HASTINGF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10079, 14 March 1896, Page 6

HASTINGF.

The Hastings Standard, a new daily paper, will make its appearance shortly. Messrs. Cushion and Arnott, the proprietors, are thoroughly practical men, and have had considerable experience in several influential paper offices in this colony. Mr. Gilberd, the well-borer, is going deep on the Te Mata estate. The bore is now down 400 feet, a considerable distance l-elow the bed of the Takitaki Kiver. A good flaw is soon expected.

The Havelock orchardist, Mr. John Goddard, has landed a consignment of Hatch bulbs. The boxes are a curiosity in tin* nay of packing, and, from the number of wire ventilators in the boxes, one would i-nazme that they contained stoats or weasels instead of Harlem bulbs.

The remnant of the once-famous Riverslei hop gardens, which is now so indusi.iousl? cultivated by Mr. Alf. Masters, promises i most luxurious yield this year. A number of men, women, and children are now busily engaged gathering the golden blossoms. Plenty of fodder for the winter is an undoubted fact beyond dispute, as a casual observer journeying around the Hereuunsi plains cannot fail to see. Both Maoris and Europeans have awoke to the fact that we have four long months to keep our stock alive on what we save in summer, and in many cases the fodder has to be kept goinj longer.

Fresh fish in any quantity is to be had for the catching at the mouth of the latitat: River. Kawa, schnapper, flounders, etc.. are in shoals, and some remarkable hi' haul! hare been the result.

The result of the long-continued drought is that several artesian wells on the Friinle? side of the town have ceased flowing. The caterpillar has played havoc with the tommies this season. In several gardens tin greeiMriiit is lyinj, in heaps on the ground the stem being eaten through. Mr. Eccles'new druggist and chemist sshcp is now occupied, and is a very lunds. ma ornament to the centre block. The nockmanship throughout the whole buiMius: is °> the best description, and reflects the -' ea ' es ' credit on the contractor, Mr. GarueU The shop fittings are on a magnificent scale, and would do credit to a large city. Tho Maori wahines have a time-honoured custom of squatting on the doorsteps oi tin various shops, and seem quite unconscious of the fact that their ample proportions completely block up the doorways to the detri' ment of business. The proprietor of a cer tain shop, which is a favourite rest of th< wahines, has hit upon a simple and crtaia remedy of getting rid of the obstruction) ! ' i When he sees Ills doorstep blocked he |»lite'S asks his shop assistant to kindly irris a:e - This means that the contents of the watercan is emptied over tho doorstep, which speedily shifts the squatters. Mr. Burnett Chambers, of Te Mata, his abandoned the boring for water, which is now down about 500 feet ou the papa meltHe has had two trial bores put down with indifferent success.

Mr. W. R. Blythe's new shop will be c "™' pleted next week. It is the only brick building in the town, and is complete in evert detail.—[Own Correspondent.] _