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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5965, 18 October 1890, Page 2

|_OWN COHHSSPOtO»KWT.jf

A cynical French writer said that Britons could not meet on. behalf of any objeot without a publio dinner. In the colonies wo are not so ambitious. Wβ are content with a tea and concert, or a social gathering as it is the fashion to call it. Themembers of the Church of England intend soon meeting in this pleasant way. The Rev. Joseph Berry, so well toiotva in Napier, but now resident in Wellington,, will shortly visit Hastings to hold services at tho Wesleyan Church to celebrate thejubilee of Wesleyanism in tbe colony. Some tirao ago a local Justice who can write M H.R. to his name refused to place in the Court book the alternative of imprisonment for breaches of by-laws. He said that the fines wera usually laid on the table, and there was an end of it. The olerk objected that tho Colonial Secretary would consider the returns incomplete without it. TheJ.P. replied " Send him to me; I'll talk to him." The alternative was very near being something besides a mutter of form yesterday. One of the defendants intimated to the clerk that he was not going to pay tho fine. The clerk for answer quietly pointed out the words on tho charge sheet, "or twenty-four hours' hard labor in Napior gaol." The defendant sat down with the air of a martyr. When, however, all the other defendants had filed out, and the Police Sergeant asked the Bench to sigu "this" before they left, " this " being a warrant of committal, tho matter lookod serious. The Bench ro-seatod themselves to consider thia new entanglement. I need scarcely add that at thus facing the realities of tha situation, the matter was adjusted without a journey to our Hawko's Bay metropolis. So much has been said and written about " Kip Van Winklo ,, that I was tempted to tase a trip to Napier to see it. Takeos all rouud, it was a most creditable amateur production, and repaid the visit. Tho. mounting was simply magnificent, an 3 the various tableaux fit for any etugo. Tho choruses were, except in one particular, better than those of professional operatic companies. The oxoeption was that thoy were not all singing, but this is always the trouble. Aithoujjh Ido not prosume to be writing a criticism of the opera, I hope you will allow mo to express my admiration of the manner in which Miss Hitchings looked, and acted her part. As to the part oocupied by Mrs Sheath, uo doubt she made the moat of it, and made it of course a success, but tho general regret was that it was not a more prominent one. I see that for the first time that lady intends giving a concert for Lor own benefit. If the Theatre is filled. from the floor to tho ceiling on that occasion it will only be a small, though graceful acknowledgment of tho valuable services she has rendered to the various institutions of Nnpior during her residence thero. At tho R.M. Court yesterday Mr Wellwoofl alluded to the dangerous practice of tethi-ring horstis op. unfeuoed sections. Ho said that it might lead to a fatnl accident. Iwo bolts occurred yesterday, one raiher a nensational ouo. The first horse was fastened outside the N.Z. Clothing Factory and being insensible to the attractions which kept his owner inside, made a frantic attempt, to break his bridle, and succeeded Another, about tho same time, was fastened to a verandah poet at the l Cca l restraurant He did not succeed in broking his bridle, but rather than bo H>,t behind took the verandah post with b. lm . At last advices hoy were seen rushing to the Borough Oikees undismayed by tho by-law cases. * At tho KM.. Court yesterday, before Mr "l a *d Mr R.'Wellwood; T. 1., ho followiug were fined os oaoh and ,8 costs tor allowing oattlb to stray :_M Orawley John Myhill, R. C. Oobb, and C Oatton ; B. Macuamara, 20s and 7s costs • ■same, 40s and 7a costs: Tauriri Pauapa,' 10s and 7s costs. A charge of allowing two cows to stray against George Elliot wasdismissed With a caution, mid one of allowing two horses to stray against H. B. Thompson was withdrawn by consent of tho Bench