HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 14

HASTINGS.

The principal topic of conversation during the week has been the court business, the burglaries which occurred some time ago and more recently the. ransacking of the Kailcora Tost Office being undei investigation. Three cases against four persons occupied all Friday and Saturday, and other charges will take up the best part of next week. The investigation so far as it has gone has revealed a state of affairs, such as very few people had any idea existed in the place. The evidence of no less than six persons in succession was to the effepb that they knew all about the robberies at the time and even before ;they took place, and more than cne of the witnesses had in his or her possession part of the stolen property. The presiding magistrate was only voicing the opinion of all who heard the evidence when he said the conduct of the witnesses was the most extraordinary thing he had ever heard of. None of the accused had any counsel, and at the conclusion of. each case the persons supposed to be implicated were committed for trial. The balance-sheet produced at the last meeting of the Fire Brigade showed that the recent sports were in every way a success. At a meeting held a few da_\s back His Worship the Mayor attended, and after giving some excellent advice to those present, handed over long service medals and bars as follows? Captain Bianscb, Lieutenant A. A. George, Hon. Surgeon Hr Faulknor and Foreman Stanley, each nine years' service in the Hastings Brigade : Foreman Humphrey, Branchmen Anderson and Stanley, each five years’ service. A convivial hour was spent. The annual district meeting of the Oddfellows is to be held at Danevirke on the 25th, when the Hastings Lodge will be represented by Brothers A. A. George, W. S. Martin and James Hennessey. At the last meeting of the lodge one candidate was initiated and no less than four new ones proposed. The alterations to the district school are going on merrily, and will give much needed additional accommodation. Although I have not heard of any cases (of fever? —ED.)beingreportedto the board of health, if indeed we have such a body, of which I am in doubt, there are I regret to state, even at this early period of the year, two or three cases, but they are only of a mild description. However, mild or not the fact remains that they exist, and in every case they have occurred on premises on which cows are kept. There certainly ought to be no difficulty about drainage, The town is forty feet above

sea level, and we have several running streams close by. The Council have recently extended the area over which the night-soil contractor is to pursue his avocations —it is a perfect puzzle, why they have been so many years thinking about it seeing that it cost them nothing. There are a great many people unfortunately who will persist in being filthy. I have not seen them lately, but only a few months ago I visited a slaughteryard which was a perfect mass of corruption from top to bottom, notwithstanding there are supposed to be inspectors to look after such places.

Only a few days ago Mr Cook, the road overseer, who is expected to look after miles of streets and drains, inspect the dairies, prevent nuisances, do the ranging, write reports on all sorts of matters, and generally perform the work of three people, had a cow destroyed which on being opened was found to have a tuberculous growth attached to the ribs. This horrible thing turned the scale at twelve pounds, and was sufficient to convey the germs of consumption to the whole community. We are to have the “ New Bey " to see us on Tuesday. The scholars attending St. Matthew’s Sunday School are to have their annual picnic, to which each child is to contribute one shilling and sixpence towards the expenses. They used to do things differently when we attended Sunday school, but of course that is some time ago.

The hospital afternoon which is being arranged by Mr H. P. Cohen will be a very large affair. The Mayor and Borough Council, the Fire Brigade, the School Committee and Friendly Societies, in fact everybody has offered to do his and her share, and there is only one thing wanted to ensure the absolute success of the whole thing—that is to get permission of the Jockey Club to hold it on the racecourse. That would enable all the people this side of Waipukurau to take part and get home in good time, which they could not do if the sports were held on the Napier Recreation Ground. Besides it would be a pleasurable change for the Napier -people to leave their narrow dusty little lanes and put in an afternoon under our willow trees, disport* themselves in the lake, have a row in the boats, and enjoy themselves generally. Think it over Mr C., and the advantage of having it out here will strike you at once. The, City Band are to give a sacred concert next Sunday in aid of the hospital funds. Hastings people always bleed freely for a good cause. The members of the Bowlipg Club are competing for a trophy given by the president. According to the conditions each player is to play every other member of the club, and the one gaining the most games wins the trophy. So far it looks as if there would be a very close finish. People sometimes laugh when we ask them to come and see “ our marine parade," but we are going to give them something very near it. Mr John Dale has leased a section of land fronting the Havelock river, and is going in for boating and swimming. He has ordered a number of boats and intends at an early date to organise a regatta on a considerable scale. In the meantime he will teach rowing and swimming to all and sundry, besides which he will continue to feed and house all who feel that way inclined. Advance Hastings and be for ever first!