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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3147, 29 July 1881, Page 2

Mr Sydney Johnston, who ia offering himself as a candidate for the representation of the Clive constituency in opposition to Mr Ormond, possesses, perhaps, as good a right as any one else to try for a seat in Parliament. He is the possessor, or at all events the nominal possessor, of an enormous landed estate in tbe district, that supports tbe greatest number of sheep to the least possible number of laborers; his father has for years been in the Legislative Council, and his brother is now in the Ministry. It requires Mr Sydney Johnston in the House to make the family party comi plete. As chairman of the Waipawa County Council—a body that has served to show the utter incapacity of the county system to meet tbe wants of the country —he has not signalised himself as either an administrator or an orator. According to the public auditor's memorandum, tbe accounts of the county, under Mr Johnston's presidency, have fallen into a wonderful state of confusion ; and, while this exhibits gross carelessness, there has been no counter balancing vigor displayed in the prosecution of public works. While the Council must of course be held responsible for this state of things, to a very large extent the chairman is greatly to blame. Close attention to the everyday business of the Council—not to mere attendance at the monthly meeting—an intelligent interest in the real welfare of the whole district, and an active superintendence over its affaire, if shown by the chairman, would have gone far to make a vigorous governing body. But we are under the impression that not a settler in the whole country can be found who would compliment the Council on what it has done in the prosecution of its functions. In coming forward at this peculiar time as a candidate for representative honors, Mr Johnston presents himself as the champion of the impotent institutions of which the office he holds is such an important feature. Until Mr Johnston issues his address it is impossible to guess what he will say in defence of the existing local government system, but we presume he will be fairly posted up in what he ought to assert by his friends in the Ministry. In the meantime we may leave the electors to the contemplation of the forthcoming elections, and to the consideration of the many questions involved in the possible return of Mr Johnston as the member for Olive,

We hear that Mr Joseph L'eoiiard has sent in his resignation of his seat in the Municipal Council to the Town Clerk. There has been t-omo difficulty in the way of getting the Kiwi to convey the Napier football team to Gisborne on Thursday next, but we understand that the matter is now arranged and provision made to carry the team, we hope, to victory. In reference to the forthcoming poultry and canary show the committee have unanimously resolved to receive exhibits from the country on the afternoon of the day prior to the exhibition. This will prove of great convenience to country exhibitors. A full meeting' of the Napier Fire Brigade was held last evening for the purpose of considering the resolution of the committee appointed to apportion the borough subsidy between the brigades. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the resolution, and it was unanimously resolved that the fire inspector be asked to lay the opinion of the brigade before the Borough Council. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr S. Y. Collins, J.P., Alfred Poulson was charged with drunkenness, and fined §a and costs or 24 hours. James Chase was charged with the same offence, and was fined 5s and costs or 24 hours; he was further charged with vagrancy, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor. Mr F. ' ell, secretary to the Poultry Bsociafcion, in company with Mr W. A. 1 >utrilby waited yesterday on ftir C. B. Hankey, the railway manager, for the (inrpo-e of obtaining the aaiue concessions a« have been made previously in reference to the free carriage of exhibits to the shi.w. Mr Pell received a letter to-day from Mr Hankey acceding co the request made on behalf of the Association. The boy John Cross, who was accidentally shot on Wednesday last at the Spit, is we understand gradully sinking, and there is little probability that he will survive the day. He has been quite conaoious during the time he has been in the hospital, and aware of the probable termination, of the sad accident. Soon after being taken to the ho-spital he expressed - a wish to have his brother near him, whioh was, of course, acceded to, It is to be regretted that the Napier Rifle Volunteers do not see a way out of, their present difficulties. The officers still persist in resigning their commissions, and have expressed willingness to serve in the ranks. The meeting held last night brought thera no nearer the end of their troubles. The men have themselves to blame for this condition of things; their want of interest in the corps, and consequently their nonattendance at drill, has produced its effect upon the officers. There is plenty of material in the corps to make it a most valuable addition to the volunteer force of the colony, but there ia evidently a want of enthusiasm among the men, and until that can be roused no change for the better can be expected.

The prospectus of the Napier Theatre Royal Company will be found in our advertising columns. The company is started under the most favorable auspices, the present proprietors having an unexpired lease of 32 years, guaranteeing ten per cefat on the capital for the first twelve months, and undertaking to conduct the business for the same period. It is well known amongst tha theatrical and musical professions that the people of Napier are most liberal in their patronage of really good entertainments, and the consequence is that all good companies visit the town. In addition to visitors there are a laige number of local societies whioh are constantly requiring the theatre for their performances, concerts, and publio meetings. There is every probability of this proving a most lucrative investment. A report comes from Wellington, in reply to enquiries, that it was owing to the representation of the Napier members that Wairoa has been cut off this district and tacked on to Gisborne in the new Redistribution of Seats Bill. It is said that this was done with the object of securing the return of the two sitting members for Napier, they having come to the oonclusion that it would be folly to run against each other for the country district. 'According to this reported arrangement Mr Sutton will stand for tbe country district, and Captain Russell for Wairoa-Gisborne. In the event of Captain Russell not standing for his old constituency, it is not unlikely that Mr Tanner will oppose Mr Sutton, and Mr Locke will offer himself for the representation of Wairoa-Gisbome. As the eleotions draw nigh things are becoming more and more mixed. The fourth annual meeting of the Napier branch of the Bible Society was held last evening in St. John's school-room. The Bishop of Waiapu occupied the chair. A long report of the proceedings of the society since its commencement in 1874 was read by the secretary. The balance-sheet attached to the report showed a balance in the bank of £40 lis 4d, and a stock of bibles of the value of £74 17s Id. The chairman addressed the meeting at length upon the valuable work done by the society. The Rev. D. Sidey then moved " That the report as now read be adopted, and that the committee and office-bearers for the following year be as follows:—President, the Right Rev. E. C. Stuart, D.D., Bishop of Waiapu; Vice-President, Key. D. Sidey; committee, J. C. M'Vay, J. W. Neal, T. Tanner, W. L. Williams, and all ministers of religion who are members of the society ; Treasurer, J. W. Neal; Secretary, W. L. Williams." The Rev. R. S. Bunn seconded the resolution which was carried. The Rev. Mr Cornford moved the second resolution, " That this meeting recognises with feelings of devout gratitude the wonderful work which by Divine Providence the British and Foreign Bible Society has been enabled to effect in translating and circulating the Holy Scriptures throughout the world, and desires heartily to join in sustaining its operations." Mr R. Lamb seconded the resolution, which, on being put to tne meeting, was carried unanimously. The Rev. G. Sass moved the third resolution as follows :—" That in this colony, among a population of many mingled nationalities, the importance of the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society in supplying the Word of God to every man in the language in which he was born, deserves our most marked acknowledgment." The motion was carried. The benediction, pronounced by the chairman, brought the proceedings to a close.

