HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 14

HASTINGS.

Mr H.’-P.' Cohen was up here on Saturday to see what could be done towards an entertainment in aid of the Napier hospital funds. It appears,the calls on the institution have been unusually heavy and that money is urgentlyyneeded -Mr Cohen has left the matter in the hands of Mr A. A. George, who will be glad to hear from anyone willing to assist in getting up an entertainment in three or four weeks. The Borough Council have resolved to take the opinion of outside counsel as to an appeal in tho Masters case, and the following gem has been made public:— “ If the opinion is against appealing the matter will nob be gone on with!" If that was really part of a resolution passed the Council must surely be. improving at last, and as it has, lappeared in print of course it must be true. I can guarantee one thing and that is if. a vote of the ratepayers were taken there would not be any appeal. , » - sc-' • '"V There was quite .a lisir of casualties in connection with a concert the other day. From one cause ancf another three pianists who were expected did not arrive, but this was got over by the kindness of a gentleman who happened to be in the hall. Two pipers were expected, but, alas for frail man’s proposals, one of them did not come at all and the other lost his pipes. Here was a pretty fix. A party of Scotties in all the glory b£ warpaint and sporran, each with a thousand cairngorms sparkling about bis person, were and fuming for want of a start, but what could they do without the pipes'? Nae thing. So an expedition was started offin search of a set. Now bagpipes do uot grow on trees and cannot be fpund at a moment’s notice,; and when found are often slightly out of order. Such was the case on this occasion. Bagpipes always seem to me to be a bit out of sorts, judging by the way they have to be screwed and turned and squeezed and thumped, to get them into shape. After a long search the expedition returned'with the pipes, but when a stalwart performer got into, them, or behind them, or whatever the proper position may. be, a hole was discovered, and away up town the piper went to find the wherewithal to effect repairs. (Note. —There is neither string nor wire on whisky bottles.) Half-an : hour elapsed, but still no sign,, but at last someone suddenly exclaimed, “ Hark I dinna ye hear it ?" in the Words of a song, and sure enough, “ and nearer still and nearer still" drew the weird droning sounds, until at last pipes and piper came into full view. The company set up a loud hurrah, which might well have been taken for a revised edition of those given when Havelock got into Lucknow—the difference being that Hastings had got into 'luck-now (be careful), while the central figure, in place of a British general, Was the well-known figure of Sam Finlay - son, who had come all the way from Okawa to find on arrival that his pipes had not arrived. I never saw so many Sassanachs fairly straining their faculties to catch the sound of the music, and really anxiously waiting and watching for the bagpipes. The incident went far to explain the apparent excitement which seems to take possession of those who are to the manner born. Once the piper and dancers got on the stage all went merry

as a marriage belli those present quite forgot the little delay that had occurred, and the concert was brought to a satisfactory conclusion. During the evening the Wilkie Brothers (from the Spit), -Messrs George Stevens, Morrison, McLean and Webster (from Maraelcakalio), went through a first-class dancing performance, and Mr A. Purves, who came from Takapau, performed a number of songs and recitations in fine style—he being arrayed in the dress of a Highland shepherd. Messrs Hall and Bidgeway, Misses Ful ford and N. Caulton and others also gave able assistance. Before returning to their homes the visiting performers were entertained at the Bailway Hotel by the popular proprietor, Mr Sam Charlton. As there is not much news this week I may as well put in a little personal incident bearing on the bagpipes. It occurred at Stirling, in Otago, some years ago. It is a well-known fact that everybody thinks they can beat the big drum,, and certainly it looks easy enoUgii. The writer had gone down with a band .from Lawrence to a picnic on the island between two branches of the Molyneux, a lovely wooded spot with glades partially cleared, and there met two pipers, one .of whom was none other than big Jim Macdonald, pipe-majorin the forty-second before leaving Home, and well known in New Zealand as one of the finest looking kilties ever seen. As the day wore on Jim and his friend took their pipes and suggested a tour of the island, but they must have a drummer to go with them. It happened that our own drummer was away that day, and as no one else would tackle the job “ your own " stepped into the breach —he has got more sense now ! The two pipers started off with a stride of about three feet, Scotchmen's feet, which would be about fifty six inches, the drummer was hammering away ta—ta-ta-ta—-ta-ta-ta —ta-ta-ta and getting on as he thought quite nicely, when all at once there was a collapse, he had struck a snag, or stump, with the result that he fell head first over the drum, then the drum over him and so on. Shortly hispresence of mind came to the rescue, and looking forward he saw the pipers about two hundred yards ahead. He could not throw up the contract, so taking a short cut he got up with those lively Scotties and once mdre banged with might and main. But the fates were against him. Putting on a spurt and stretching out to keep pace with the six-foot-sixers in front he found a hole in the ground and down he came, this time utterly broken and disconcerted. A black pine stump had found a lodgment.in his ahatomy, a briar bush was showing itself through the head of the drum, and things were so much mixed up that it took the whole picnic party some time to separate the various parts of drum and drummer, and restore them to their respective places. The gentlemen with the fifty-six-inch stride still kept on, apparently never noticing

' the absence of the third party, and made the tour of the island, finally pulling up jas fresh as daisies. Should any readers ' ever meet the writer at a bush picnic I ■ would strongly advise them not to ask him to act as big drummer to a couple of stalwart, pipers. Should they do so one look will wither them, and make their life henceforth a dismal record of disappointed hopes. , Can any retired athlete say whether ' from his experience there is anything in ; the following : —“ There is every danger of an athlete dying of lung trouble if he ever ceases his sports," writes Professor I A. C. Mathews. “In athletic exercises large lungs are required, and they become inflated beyond their natural size. If the athlete ceases his practice and adopts anything approaching a sedentary life, the lungs, falling largely into disuse, easily decay, and the result is quick consuruption. , It is frequently the case that young men in college, who are athletic leaders, after graduation go into stores/ offices, or rooms, and in a few years die of consumption. Everyone is surprised,-and it is said ‘ such a strong, healthy man when he left college. Who would have thought he would die with consumption ? Must have been hereditary.’ As a matter of fact, he brought it upon himself by failing to keep up the practices that expanded the lungs." A special mission which has been carried ou all the week at St. Matthew’s Church realised L 27. The Key Mr Isitt commences a temperance crusade at the Theatre on Sunday Week. It will last four days. The following jollities are in prospect: —Annual school concert on the 4th, Wesleyan anniversary soiree on the 6th, Captain Russell’s banquet on the 13th, Catholic school entertainment on the 18tli, Eire Brigade sports and Hospital concert on New Year’s Day.