HASTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 18

HASTINGS.

Mr Hogg, M lI.R. for Masterton, is likely to give un address in Hastings shortly. The proposal to plant trees along tho street approaching the railway station is a good one, and the suggestion also to have

seats in between them is also excellent. It is very hard for the unemployed to balance themselves on tho fencing rail at tho crossing as they have to do at present, and porhaps that is an excuse for tho bad language so frequently to be hoard in that vicinity. By all means supply seats and tables, and throw in a few packs of cards, and a canteen to provido free drinks. The Oriental Plane trees planted in Market street have thrived very well considering Hie circumstances, but they carry far too much head for the periodical windy seasons, and suffer much damage at times. Many other trees have been suggested which, it is thought, would be more suitable, notably chestnut and walnut trees, or tho bravo old oak, of which Mr Ormond’s gardener informs mo ho can supply a million every year without charge. Throughout the whole of Hawke’s Bay one scarcely secs anything but willow, poplar, or macrocarpa, trees good enough in their way, but surely tho hundreds of miles of waste spaces could bo covored with something more profitable ! There seems very little effort made to encourage tree planting. The Borough Council lias appointed a now ranger, and he signalised his acceptance of the office by running in the parson’s horse. A Catholic “ social ” will be held on tlio 26th instant.

The Land Court has decided that the appeal in the Omahaki case must go on. An extraordinary thing in connection with tho lamentablo accident to tho boy Jarvis is that lie got up off tho ground, and holding the fearful wound in Ins stomach (it extends for eight inches across the body), caught his horse and took it with him to his home, which happened fortunately to

be close bandy, and all this time he says he felt no pain whatever. There was no one at home when he got there, and he was alone for about a quarter of an hour before assistance arrived. A lamp has since been placed in the street where the accident occurred. Dr Linnev has been in constant attendance on the boy, and if he succeeds in pulling him through, which seems quite likely, it will bo a wonderfully

clever performance. Owing to the way in which the li-aureka sections were snapped up, I understand Mr J. N. Williams has offered the Government another block on the opposite side of the road, and the whole of it is first-class laud for agricultural purposes. The following story of a letter is unique, and it was told to me by a friend whose authority is undoubted. My friend was living some years ago at Waimate, and there was an election going on—this was before the law reached its present pitch of purity. The Waimato resident wrote to a friend with whom he had done business before.', and offered to take “ a little bit ” about picking three successful candidates. He won, and never doubting he would in

duo time receive his divvy lie played some of it up. Next time he met his friend he asked for a cheque, but was told he must lie under some misapprehension. “ Did you not- get my letter r” he asked. “ No, I did not really,” was tho reply. He wont to bis office, produced his letterbook with a copy of the document, and as he had taken it to tho Post Ollico himself, and was therefore confident it must have been delivered, they were not the best of friends for some time. Eight years afterwards some alterations were being made to the Post Office, and the officer in charge, who had of course made all kinds of enquiries and knew all the circumstances, found a letter which was held in the top of the receiving box bv a chip. He brought over the writer of the letter, who of courso recognised the handwriting, and ho recollected

that he had pushed a bundle of letters into the box together, and this one being on top had got caught in the broken piece of wood, and had remained there fur eight years! The post-mark was put on it, and it was forwarded to the quarter for which it was originally intended, and the parties were in due course reconciled.

The “ lolantho ” rehearsals are going on with great spirit. Bandmaster Fowler, who by tho way is a relative of the Cooktown family referred to by “ Scrutator ” and worked in the Independent office, informs me that numerous promises of assistance for the proposed art union in aid of the instrument fund have been given, and the affair will more than likely be a success. There are ghostly rumours about, but if there is any truth in them 1 would advise the perpetrator of the “ joke” to remember he is in neither Taranaki nor Wellington, and also that several handy lamp jiosts are being erected. The Hawke’s Bay Gun Club will hold their winter meeting on the 25th June, when a leading feature will be a handicap of 10U sovs.

Active search has failed to find any trace of an alleged bullet said to have ricochotted off somebody’s nose into a Mao.i house, and the general opinion is that someone has been, as usual, pulling the leg of tho author of the romance. It has been stowed away with the incendiary rat and other tales.

The question of street lighting is once more to tho front now that tho dark winter season is upon us. I understand, however, the Gas Company, which is a monopoly, has declined to further extend tho mains. The easiest way to cure that sort of thing is to do what one of the publicans did some time ago, viz., go back to kerosene.

Drink led a young man to find his way to tho wrong house under the impression he was at homo. He barely escaped with his life.

It is reported that a well-known lady resident narrowly escaped being shot with a stray bullet while walking down a leading thoroughfare. No trace, however, either of the bullet or the shootist has so far been discovered. Tho Premier is expected to addross a meeting in Hastings next week. Our Volunteers have procured all the requisites for M irris-lubo shooting, and have started practice. The pound, the pnundkoeeper and the man who pounds are very much mixed up just now. The Rev John Husking, D.D., has commenced a series of temperance revivals after church hours on Sunday evenings. There was a large at tendance last Sunday.