NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 69, 16 July 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Que Own Correspondent.] Napier, July 16. It is distinctly pleasing to me to be the messenger to you conveying a compliment. On all hands I hear the Standard well spoken of, and more particularly in connection with what has happened to the breakwater. The sensationalism of the Napier papers was condemned, and is now proved to be without any foundation. Mr J. T. Carr, the Board's Engineer, informed me yesterday that the breakwater will soon be repaired and that the cost of such repairing will be very small, somewhere in the neighborhood of £SOO. The structure has passed a crucial test, which proves that it is able to stand the test of a three weeks' pounding by the wildest seas ever known in Napier. . My friend who indulged in that "if" of which I spoke the other day says he is now convinced. Last night as I strolled along Hastings street I saw a crowd gathered in front of the Criterion Hotel, and on making enquiries I was informed that as a young man named Ashcroft came along on his " bike," a man ran out at him and seized him, shouting at the same moment: "Now, say yes or no!" Something else was said, and then the assaulting party began to break up the bicycle. He had worked a certain amount of damage when, others coming up, prevented anything further in that direction. The next thing was to find a policeman, with the usual result, that there wasn't one within a mile. However, while a friend of his remained in charge of his "bike " and the others closed around the person who had occasioned all the disturbance and destruction, Ashcroft went in search of a gentleiaan in blue, and one presently turned up in the person of Constable Creeks, who promptly " ran the man in." As I write the incident appears a mysterious one, but as the person in question will be asked to explain his conduct this morning, I shall be able to furnish you with some further particulars. What are the police about that they do not arrest that young half-caste woman who has been given the business people in your town, in our town, and other towns such a very lively time of it ? Surely it is a clear case of obtaining goods under false pretence? if ever such a erime was committed. She would certainly be safer under lock and key—where she has been before, if all accounts be true. Complaints reach me concerning the tumMsiactay nature of the work done

by the local agent of the Labor Bureau. There are a number of men here out of employment, and on being asked why they do not go to the Bureau, they say, in their own peculiar fashion, " Oh, its rotten !" They further state that it is no use seeking anything from the Government officer, as he merely puts their names down in a book, and there's an end. I also learn from some of my acquaintances that though there are many flagrant ■* breaches of the I<mv relating to offices, ' shops, and factories, not one charge has been brought. Almost any night, if the officer cared to do it, he could find firms that contravene the law, and the clerks in mercantile houses are the greatest sufferers from this labor agent's supineness. There is a screw loose somewhere, and it needs tightening up. I was favored the other day with a view of the Masonic Hotel, and I may say that the plans for the additions to the building will be quite a noble structure, one that will give Napier quite an air of importance. And this reminds me that any such thing as the voting of Prohibition would be a great blow to the towns of New T Zealand, and a gross injustice to many who devote large sums of money to the rearing of edifices in which the travelling public find all* the comforts of a home. Who is it who sings Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round Where'er liis journeys may have been, Will sigh to thiiik he still lias found His warmest welcome at an inn ! Deprive New Zealand of its hotels, take away the incentive to propertyowners and others to provide places of entertainment for the travelling public, and good-bye for ever to any idea of the colony maintaining its name as a popular resort for the people of the world at large. We have in this beautiful land of ours great opportunities, scenery of surpassing beauty and grandeur, but few would c-are to come to view it if they had to carry their own tents and commissariat. I may be met with the assertion that Temperance hotels would take the place of the licensed houses. To that 1 reply : " I don't believe it." And I will tell you why. Wherever a coffee palace or these non-licensed houses have been reared it has almost invariably followed that they have had to close up or obtain a liquor license, and I have noticed also this peculiarity, that when your great apostles for Temperance travel (Sir Robert Stout for example) they always stay at the first-class hotels. No Temperance hotels for them ! Oh dear no. The Rifles' social last night was largely attended, and was voted most successful and enjoyable by everyone present. In fact, as one who was there and who was thoroughly well entertained, I offer my most sincere congratulations to the ladies who were really responsible for the crowning of the efforts of the corps with so glorious a result. These ladies attended meetings to make arrangements for the entertainment of the guests in spite of rain and darkness, and last night they were untiring in their attentions to the large number of people assembled. Dancing was kept up with vigor, and there were also songs and recitations. Among the guests was His Worship the Mayor. In reference to these gatherings and other entertainments, just let me here say that if the promoters desire that I should be present and notice their affairs in the columns of the Standard, they should forward to your office at Hastings the necessary card of entre, which will, in due course, be forwarded to me. I "have mentioned this matter because I am aware that quite a number of persons are now anxious that the functions of which they have the management should be noticed by the Standard. Mr J. G. Gilberd, Chairman of the School Committee here, is, as you know, Sub-superintendent of the Fire Brigade, and since the main school has been so much added to he has taken especial care to turn his practical knowledge to account against a possible alarm of fire, so that the children might be quickly and safely got out of the building, especially out of the upstairs class rooms. Last night, at the Committee meeting, he brought this matter prominently forward, and it was decided to write to the Board on the subject. The Board cannot do better than act on the practical proposals of Messrs Gilberd and Waterworth, both of whom, I am sure, would be only too glad to advise as to the proper method to adopt. Meantime, might I suggest that fire-drill should be gone through once a week in the school. It will be a pleasant break in school routine and use the children thoroughly to rapid and disciplined exit, so that should, unhappily, a fire occur there would be little or no risk of a panic or danger from loss of life. Thomas Robert Hogg was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with drunkenness, and injury to a bicycle, the property of Robert Ashcroft. It appears the "accused was somewhat the worse for liquor, but this does not explain his conduct, which was, to say the least, peculiar. He was fined 10s for drunkenness, and ordered to pay £4 for repairs, and 10s witnesses' expenses. The money was paid. Patrick Mullins, for drunkenness, was dismissed with a caution. S® The tea and sacred concert at Trinity Wesley an church last night was a marked success, the proceeding throughout being marked with great heartiness. The tea was held in the schoolroom and the concert in the church, and it is not too much to say that every item on the very good programme submitted was well received by the large number present. The members of the Harbor Board give it as their opinion that more harm has been done to the breakwater by the sensational reports in the newspapers than by the late heavy storms. At the half-yearly meeting o! St. John's Branch of Hibernians held last night, Bro. C. McCarthy "was elected president.