NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 94, 14 August 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

Napier, August 14

It is a question now whether the Upper House will pass the Asiatic Restriction Bill (No. 2) of the Premier. If it does not. there will be a strong feeling in the constituencies, for it is useless to preach about the industry of the Chow and his other good qualities. Ido not deny that he has some saving graces. If he had not, what an altogether repulsive creature he would be ! But the fact is, John j'.sintermarrying with the European ; that means an undesirable class of half-breeds. He is responsible also for vices which would not be contracted but for his presence. He handicaps the European worker, not alone because he is willing to - work sixteen hours out of the twenty-four, but because he can and does live under such circumstances as render it possible for him to flourish on an amount per week which would starve out a European. The Premier will be supported in this determination to impose £IOO poll tax, and if the Upper House attempts to reduce that amount I hope the Premier will not budge an inch.

In the " Ave sma' hours" of this morning an alarm of fire was given, and firebells were set agoing to a merry time, when it was found that the residence of Mrs Clarkin, who keeps a lodging-house in Carlyle street, was on lire. The wind was howling at the time, and before the brigade—which turned out very quickly—could get 011 the job, the house was wrecked. The building was insured for £l5O, and the Imperial Company hold a risk of £75 over Mrs Clarkm's furniture.

There is a very bitter feeling in this town with respect to those who are busying themselves in opposing any further expenditure of money on the breakwater. It is pointed out that, by their action, the opponents of the work may inflict a very heavy loss upon the province by bringing the works to a standstill and leaving an uncompleted structure to be torn to pieces by successive storms. The ratepayers wpultl have fo pay up all the same, and would have nothing to show for the money so far expended. 11l judged leniency was shown by a couple of Justices this morning io ft lot of boys (fourteen in number)

ring r in age from 9to 15 years, who -were proved to have been guilty of I've;iking windows. These bojs are a perfect scmn-g? to the neighborhoods in which they live and in other parts of the borough, and it is absurd that the -Tuptice-s should let them off without a fine when they are brought up. It hns sill along been stated that whenever these depredators were discovered—it was a difficult matter indeed to trace them—they would be severely dealt with ; but on the firstoccasion on which the police secure convictions, the boys are discharged. The whole thing is worse than farcical, and certainly calculated to discourage the police and encourage larrikinism.