NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 75, 23 July 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] Napier, July 23. Our footballers returned last night well pleased with themselves and covered with glory, they having succeeded in defeating the Waipawa team by a try to nil. The ground was terribly heavy, and the game was in consequence dull and slow, though some good individual work was put in. The whistle played an important part, and the free kicks were innumerable. P. Kelly scored for Hawke's Bay, Wilson failing in the attempt at goal. Jago shone conspicuously throughout. J. Whittington acted as referee, and appeared to give satisfaction. Messrs Williamson and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company opens in "A Gaiety Girl " next Tuesday night at the Theatre Royal. The company numbers 80 members, many of whom are old favorites, and the scenery, I understand, is magnificient, being far ahead of anything yet shown in the colony. The piece created a furore in London, and later in the United States and Australia, while in the tour through New Zealand crammed hou ;es and the most enthusiastic of of audiences have greeted them everywhere. The rush for seats here has been something phenomenal, and the company is certainly booked for a tremendously successful season. Comment has been made as to the Harbor Board's refusal to grant reI bates to the Union Company. Under the circumstances the members might , have stretched a point. Every -endeavor should be made to make the breakwater popular, but the Board does not seem inclined to do this. Several steamers have failed to make use of the breakwater when they might have done so readily, and adding all this to the bungling which is shown whenever a steamer is brought alongside the Glasgow wharf, you have both cause and effect of the prejudice against the breakwater. A large crowd of merry-makers attended the social held by the Catholics in the Gaiety Theatre last evening. Messrs H. Andrews, G. Edwards, and A. Ivirk contributed songs during the evening, while dances were given by Miss M'lntosh (Highland Fling) to the tune of the bagpipes, a graceful cachuca by the Misses Spillane, and a hornpipe by Messrs Boden and Fisher. Dancing was kept up till morning hours, music being provided by Mr Newbould's band. Misses Durney and Madigan played extra dances, Mr T. Connor proving a very efficient M.C. The catering was as excellent as the other good things, and taken altogether the social was an undoubted success. A heavy westerly gale sprung up yesterday afternoon. It blew all last night and ptill contines, accompanied by rain. A heavy sea has got up and is rolling into the bay. It is most unfortunate that this should happen when the breakwater has just passed through a tremendous storm ; but I am confident it will be equal to the strain. Some damage may be done, as the parts battered by the late storm will yield somewhat readily ; but I do not think that any extroardinary hurt will be suffered by the structure. This morning at time of writing the Waihora is lying just off the foot of Shakespeare Road, "Hjhere she gets the benefit of shelter by the breakwater. I hear that the social promoted by the Baptist Christian Endeavor Society, which was held in the Baptist Church last evening, was a great success. The Rev G. D. Cox was in the chair, and a good programme of vocal items was put forward. A number of interesting addresses were delivered. Refreshments on a lavish scale were provided, and altogether a happy time was spent. An old female offender named Eliza Sneiler received three month's imprisonment from Mr Tumbull yesterday. Drunkenness was the charge. Later. The sea was too heavy to allow of (he Waihora being tendered this morn- l iog and elks passed oa to Wellingtoa. \