NAPIER LETTER.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6962, 16 January 1888, Page 6

NAPIER LETTER.

[from our correspondent.! The growth of the larrikin element in this town is causing some comment and not before it was needeel, for this section of the community have been rendering themselves exceeding obnoxious of late, and have been allowed to insult unprotected females with apparent impunity. Two ringleaders of what is termed the Chaucer Road Gang, named Michael Coyle and Alfred Gropp, were sharply dealt with last week for an unprovoked assault upon a Chinaman, These worthies have given the police considerable trouble, and have figured in the police court oh previous occasions so that they richly deserve the punishment inflicted upon them. Coyle was sentenced to a month's imprisonment without the option of a fine, and Cropp was fineel —510s with the option of going to gaol for amonth. The peaceful members of the community must endorse the action of the Magistrate, and it would be better for the Colony generally if all attempts at rowdyism were suppressed in so firm a manner, for as a rule the larrikin class are in receipt of good wages and readily pay any fine that may be inflicted. This raises them in the estimation of their companions, and they are immediately elected leaders of the gang; but when they find that their liberty will be curtailed if they persist in their attempts to work their "own sweet wills, they will probably think twice before they bid defiance to the law. The recent discovery of copper ore on the spur of the Ruahine Ranges, which I chronicled some few weeks ago. promises to open up a new industry which must accelerate progress in the Seventy-mile bush, for all doubts as to the genuineness of the discovery have been set at rest by the Government Geologist who has analysed several of ihe specimens which give a return of over 40 per cent of pure cooper. A large quantity of the stone has been forwarded to the Thames to be smelted, for the prospectors are anxious to ascertain with certainty the value of their discovery, for a large amdUnt of capital will be required to develope the mine.

The newly formed Caledonian Society will hold their first gathering on the 20th inst, when an attractive programme, including all the orthodox sports, peculiar to those who dwell north of the Tweed, will be presented for the amusement and instruction of the Napier public. The prize list is on a very liberal scale, for the amount given comes to £200. This is the largest sum given for a meeting of this description in the North Island, and contrasts most favourably with the older societies erf Wellington and Wanganui, which give £180 and £120 at their respective meetings. It is to be hoped that the liberality of the committee will meet with a suitable response from the sporting public, so that the first Caledonian Gathering of Hawkes' Bay may be a pronounced success. It has been suggested that the sports should be held on either the—fast—g» racecourse or at Napier Park, instead of the Recreation Ground, for by making this change a pleasant outing would be afforded to townspeople, and the former course would be more easily acesessible to the country visitors. If" the suggestion is acted upon there can be little doubt but that the Society will benefit largely from a financial point of view. It is to be regretted by all who take an Interest In our local industries, that the proposal to form a company for the purpose of extending our timber trade, has fallen through, for from all accounts the timber business is in adeplorableconditlon. Why this should be I am not in a position to state, for we have splendid forests; but it appears that excessive competition has so reduced prices, that in many instances the cost of labour leaves no margin for a fair profit on the capital invested. There appears to be a splendid opening for a company, with a sutficient capital, to buy up the various mdls, securing the leases of bush, and merge them into one concern; but the great difficulty seems to be the matter of valuation, and until some satisfactory method can be agreed upon, no change for the better can be anticipated.