HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 36

HASTINGS.

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hastings, February 17. A number of per.ons were charged today with evading the dog tax, and were fined 5s and costs 7s each, and told if charged again th y would be fined £5. The tax is only ss, so that the offenders had to pay about four times over. An euquiry into tho recent fire was held to-day before Mr Turnbull, coroner, and a jury of six, tho taking of evidence extouding over five hours. Inspector Emerson conduoted tho enquiry. The following verdict was returned ‘ The jury are unanimously of opinion that the fire Btarted in the premises of A. J. MeEwan, either in the room marked fittingroom, or that marked showroom, but there is no evidence to show how it originated.’ They added the followiug rider: —‘That immediate steps should be taken to provide the Hastings Fire Brigade with adequato appliances for extinguishing fires.' Tho coroner thanked the jury for the patient attention they had given to the ease, aud regretted they could not be remunerated for their services. A proposal has been made to present Mr B. A. Wright, the rotiring station-master, with a testimonial. Certainly there is no one who better deserves it. Mr Wright leaves for Holensvllle next Wednesday. Hastings, February 18. Mr Machilligin, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, started the ball rolling by forwarding a cheque for five guineas to the Fire Brigade. Mr Tanner’s intended trip to the Old Country is giving rise to all sorts of rumours. It ia, however, fully aoeepted as a fact that Mr Tanner intends to run the gallant Captain for the Hawke’s Bay seat, and It also firmly believed that, with a fair start, there will ba a real good rau for the seat.

Both may be termed veterans in the political . arena, and some real good fun is oxpected a should events come off as at present ex* 1 pected. 1 It has been resolved that the oounoll pro. ' vide means to procure a steam fire engine as soon as possible, and a committee has been appointed to confer with Fire Inspectors Miller and Waterwortb, of Napier, as to « the bost description of engine to be obtained. ] The committee will meet at the Napier k - Brigade Station on Monday morning, and the result of their deliberations will be reported to a special meeting of the council, to b 6 held nrxt Thursday, ; The local brass band intend giving an entertainment at an early date in aid of their funds. We have not had many entertainments of this nature lately, and as the band is deserving of support the affair ought to ba a suocess. Mr A. A. George, the secretary, informs me that the Rev Father Sraytho forwarded him a cheque for £2 2a with a j very nice letter for the assistance they gave at the baz ar. A stupid rumour was started some days ago that a cheque for £SO had to be handed to the Napier Brigade before they would come to Hastings. Knowing a good deal about ‘ volunteer ' firemen I folt that suoh could not possibly be the case, and made im« mediate inquiries, with the result of finding out there was not the least truth in tho rumour. Not only was the spreading of I such a report a great injustice to the Napier 1 Brigade, hut it made the local mon feel very ! uncomfortable. < Tenders dose to-day for rebuilding a ( block of four shops, the work to be completed iu nine weeks. The Bank of New South Wales has erected a temporary building pending the preparation of a handsome block. f Hastings, February 21. ( Messrs Williams and Kettle have given \ £2 2s to the Fire Brigade funds. The oounoil have decided to get a Shand and Mason’s steamer, besides 2250 ft ol hose ? end other requisites, A meeting is being held to-night to see what can be done for the relief of the ' ) Bufferers by the Queensland floods. The brass band is just leading the crowd to the i theatre.