HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1162, 8 June 1894, Page 20

HASTINGS.

The tender of Messrs M'Kcnzie and Perkins for erecting the new Catholic Church is £IB6O.

Someone took the trouble lo wire from Napier to Wellington that the proprietor of the Strasburg clock died from fever at Hastings, and the paragraph was copiod into several other papers. It is hard to understand why such misstatements are made, and still more difficult to divine why they are not contradicted when the error is pointed out. The man died at Danevirke, and several other persons have since fallen victims there to the disease. There was a very sad case there the other day when a young man, who had successfully nursed his brother through a severe attack, contracted the disease and died.

Mr Maxwell, who has just got into his new rescaurant, entertained the members of the press on Saturday evening, when a very pleasant time was put in.

Mr A. Leipst, the local well-sinker, has succeeded in striking a splendid flow of water on the property of Canon St. Hill, at Havelock. The pipe was driven 400 feet.

The first of a series of entertainments was given by the members of S»". Matthew's Gymnastic and Athletic Club ou Monday evening. There were some exhibitions of feats appertaining to the gymnasium, and these were interspersed with songs and instrumental items. Such entertainments are a step in the right direction, as they afford healthy recreation, whilst the price of admission is within the reach of ail.

The Rev. J. Hobbs gave a lecture the 4 *Life of Christ" durir.g the w§ek, the various items being illustrated by a splendid series of liine-l'ght pictures.

We are promised an evening with Captain Fred. Thomas, the whistling ventriloquist, who is at present running Eopular concerts at Napier. The Captain as been amongst us several times of late and tells some very funny stories.

Despite the cry of dull times one of our leading storekeepers told mo that on Saturday last his cash takings were larger than they have been any day since Christmas.

The evidence in the beer cases showed that after all the delinquencies were merely of a technical nature, but the magistrate had no option but to inflict the minimum penalty of £SO in each case. Mr Turnbull said he rdgretted he could not make the fine a nominal one, but that representations made in the proper quarter would probably result in the fines being reduced.

Mr John Sutherland, who was burnt out on Thursday morning last, at Havelock, is a very heavy loser by the fire, and great sympathy is felt for him, as ha has been very unfortunate in business transactions of lata. The house was one of the best in the district, and was furnished with great taste, Mrs Sutherland being an adept in matters of that kind. The house contained rooms, cost nearly £7OO to build, and was only insured for £450, whilst there was only £2OO on the furniture, which was barely the value of the articles in the drawingroom.

The accident by which Constable Gordon got a broken log is another unfortunate affair, following so soon on the case by which he was mulcted in £7O damages. It is said that misfortunes never come singly, and tl.e adage is amply verified in this case.

I wish to warn any members of the printing profession against being drawn up this way by a rumour re an enlarge ment of the Huia, a Maori paper at present published here. lam not prepared to Biy whether there is anything in the rumour or not yet, bur, at all events, there are enoug'i compositors about here just now to get out the London Times. One gentleman who applied for the editorship was told there were plenty of people in Hastings to do all that was required.

Apropos of " men of type " I may say that no less than four passed through here with swags on their backs last week. Following the time-honoured custom they baited at the local office for relief. They said they had come from Palmerston North. Two or three others I could name are now here, having been discharged, after serving their time, to make room for apprentices. They seem to be turned out almost as fast as what past for solicitors in this country.

The Hastings Caledonian Society have resolved to hold an annual ball in response to the request of many residents who have thoroughly enjoyed themselves at similar functions, arranged in the past by the Society.

I have been asked to offer the congratulations of readers of the Mail to Mr and Mrs Chas. Wilson. Mr Wilson's

witticisms are a source of delight to all who have the advantage of perusing them.

We are to have a railway bookstall, and as to *ho shall run it is causing much anxiety in a certain circle.

There is another funny rumour to the effect that when the present lease of one of our hotels is out the owner wants £l2 a week for it, and threatens that if he does not get it he will cut it up into shops.

Estimates are boing prepared of the cost of concreting all the street chaunels.

Mr McStay's business his been bought by Messrs Runciman and Lelievre, two gentlemen who are strangers to Hawke's Bay, but who promise to make things hum.

The seemingly interminable hop gardens drainage case still drags its weary length along, and seems as far off settlement an ever. It would have saved a great sum if a special magistrate could havo be- n detailed to hear the case right off, and be done with it; As it is Mr TuriibuH's time is so much occupied that he can only give odd times to it, and as each time the caso comes oh there are some twenty persons engaged, and as it has been dragging on for nearly four months, the expense and waste of time are very great.

There is a peculiar affection of the eyes going about here just now—a sort of blight.

Another exhibition of pictures is to be hold at St. Matthew's school on Wednesday, dealing with the history of the Church of England.