NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 19, 18 May 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspoxdemt.]

Napier, May 16. Last night, at St. John's schoolroom, a most entertaining lecture was delivered by Mr Beswiek before the Hawke's Bay Camera Club on "The Art of Picture-making." Although

the address was to a certain extent technical, the layman could follow the lecturer with considerable interest, and he left with the knowledge that it requires a great deal more than mere manipulation to become a good photographer. The lecture was illustrated by photographs thrown on a screen by the aid of a lantern. After the lecture the president, Mr Humphries, exhibited some beautiful views of lake scenery from Waikaremoana, and invited criticism. A friendly discussion ensued, and a pleasant and instructive evening was concluded wiih a vote of thanks to the lecturer. By special request, Mr C'ollings and his talented troupe of youngsters repeated their burlesque, " Lord Lovcll," at the Working Men's Club last evening, and, if anything, they were rather more successful than 011 the previous occasion. The Faust Family, for the second part of the performance, gave an exhibition of bellringing, giving some really difficult and ambitious selections, which were rendered in such a perfect manner as to evoke the unbounded applause of a well-lilled house.

The terrible accident with its gruesome details which occurred in your town has caused a shudder to all "who read of it. It is just another case of neglecting to enforce the by-law compiling lights after .sundown. Since the Taradale Road accident the police here insist on the fulfilment of the lav,in this matter. Constable Harvey is particularly energetic. I noticed that popular and conseiencious officer on the race evenings bustling in and out and around amongst the cabs, carts, traps, and carriages preparing to leave the course, for the purpose of seeing that each vehicle was properly provided with side lights ; and in order to effect his object he ran through the whole gammit of persuasion from loud and stern command to the most greasy cajolery, which is the natural inheritance of an Irishman. We would le nd you Constable Harvey for a month or six weeks, but that we can't spare him hi re very well. Before Mr Turnbull, a Maori brought up on remand charged with lunacy was discharged. On the interpreter conveying the intelligence to him, he smilingly bowed his acknowledgments to the S.M. and court. A poor Avretch named Ockenden, who seemed to be half-witted, pleaded guilty to having no means of support. It appears the prisoner had 011 several previous occasions been before the bench on charges of a similar nature. The S.M. sentenced him to three months' hard labour, and the man thanked him as though lie were glad 10 escape the harrassing uncertainty ofhis existence. A first offending drunk after the usual rebuke wan let loose.

The Fa lists played to a good house last night. The acrobatic feats of this clever family are novel and daring, bringing round after round of applause, and their eccentric performances 011 grotesque instruments accompanied by the most absurd pantomime, kept the audience in roars of laughter. They are well worth a visit. The lady bicyclist or as she is now known—The New Spinster—requires a cool head, a steady nerve, a lofty contempt for the mob, and a complete absence of sell-consciousness in order to mount her machine in public with grace and proper decorum. Yesterday an interesting young lady tripped out of an oflice, and, taking the the handles of her bike, wheeled it towards the centre of the; road. Instantly, as if by a visitation of Providence, every man, woman, and boy within the radius of 100 yards or so became, as it were, frozen where they stood, and a naughty smile at anticipated disclosures played fitfully over their unholy countenances like phosphorous in the night. The small butcher boy, with a comprehensive grin, which concealed the corner of his lips somewhere under the lobes of his ears sitting down upon his board—waited. The dulcet strains of " Sweet Mario " expired upon the puckered mouth of the hotel buttons as leaning against a lamppost and diving his hands in his pockets he waited. A huge swag-bellied merchant, beetlebrowed, and severe caught sight of the nymph and Avheeling in his tracks and tilting his nose so as to bring his spec-ks in the line of vision he—waited. The policeman on his beat whose " capacity for innocent enjoyment is just as great as any mans " discontinued his employment of " flogging the path" and propping himself against the street corner—waited. A waggoner reined in his team and though he blocked the traffic the constable for very sympathy did not interfere. A young curate blushing and making a shop window do duty as a looking-glass—waited. At the supreme moment all nature seemed stilled, and the silence was deafening. Meanwhile the fair object of all this attention, utterly unconscious that she was the foundation of a most interesting picture, got her pedals in position and, graceful gliding into the saddle, spun out into the hurry of life, and was lost in the vortex without as much as displacing a shoelace. I was there, so I ought to know. With a sigh of disappointment the crowd dispersed, except the severe merchant, who pretended he was looking at something else. This Day.

Before the S.M. this morning, Constable Kennedy, of Give, obtained convictions against the following for permitting cattle to stray on the public road:—J. Rutter, 10s; A. Frith, G. Arnold, and J. Little, 5s cac-h; -J. Tucker, D. Orange, A. Orange, S. Till, J. Caldwell, and W. Taylor, 2s Gd each; Ann Neagle, 2s ; costs were added in each case. C. Stone, charged with driving round the corner of Faraday Road at other than a walking pace, and against whom a previous conviction was registered, was fined 10s and costs. -Judgment was granted in the case of W. Orange, Clivc, sued for sis weeks arrear at 7s 6d. the maintenance of his child which died some days ago. A civil case Blythe v. J. W. Johnson was adjourned until to-morrow.

His Grace the Arch-bishop of Wellington preached to crowded congregations at both morning and evening services in the Catholic Church yesterday. The service of the Roman C catholic Church, always brilliant and poetical, was performed yesterday with more than usual ceremony in consequence of the Archbishop being celebrant. The choir, for some reason or smother best known to themselves, still look upon a conductor as quite an unnecessary element in a choir of any standing, consequently some of the most beautiful effects were utterly mined. The attack in every instance was bad, and the conclusions reminded a person in the body of the church of a closely contested finish to a bicycle race. The eli'ect was irritating to the last degree.