NAPIER NEWS AND NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3518, 8 May 1912, Page 6

NAPIER NEWS AND NOTES.

HARBOR BOARD MATTERS. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. NAPIER, May 7. In returning thanks for his re-elec- ; tion of the Harbor Board at its Annual Meeting to-day, Mr A. E. Gull said that they 'had had a strenuous year. He hoped that before the Board committed itself to a policy it would be well to await the receipt of the report of the Australian engineers, which would place the Board in a position to determine what policy should be adopted for tlie improve- , ment of the harbor. He was pleased to bo able to state that the Public Works Department had decided on a site for the proposed railway embankment which could not . possibly interfere with any likely ex- ; tensions of the inner harbor. i He regretted that it was not possible for the Board to announce its policy, but ho felt sure that the Board would do its best for the users of the harbor. _ , ~ ■ Ho trusted, that the Board would not countenance any elaborate expenditure pending a decision as to what • policy the Board should adopt for the improvement of harbor facilities with j a , view of making it the best harbor for the district. THE GISBORNE RAILWAY. At to-day’s meeting of the Napier Harbor Board the Public Works Department wrote that the plans for the proposed embankment and bridge to carry the East Coast railway over the inner harbor had not yet been completed. 1 The letter added that the position of the l embankment had, however, * and a rough plan of the route was disclosed. . The adopted route provides for the railway leaving the present line to the port at a spot about ten chains past the Tarradaile bridge, and it continues in a straight path for about half a mile, when it makes a full quarter-turn, continuing in a directline to the sailing club’s property. The embankment will be first undertwo miles long. The letter and the plan were received, and it was decided to thank the Minister for supplying the informillion. A SHOCKING FATALITY. i A fatality was reported from TV aipawa late this afternoon. < Details are meagre, but the following is supplied, by the. Telegraph’s correspondent: A shocking accident happened here to-day whereby a Maori and bis daughter were killed instantly. It npperas that a well-known Maori, Mr" Martin Roniha, was driving an Overland 30-li.p. motor car over to the Pa, the car containing another Maori man, his daughter and a Maori girl. In rounding a corner near the Waipawa river ford the car became uncontrollable and struck a culvert, turning a double somersault. The Maori and his daughter were instantly killed, while the driver and the girl escaped with various injuries.

Help was soon forthcoming, and the ladies were placed in a drag and taken over to the Pa.

THE TUTIRA CAMP. Seen this afternoon by a representative of the Telegraph, General Godley said that he was more than pleased with the appearance of the 9th Mounted Rifles in camp at Tutira and the work they were doing. The men took an interest in the work and performed their duties with credit to themselves. The General was especially pleased with the admirable site chosen for the camp, and the attention that- had been paid to the necessary details by Colonel Sandtmann, whose efforts in this direction were highly appreciated. General Godley added that Lord Islington was also well pleased with what lie saw. Although yesterday was a very bleak day, a full inspection of the men and the camp- was made and the men were nut through tactical movements to the complete satisfaction of His Excellency and General Godley. BOROUGH VALUATIONS. Recently some comment was made at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay County Council whilst the hospital levy was under discussion on the fact that the valuation of the Napier borough was very much under-estimated.,, As this was considered of importance to the County Council, inasmuch as the Hospital Board levies proportionately on all local badios according to the rateable values of the districts affected, the County wrote to the Valuation Department asking when the re-valuation of the Borough of Napier would be made. . A reply lias been received that tbo matter will be considered within a month or two. The values on which rates are struck in the borough are undoubtedly understated. One instance of a shop can be given. The tenant pays £3 6s weekly, or £l7l 12s annually, and is rated on a value of £9O. A dwelling valued at £32 is let for £1 2s 6d per week, and there are hundreds of similar cases.