HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 18

HASTINGS.

St. Matthew's choir are working up the music of Stainer's " Crucifixion " for Lent.

The fire-bell, having been placed in the new tower, was rung on Monday night for the amusement of a few old ladies and small children who wanted to see what it was like.

Another fire occurred at 2.40 on Tuesday morning, originating in premises occupied by " Professor" Thripp, a student of bumps. The fire was soon put out by the brigade, who made very fast time.

The teachers and children of St. Matthew's Sunday School had their annual picnic at Poukawa on Wednesday, whence they were conveyed by special train. The Kev. J. Hobbs had charge of the arrangements, which were all that could be desired, and a most enjoyable day was spent. In the evening the Town Band gave a concert on the racecourse, which made a pleasant termination to the holiday. At the risk of being thought monotonous I have to record still another fire. This occurred at midnight on Friday. Although only a small affair it created a good sensation and showed that a great many of our most illustrious citizens were stargazing instead of being in bed. I saw that Wellington was recording the fact that their fire brigade had been out ten times in nineteen days. Well, the Hastings brigade have been alarmed eight times this month so tar, so that taking the relative sizes of the two cities into consideration, the seat of Government must be content with second place. There is not the slightest doubt but that the cause of the latest outbreak was the result of unauthorised persons sleeping on the premises, or otherwise passing their time there. Two boys were met running away from the scene when the bell rang, and that is not the usual practice of boys. People who know the town and its people best are fully aware that a great many j men who are about in the daytime do not j sleep under roofs in the ordinary sense, but i content themselves by " dossing" down anywhere they can get at night, not despising even to confiscate a doorstep after the police have retired for the night. Our local A'olunteers are putting their best leg foremost in anticipation of their services being required at an early date, and are laying odds about " boering " their way to the front when asked to do so. The Licensed Victuallers' Cricket Club are arranging another 'match for Tuesday at Stortford Lodge, when the lady friends of members will dispense afternoon tea. I hear there is every possibility of a team of bowlers going from here to Auckland to the Great Northern Tournaiu ent, and should they do so they will bring back a lot of useful information about the game. Mr W. Buddick, whose house was burned down on Boxing Day, has sot a good example by giving the salvage of fche building to the Fire Brigade, who will secure a few pounds out of it. Some rather important business changes are pretty well public property now. I hear that Mr B. L. Knight has disposed of his ironmongery business to Messrs H. Williams and Sons, and that the latter will move into the premises now occupied

iby Mr Knight. The premises at present used by Messrs Williams are, so report goes, to be taken by the New Zealand Clothing Factory. It is also stated that Messrs Hyde and Co., who are at present running two shops, will give up the one they have had longest and do all their business in the other—in fact, they are all moving down towards Blythe's new brick walls. This is an excellent proof of the popularity of the brick walls.

The whole of the new block recently erected by Mr C. Hughes, and known as the " Central Buildings," four shops in all, are now tenanted by five tenants. One reason for this is that the rents are reasonable, and signs are not wanting that a very large reduction in rents Avill have to be made at an early date. The changes reported above, if correct, and I have every reason for believing they are, will leave three consecutive shops in what has hitherto been regarded as the principal part of the main thoroughfare tenantless. Some time ago £2 10s per week was demanded for them, but an acrent informs me that they can now be had for £1 a week—and quite enough, too As rents are at present, it costs people in Hastings 25 per cent, of all they can earn to satisfy the demands of the landlord. Another sign of the times is that a number of sections and buildings which have been offered fail to realise the amount of the mortgages on them. Fictitious values were placed on them in boom times, and large amounts borrowed, on which interest has been paid for years, and now more than likely the mortgagees, who have probably already received the full value of the property in interest, will take the property as well.

A number of the Whakatu sections have been sold from .£lO to «£2O per acre, Mr T. E. Crosse being the purchaser. Messrs Webster and Stuart invited a number of friends to "haggis " with "tatties and herrin'," on Saturday evening in honour of Scotland's poet. Needless to say the good things provided were done full justice to, the health of the proprietor of the Albert being duly honoured along with that of the bard.