HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 16

HASTINGS.

We have got our Fire Police and Salvage Corps fairly started, the members having been duly sworn in on Tuesday evening. The officers appointed were;—Captain, W. J. Tyerman; Lieutcnauts, Newbigin and Hunt. Kules similar to those under which the Napier corps is worked were adopted. Each member is to be supplied with a cap and lantern, and other appliances will be procured as soon as funds are available. The corps will ho!d their meetings at the fire brigade rooms. Mr E. S. Goldsmith is the hon. secretary.

The annual meeting of householders to elect a school committee was hold at the schoolhouse on Tuesday. Owing to the style adopted of notifying the meeting, and the ridiculous hour (7 o'clock), there were only eighteen householders present, including the old committee. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £ls. The annual report was highly and deservedly complimentary to the teaching staff. The number of pupils increases steadily, and there are now over 500 on the roil.

In referring te the annual report, Mr D. McLeod said be did not tbink the majoriry of parents agreed with the idoa of giving prizes ouly for regular attendance, as there was no encouragement for children to work if thev happened to be away once or twice. He also suggested the advisability of getting a swimming bath for the children in or near the playground.

The chairman did not know whether the committee could interfere in the matter of prizes, and thought it was all in the hands of the teachers, who got the money together and did as they considered best. The idea of the baths was very good if the money coald be raised, but the subscription business was about played out. However the incomiog committee could consider the matter.

The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year: - Capt. Kussell, M.H.R., Messrs A. A. George, I. Morgan, A. McQuillan, Bi S. Goldsmith, \V. C. Maddison, F. Cook, 8. Toner, J. FritchJey. Votes of thanks wers accorded to the chairman and the retiring committee.

The new committee afterwards met and elected Capt. Russell chairman, and resolved to meet on the first Tuesday in each month.

Tho courthouse was the scene of an unusual military display (for Hastings) on Tuesday last. I dropped round there and found the room occupied by a gay company in full dress uniform, there being present Colonel Newall, Major Wood (commanding Napier District), Captain Smith (Napier Navals), Captain Chicken (Napier Rifles), Sergeant-Major Huddleston (Instructor), Captain Lewis and Orderly-Sergeant Ware (Hastings Rifles). On making inquiries as to the cause of such an assembly, I learned that an officer of the Hastings Rifles was under arrest and that he was about to be tried by court-martial. The Colonel informed me that the Act specified that such proceeding, were not open to the press, so that further particulars are not yet available, but I understand that the local undertaker has been interviewed, so that if the culprit is sentenced to be shot, which he most likely will be, there will be no unnecessary delay in getting him under the groand. Volunteering is evidently not the game it is

cracked up to be. I hear that a firing party are being assiduously drilled.