of children ai ecbwl."

Tliese remarks are somewhat "of a reflection upon School Committees in the Hawke's Bay district. They infer that committees have neglected to do their duty. There is no harm in committees being bovmil up with their several districts. Their interest in the town should be a strong inducement to committeemen to enforce the Act so far as attendance is concerned.