NAPIER. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5602, 31 August 1875, Page 3

NAPIER. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

August 1!>. Business is somewhat dull in Napier just now, but, as the spring advances, it will improve. Stock is rather scarce ; this is owing, in tome measure, to the large contracts Mi 1 . McHardy has on hand with Auckland and Thames buyers. Air. Fisher, not far from your office, is one of them. I do not know who the Thames party is. Tho last shipment by the ' Star of the South' and the 1 Southern Cross,' of sheep and bullocks was a goodly -looking lot. It is rather singular that you folk in Auckland can get better meat, and cheaper, than we can get get in Nwpier. Such is the fact, liowcvei. buildings are going up briskly. Mr. Garry, tho successful smker of artesian wells, is starting a foundry on wh.it is called the White Road, but which is only a continuation of Hastings-street. The building U nearly completed. Not far from it, on tho other uide, a very nice building is being put up, which is destined for a hotel. A little lower down, on the same side on which Mr. Garry's foundry is situated, Mr. Bryson, builder, the owner of the allotment, intends to erect a grand hotel, which, it is said, will eclipse all the hotels in Napier, some of which aie very lino. Milk, butter, and eggs are scarce commodities here.and maintain tho same prices that I advised you of in a former letter. Already the ratepayers are beginning to grumble at the toy forced upon them in the shape ot a Municipal Corporation ; but they will feel it worse by and by, when the ratecollector treads more heavily upon their corns. • In tho political horizon, everything is very tranquil and severe. Tho planets move according to their grand system ; but it would take a great controlling human power to inovo tho people of this province out of thoir easy indifference and apathy. Regarding the abolition question, they are quite indifferent. They are as content under one system as another. They leave everything to their representatives- -one Native Minister, and the other Superintendent and Government Agent— aiul both large landholders and flheop-fannora in Hawkes' Bay. Tho editor ftiul manager of tlio Ddilij Tilnjruplt (Messrs. Price anil Wood) entertained tho employees of that journal to a very excellent spread out. Mr. Price, the editor, occupied tho chair upon the intereiting occasion. Amongst tho invited guests were Mr. ltoutledge (of the firm of Routlodge, Kennedy and Co., auctioneers, ko.), Mr. Gihmin, late manager, and yonr humble servant. The viands and liquors, which were supplied and superintended over by Mr. Johnson, baker and confectioner of Hastingsstreet, were of a recherche quality. • lhe chairman acquitted himself in an excellent manner. All his remarks, in proposing the different toasts, ware given in admirable stylo. Upon tho whole, it wu a most enjoyable evening, ami the guests separated pleased and gratified, and thankful to their generouu and hospitable hosts, who, by all account*, deserve well of the employees over whom they are placed. It is a very gratifying duty to bo able to chronicle such mutual good feeling as this between employees »nd employer*. The new Post and Telegraph, offices are approaching to completion very rapidly. Mr. Adams could not have made a better selection than he did when he brought down Air. Smith, as foreman of works, to superiutend tho builr.ing. Under his able aud skilful superintendence, the work will be carried out to the satisfaction of the Governincut. Mr. Smith is a skilful aud talented artisan and mechanic, and, under his clever surveillance, everything is now progressing satisfactorily. Tho roof is on, and a number of plasterers are busily at work on the inside of the building, while the out sido portiou to u nearly completed. It is expected to be finished in about {two months from hence. The building is of the Gothic order, and when completed will be one of a most substantial character, as well an one of the handsomest of tho kind in New Zealand. There are 24 windows in the front, eight facing Browningstreet, and 17 in tho rear. When completed I will send you a description of the untiro building. I perceive by the telegrams that the Government Printing-office is giving dissatisfaction. If tho Government divided tho work throughout tho provinces, as was suggested, this would not bo tho case, for they would thon bo better enabled to concentrate an efficient staff of compositors in Wellington to do tho work of the House satisfactorily •luring tho session. Besides, the surplus l.ibour in those places would thereby be absorbed. If this were done there would bo no necessity for introducing compositors bv the Government, for which, I undoi etauu, -theic is no necessity whatever, theie being an ample supply already in all parts of New Zcalaud.to moot every requirement. If this be so, as 1 believe it is, the act of the Go- \ eminent would be simply doing a great injustice to the composite™ of the colony who are out of employment.