NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 91, 11 August 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondemt.] Napier, August 10. I have heard it suggested that Mr o'Regan, who is one of the most sterling members of the House, but whose constituency has been " absorbed," should be asked to contest one of the Hawke's Bay seats, and to oppose the gallant Captain, if possible. There are those, however, among even the most determined of Democrats, who would regret to see Captain Russell out of Parliament, and these deprecate any contest. A contest there will be, however, and I venture the opinion that Mr T. Tanner will be on the job when the time comes. How I know matters nothing. And speaking or the absorption of Inangahua seat, reminds me that the census was taken at a very unfortunate time for the West Coast people. There has, we all know, been an exodus from that part of our little world for some time past, but the tide has again turned, the sun of prosperity is once more shining on the hardy people of the Coast, and before next census is taken there will be a very large increase in the population there—naturally and otherwise, especially otherwise.

The annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club was held at the Criterion Hotel last evening. In the absence of Captain Russell Mr W. Shrimpton was voted to the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : —President, Captain Russell, M.H.R.; treasurer, W. Shrimpton; committee, W. Douglas, H. Gaisford, G. P. Donnelly, G. Hunter, F. Logan, T. H. Lowry, Hon. J. D. Ormond, A. Reid, and G. L. Sunderland. The following new members were elected: H. B. Lusk, H. Gorman, J. T. Blake, and H. M. Campbell. At a committee meeting held afterwards the programme for the spring meeting was passed. Trainers' licenses were granted to John Maher, George Hope, Edward Cuneen, T. Quinlivan, senr. Jockeys, A. E. Woolley, Percy White, George Hope, A. Mitchell, James Redmond. Gentlemen riders' certificate, R. S. Harley, R. Griffen. Owner's permit, T. A. Hudson.

At the Hawke's Bay Council meeting yesterday a letter was received from Mr D. O'Reilly, resigning his appointmeat as poundkeeper at Havelock, and recommending Mr C. Caul ton as Ms successor. The recommendation was adopted. With reference to an application from E. M. Hamblyn, Hastings, that the Council provide a better road from his property, the Overseer reported that nothing could be done at present, and the consideration of the matter was deferred. Mr H. P. Cohen is again agitating for an improvement in the condition of the unhappy creatures who, after a struggle with life and its vicissitudes, become stranded in the Refuge here. The astonishing part of the business to me is that Mr Cohen receives so little sympathy from his fellow members on the Board. One would think that these unfortunates who seek a refuge from a world that has never been very kind to them, should be hated m though they were the enemies of mankind. As a, mattes of fact most of them have borne the burden and heat of the day as pioneers, and it is in their now battered hulks we Bee the ravages of "roughing it" in the early days for the benefit of all—but ftemealves.