NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 74, 22 July 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[Fkom Oik Own Cof.kesfondext.J Napier, July 22. The storm that has just vi-itid us has given the opponents of the 1 r.v.l'water scheme another chance to " let themselves out" concerning what they term the impossibility of ever constructing an artifical harbor in Napier. They point triumphantly to the damage done and cry, " There ! every storm that comes helps in the work of destroying your breakwater. You. can't make it strong enough.. By and by a big sea will come and sweep it away altogether, and then Hawke's Bay will be bankrupt." They even write to the papers and air their views, and the tale thev tell us is always the the same. It has been chanted monotonously ever since the breakwater was started. Now as the constant repetition of this story may possibly influence some of your readers, who can only judge of the success or otherwise of the work by what they hear or read in the newspapers, I should like to place a few facts before them. The breakwater has recently witl o 1 the severest storm that has r 1 since its foundation. Such a storm has not been experienced on this coast for twenty years, so great and longcontinued has been the fury of the ocean. Farther north along the seabeach, the sand and shingle have been swept away, leaving the papa rock exposed, denuded of its covering. And yet in spite of this the damage done to the breakwater is comparatively slight. The only part damaged at all is the newest portion of the structure, which is not properly protected by the wave-breaking apron, and which has not really settled properly. The engineer estimates the cost of repairs at £550, and points out that the damage done is no more than that which happens annually through heavy rains in some land-board districts. After such a trial as this I fear that a sea strong enough to sweep the breakwater away altogether would not trouble us long. By the time the last block was demolished I think there would not be very much of Napier left. The croakers may croak, and the sea may rage, but the breakwater is going to be a big success in spite of their combined efforts to spoil the work, and in a few years we shall have a harbor as safe as any in New Zealand. Then the prosperity of Hawke's Bay will increase as it never has done before, and never could do, but for our muchabused breakwater. Booking for the Royal Comic Opera Company's season has commenced in earnest, and the opening performance promises to be a record one. Arrangements will be n.aue for two specials from Hastings. The football match between Napier and Waip.-.w., takes place this afternoon on the latter's ground, and the following will go south to represent our district :—Full back, Williams ; three-quarters. Trite re, H. "Wilson, A. Bennett ; half, F. J ago ; five-eighths, S. Jago ; forwards, Malcon, P. Kelly, Smith, Ebbc-tt, Lang, Tankard, Preshuw ; wings, Scorgie and Y\ elsman. The \V? : i iwa. team will be:—Full back, Brock : thive-qu-trter-, Irvine, Goodall, Svtlnev : halves, Tawhia and Nikora ; wings. Grenside and Maera ; forward.-. Black. M. Sebk-y, "VV . Irvine, Bennett, Speedy, Mathew, T. Hobson. No Im.-ine.vs of interest- to your district, besides the receipt of the results of the pupil teachers' examination which I forwarded yesterday, was transacted at the Education Board meeting. The" Harbor Board meeting last evening was livelier than usual, and the debate on the breakwater question waxed warm at times. A complaint from the maim<j"r of the Royal Comic Opera Company against exorbitant charges for was considered, but'it was p> int.d out that the manager had evidently been misinformed, and that the" charges were not nearly so great as stated. The manager of the Union Steamship Company wrote asking for a rebate in wharfage charges on the "W&ihora and Flora, both of which steamers could not discharge their cargo at the Glasgow wharf. After discussion it was though; inad\isuble to establish a per--Cfudeat, and Mr Puflett was informed that the board could not make a rebate. A lengthy discussion took place on the question of the damage done to the breakwater, and eventually it was decided to refer the engineer's suggestion r* concrete blocks being substituted for recks to the Works Committee to report Accounts amounting to .£578 15s 8d on the general account and £lO jo 14s 4d on the loan account were passed for payment. The truancy question, of which I have befom written, was slurred by the Education Board yesterday, nothing beinff done in the matter, " If thing® continue as they have been lately there - is no Wiling where larrikinism will •nd,