Local and General.

Hastings Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 4151, 10 February 1904, Page 2

Local and General.

Mr John Kelly, who came up from Wei!ml on to transact some business in Hastings, left by this morning's express.

Mr B. D. D. McLean went through by the express train this morning to attend the Takapau Caledonian sports. John Little, alias Duncan, was arrested at Invercargill yesterday on the arrival of the Victoria from Melbourne, and a search of his belongings revealed :■ 2 packages of opium and an opium pipe, the lot valued at £7O. At the Wellington Arbitration Court yesterday, it was shown that there .-i v<> 500 cooks and stewards in the eiup oy of the Union Steam Ship Company. During the 12 months ended September 30th they were paid £48,012 in wages. It was stated that if the d< mands before the Court were granted the wages would be increased by £15,250. Mr v\. 11. Morton, assistant city engineer. Melbourne, has accepted the positi !i of city engineer to the Wellington Corporation at a salary of £7OO a rear.

The Anglican General Synod at Auckland yesterday agreed to the second reading of the bill to constitute a Maori Mission Board, to consist of the Bishops and one clergyman and one layman from each diocese.

J The Willoughby-Geaeb. Company were prevented from continuing their season at the Theatre Royal, Christi church, owing to the Council's decision to close the theatre pending extensive alterations^ A daring burglary was perpetrated at Devon port on Monday night. The boarding house of Mrs Hammond was entered while the occupants were asleep. The visitor seems to have ransacked the house, removing all the valuables obtainable. In the cricket match, Victoria v. England, the Victorians, in their second innings, were disposed of for the insignificant total of 15 runs, and the Englishmen won the match with eight wickets to spare, A w--iter famine is threatened in Wellington, and unless rain falls shortly the position will be serious. Stringent measures are being taken to conserve the water yet remaining in the resen oirs. A Dunedin telegram says :—lrving's temperance hotel at Clinton was destroyed by fire this morning. The police office adjoining was also burn ed, but most of the furniture was saved. An office lately occupied by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company was burned to the ground. Gardener's draper shop was damaged. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before .Messrs R. Brathwaite and G. F. Roach, J.'sP., Francis Fleming, on remand, was charged with stealing goods to the value of £i. Mr Lee appeared for accused and pleaded not guilty, After hearing evidence the Bench dismissed the case Sheep farmers are reminded that Mr R. Soweisby's stock sale at Wha.reni.ugi will be held on Friday, 12th inst,, when there will be an opportunity of securing lines bred and reared on high country. A special drag will run to the sale. We have been shown some line samples of Gold Queen Kocea onions grown by Mr Jas. McCoy, " Corf ad," Murdoch road. The bulbs were grown from specially imported seeds, and are an indication of the excellence of tie | soil on Mr McCoy's farm,

Tenders are to be. tailed for the erection of the I''illleu Troopers' Memorial at luvereargill. His Excellency (lie Governor will ho present this evening at the Drill Hall Bazaar. News has been received from Eketahuna that Messrs llenton and Asbzry's HaxmiJl at Alfred ton, with the contents, was destroyed by ihte. The mill was uninsured The owner's loss is estimated at I'looo. We beg to remind our renders of the Napier Caledonian sports on Wednesday, 17th insfc. The Right Tfon. the Premier arrived in Hastings by the midday train, accompanied by Miss Seddon'. His Worship the Mayor, Miss Russell, and Mr A. L. D. Eraser, M.H.R., were on the platform to receive them, and, on her arrival, Miss Seddon was presented with a beautifn'. bouquet by Mr J. N, Anderson. The party then proceeded to the Carlton Club, after which they drove to Flaxmere, where they found the Governor, and lunched with Sir William and Lady Russell.