HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11560, 13 June 1900, Page 4

HASTINGS.

[FROM OUB OWN COBBBBFONDSNT.J June 12, 1900. The amount realised for the Melanfesian lisaion funds by the sale of work yflsteray was nearly jB4O, a moat gratifying rellt of the labors of the ladies who have ovoted considerable time and pains to taking various articles for sale. In conversation with a prominent [awke's Bay native the use of the native ag — emblem, a lizard — at the receDt looting at Waipawa, in preference to be Union Jack, it was explained as a latter of ancestral supremacy. Various iarties amongst the Maoris gave gifts torards the erection of the new ohurch, ,nd these parties were represented under ■arious standards as follows: — Huki, Jnion Jaok, Harietta and party, Wahlapia, Hawke's Bay, Pohukura, Waipawa, tfgare Ngare, Taraaiimaarangi, Huauii, tfahia, &c. There was much discussion is to the flag, many of the natives wishng that the Union Jack should have the proud supremacy, Harrietta especially wanting the colors of "Te Kuini " to fly it the top of the mast. The principal witness in the Havelock burglary oase this morning naturally thought that two sticks of tobacco taken from the same block would be as like as two peas in a pod, and sensibly shrank from recognising them definitely. A very simple way of ascertaining whether they came off the block in the shop would be by laying a thin piece of traoing or tissue paper over the surfaces of the tobacco where parted and lightly applying some soft heel ball. The veins of the leaves and every indent or raised surface would be shown clearly, and if when held up to the light the two tracings matched, it would be tolerably conclusive proof as to whether the tobacco came from the block produced. With apologies to Sherlock Holmes ! A large quantity of sheep were sent South to-day, over 30 tracks being required for their transit. Owing to the wet recently the sheep yards at the railway are unusually trodden up and filthy, and as the ground shelves down from the railway level to a pool in Queen-Btroet approach and to the new premises of Ihe Hawke's Bay farmers' Association, steps ought to be taken to have the yards properly drained, the effluvia being extremely noisome. The Hawke's Bay Mounted Eifles wore inspected to-night by Lieutenant Davis, Government inspector for mounted troops. There were 78 men and four officers present on parade. Sergeant Smart sent a message to the officers, at the drill-shed, that the natives were not to be served with rifles.