THE NEW NAPIER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 161, 9 July 1932, Page 10

THE NEW NAPIER.

CARNIVAL OF CELEBRATION. PLANS FOR NEXT JANUARY. NINETY PER CENT RESTORATION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, this day. A week of carnival has been suggested as a suitable celebration to mark the completion of the work of rehabilitating Napier. It is expected that 90 per cent of the buildings will be reconstructed and the restoration of public services completed by January next, and it is proposed to celebrate the opening of the new Napier early in the New Year. The celebrations would include, besides ordinary carnival attractions, a race meet-

ing, motor racing, tennis, tournament, athletic carnival, aero pageant, band contest, and an industrial exhibition. An endeavour is being made to secure Napier as the venue for a number of annual conferences, such as that of the New Zealand Accountants' Society. It has already been decided that 'the national swimming championships will bo held here. Plane for four new buildings, involving a probable aggregate cost in excess of £25,000, were announced today. An innovation is being introduced in the erection of three of the proposed structures. Occupying adjoining sections, they will be constructed as one block. Separate tenders are being invited for tho three, and the contract is to be given to the tenderer with the lowest price for the aggregate. False Statement Refuted.

Strong exception has been taken by the Napier Business and Property Owners' Association to the following statement appearing in the "Australasian and Banking and Insurance Record": "Public opinion seems to be that the town of Napier will never again regain its position in Hawke's Bay. Hastings is now tho principal town in the province, and promises to remain eo. Unfortunately, the impression that there should be work offering in both Napier and Hastings has induced many tradesmen to gather there, and a good deal of. difficulty ie resulting." Evidence produced at a meeting of the association to refute the statement included figures showing that the value of building operations in Napier eince the earthquake has exceeded £600,000; that £160,000 "as been spent by municipal authorities on the restoration of public services, an undertaking which included the re-laying of 25 miles of sewers, three miles of stormwater drains, four miles of kerbing and channelling and the erection of four new pumping stations and two new reservoirs. It was stated also, as evidence of the fact that the population has increased since the earthquake, that there is now extreme difficulty in securing houses for lease. Members ~*f the association stressed that the /natter was not one of parochial jealousy between Napier and Hastings, but of vital interest to Napier alone, as the journal in which the paragraph appeared was one which is watched in influential circles. Efforts are being made by the association, with the support of other bodieeji tp contradict >the impression conveyed v by paragraph.