Local and General.

Hastings Standard, Volume XII, Issue 4126, 8 April 1909, Page 4

Local and General.

The Hastings Standard will not be published on Good Frida3 r and Easter Monday.

The Rev. Bates wired at noon today : Westerly moderate to strong winds, glass little movement.

Mr Arch. McLean, of Green Hills, has presented the Hastings Ladies' Croquet Club with three sets of croquet balls.

A grand ball will be held in the Drill Hall on Wednesday, May 5. Tickets are obtainable fiom Messrs Hall and Son.

Messrs A. Masters and C. Hughes are the two latest candidates for seats on the Borough Council, having decided to allow themselves to be nominated.

The many friends of Mrs G. P. Donnelly will be pleased to hear that her condition yesterday evening and to-day is greatly improved and that, she was able to partake of light nourishment. The members of the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles wili parade at the Railway Station at 7.30 this evening', and at 8 o'clock will leave by train for Dannevirke, to attend the Oringi encampment.

It is reported on very good authority that another auctioneering firm is about to commence business in the premises recently vacated by Messrs Williams and Kettle, in Station street.

The band rotunda in Queens Square will be completed in about a fortnight's time. The opening ceremony will be performed by Mr Tanner who years ago presented the Square to the town. The United Friendly Societies' sports committee met last night and arranged the final details in connection with Monday's gathering. The chairman (Mr T. Styles) intimated that all the arrangements suggested had been carried out, and given fine weafher the labours of the committee should be crowned with success.

About 47 members of the Hastings Rifle Volunteers left by this morning's express for Dannevirke to take part in the Easter encampment at Oringi. This is the first occasion upon which the men have worn their new service uniforms. The Hastings' section is under the command of Captain Holderness.

At Gisborne last night a largely attended meeting of women and girls convened by the Mayoress passed a resolution appreciating the action of the Government in offering a Dreadnought to Britain. The meeting decided to <give a free will offering from the women and girls in the district towards a Dreadnought fund.

At the Court this morning, before Mr W. Heslop, J.P., a first offender for drunkenness was fined ss, or 24 hours' imprisonment. Mary Walsh, charged with being a disorderly person, pleaded not guilty, and was remanded until Wednesday. Accused applied for bail but the police objected. She then altered her plea to guilty and asked for a "chance." She was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. In view of the decision of the Library Committee not to grant the use of the lecture room for meeting purposes, the Secretary of the Hastings branch of the St. John's Ambulance Association, has written to the Council asking for the use of a room in the Borough Chambers, to enable them to complete their course of lectures. The committee have already expressed their willingness to allow the use of the room for the delivery of scientific lectures, therefore the application appears to be unnecessary.

There was a fairly large attendance at the entertainment held at St. Andrew's Hall on Wednesday evening, under the auspices of the Star of Hope Lodge. The first part of the programme took the form of a concert, when the following items were contributed :—Miss Hulbert pianoforte solo, Miss Gibbs recitation, and Messrs Palmer, Pearce, Bradley and Smith, rendered songs. The second part of the programme was given by the 1.0. G.T. Dramatic Company, and took the form of a comedy " Declined with thanks." The characters were sustained by the following -;—Misses A. Mouldy. Dysanf* and E. Dew; Messrs E. Lewis, G. W. Venables, Pearce. T. Westwood and V. Danvers.

The annual meeting of the St. Andrews Literary and Debating Society was held in the St. Andrew's Hall on Tuesday night, the Vice President, Mr vV. Smith, presiding over a large attendance. The Secretsry. Mr E. R. Oanvers, presented his report on last year's work, and the balance sheet, which shewed a small credit balance on last year's working, which were adopted. The election of office bearers for the coming session resulted :—President, Rev. P. C. Ramsay ; Vice Presidents Messrs W. G. Turner, J. E. Jones, and F. E. Nottage ; Treasurer, Miss May Thompson, Secretary Mr E. R. r^anvers; Committee, Misses N. Foid, and Ivy Thompson, Messrs J. E. Hall, J. G. Muse, and W. Bishop The session will be opened on Tuesday, 20th April, by an address from the President, which will be followed by a few musical items. It was decided to hold the meetings oa alternate Tuesdays. The subscriptions for the enduing session are ladies one shilling, gents half-a-crown. The commitiee meets on Thursday 15th inst to araw up the Syllabus for the coming session.J

Messrs Williams and Sons advertise a list of their new season's shooting stock.

Miss Well wood's evening classes for ballroom dancing are being held on Monday evenings in the Oddfellow's Hall. On Easter Monday the class will be held as usual. A further addition was made to Mr J. D. Ormond's stud stock this week, by the arrival ex s.s. Kuapehu from England of a prize shorthorn bull.

It is understood that candidates for the municipal election (Councillors) will be asked to address the ratepayers from the public platfoim, and state their policy in regard progressive measures. Several candidates have already consented to do this.

Cr Fowler having decided to stand for the position of Councillor, as well as contesting the Mayoralty seat, intends depositing £lO with the Town Clerk for the purpose of defraying portion of the costs of a by-election, should he succeed in being elected to both positions.

The system by which the Government valuer arrives at his values of properties in this district, especially town properties, has been puzzling to many who profess to have a knowledge of land values. One valuation which calls for an explanation is that of the Hastings Bowling Green, which with an area of 3 roods 17 perches, has its unimproved value fixed at £3OO, while the unimproved value of a section on the Karamu road containing 2 roods 33 perches is fixed at £530. To reverse the values would appear nearer the mark.

The Apiarist, Mr I. Hopkins, who has been retired on superannuation, will not, it is believed, have a direct successor. When he was appointed State Apiarist a few years ago it was recognised that there was great need of a specialit, whose judgment could be depended on to put the industry on a sound footing. During his tenure two apiary inspectors were appointed, chiefly to see that beekeepers complied with the Act, and to give them advice. It is considered likely that these inspectors will continue in their present statust, reporting directly to the Biologist, who was Mr Hopkins's chief. There would then be no officer bearing the title State Apiarist, and a salary would be saved.