HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3991, 7 May 1884, Page 3

HASTINGS.

fIT.OM OTJE OWN COEEESI'ONDENT.] The Native Lands Court, which has been sitting for the last few days, has given Hastings a busy appearance. Besides all tho Europeans connected with the Court in the shape of clerks, interpreters, lawyers, etc., nativesof all sorts, sexes, and sizes, muster in the township daily, more of them for pleasure and curiosity than for business, as comparatively few are seen in the Courthouse. They squat about on every available door-step leading to stores^ and pubs , and towards evening get very noisy, aud all about hero, except the store-keepers and publicans, who have been doing a good business, will be glad when the Court is over. The business that has been done is of little public interest, no white men, except those connected with the Court are seen inside the building. Talking about the Court, which is held in our public hall and theatre, reminds me that I must congratulate the proprietors of the hall upon having been so fortunate in having obtained the services of Mr M. M. Murdoch as scene painter, ho having just finished his arduous task of renovating some old scenes, and painting some now ones, all of which he has carried out in a thoroughly artistic manner. Tho paintings throughout, Mr Murdoch assures me, arc studies from nature, and anybody who is accustomed to view theatre scenery must notice that they are carried out in fuller detail than is generally the case. The wood scene is a masterpeice, and the artist lias spared neither time or trouble in this nor any of the other scenes. As it may interest the Napier amateurs (whom we hope to see here shortly) I give a list of the scenes. The first six scenes are new ones, the rest having only been renovated. The following are tho scenes: —A wood scone, a drawing-room scene, a cottage scene, a prison scene, a parlor scene, a river scene at sunset, a library, a street, and a castle scene, all with wings and the usual appurtenances. Lovers of cricket and a good dinner are reminded that the Hawke's Bay County Cricket Club hold a dinner at Kelly's hotel to-night for the purpose of celebrating their having won the cup presented by Captain W. R. Russell, and also to distribute the other prizes won by members of the club. 1 hear that Mr Hayes, through ill health, is obliged to give up his store, which I believe has been taken by a Wellington party. Mr R. Wellwood, of Maxwell Lea, has leased Mr C. C. Murray's residence for a period of two years, and will shortly take possession.