A bank manager and two friends (says the Observer) who were up at Rotorua about a fortnight ago, found themselves in rather an awkward predicament, one afternoon. They wanted to bathe in a hot spring, but for some reason or other would not give the Maori woman in charge the shilling apiece she demanded. By way of revenge, the Maori waited until they got into the water and then ran away toith their clothes !

The peculiarly named town of Sfax, which has been so prominent in our telegrams lately, is a handsome place containing over 3600 houses, and has a population of 10,000. Its walls rise immediately from the sea, and as many of the buildings are large and of very handsome exterior, the town presents a very picturesque appearance when approached by water. Its beauty is probably marred a good deal by this time. The Wesport Times of the 15th instant says :—" Mrs Spence, who is engaged at McFarlane's Hotel, Wairaangaroa, after retiring on Tuesday night, ' yawned,' and immediately found to her surprise, that she had dislocated her jaw. All efforts to replace the bones were ineffectual, and after suffering great pain all night, Mrs Spence, accompanied by Mr W. Tavandale, walked into town next morning:, leaving Waimagaroa at 4 o'olock and arriving at 7. An hour and a half's work on the part of Dr Thorpe was requisite before the jaw was placed in its proper position. " Augur" thinks that Mr Barnard's handicap for the Melbourne Cup will give pretty general satisfaction. In a lengthy review of the Hat, down to the weight of 7at 7lb, he prefers tho chances of Suwarrow,

Lord Burghley, Odd Trick, Falmouth, and Venom. He speaks very highly of Sir Mod red, but. does not take his chance into consideration as yet, the horse not being there. Speculation on the Victorian Derby and the Melbourne Cup continues very brisk in Sydney, and several doubles, Buoh as the two Monmouths, the two Darebins, the two Nautilus, &c, had been backed to win fully £25,000. In concluding a series of articles on " Our Volunteers," the Christchurch Globe says that the wants of the force may be summed up thus:—" More efficient officers, more efficient drill instruction; camps where the practical duties of a soldier oould be properly learnt; more opportunities of learning how to skirmish ; some practical outcome to the various reports that are furnished to Government by experts, both in the direction of attaching responsibility for failure where it should lie and in mora general directions. If these points were attended to a .surprising stimulus would be given to tho Volunteer movement. We g6 so far as to say that many a volunteer would prefer a revivifying of the system in this direction to a capitation grant. Doubt« less assistance is required by the Volunteers, but re-organisation is even more required. It is no use spending public money on a system as fly-blown as the present one. The people of Peterborough have just had a day of general humiliation and intercession on aecour t of the depression in agriculture and trade. Nearly ths whole of trie shops of the city were closed from two in the afternoon. Specinl services were held at all the churches and chapels, and also at the catheiral, in which both Episcopalians and Nonconformists joined. The Bishop of Peterborough took part in the proceedings at the Cathedral, and the sermon waa preached by the dean. Dr. Stewart Perowne main* tamed that national suffering Was the penalty for national misdoing. Could the people of England say that they had no national vices, crimes, and shortcomings? Did they in their prosperity use their means aright ? When times were flourishing did they recollect that only 2 per oent. of the working-classes of London attended any place of worship ? Was it not true that England's trade teemed with fraud falsehood, and that the name of Englan<l|M which once stood 80 high for honor probity, was now too often pointed at with scorn P What oould they say when a large constituency like Northampton had twioa returned to the House of Commons an avowed atheist P

A meeting of the members of the Pride of Hawke's Bay lodge, 1.0. G.F., is oon« vened for this evening at the usual time and place. The annnal meeting of the ratepayers of the Papakura district will beheld at Meanee to-morrow at 2 p.m. Messrs Kennedy and Gillman will sell to« morrow English, Scotch, and colonial tweeds, at 11 a.m. Messrs H. Monteith and Co will sell to« morrow a quantity of thorough-bred Btock, in addition to their usual sale of horses and produce, at 1.30 p.m. Messrs Miller and Potts will sell at the Spit, on the arrival of the Elizabeth Con« way, 500 sacks of Canterbury oats.. Mr E. Lyndon will sell on Monday next the stock-in-trade of Mr J. H. Grocott, com« prising sewing machines, &c, and on Wednesday next a quantity of choice fruit trees. A bay pony is impounded at Napier. Messrs E. Beck and Co. announce that their new premises at Hastings will be opened on Monday next. Messrs Bly the and Co insert an extraordi* nary announcement. A number of new advertisements will he found in our " Wanted" column.