NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 95, 15 August 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] Napier, August 15. A good deal of misapprehension seems to exist with regard to the filling of vacancies in the Volunteer companies, for which quite young men are now nominated. The fact is, that since the new system came into vogue of young men being admitted to the Imperial service after serving as officers in Volunteer corps and passing certain examinations, it is not at all objectionable that young fellows leaving school who decide upon a militarycareer should be nominated and accepted as subalterns. Something of the sort is about to happen, so it is said, in the F. Battery here, and while I cannot say a word against the young fellows who are endeavoring to obtain the coveted position, I would point out to the Battery that it would be very much better for all concerned if the captaincy, which is at present vacant, were filled by some man of position in Napier, whose advent in the corps would tend to its advancement. I grant that the present senior lieutenant is energetic and enthusiastic, but he himsef must admit that it would strengthen the battery considerably were a man of more XtiMß placed at the head of affairs. Wiffi a boy in the sub-lieutenancy, the battery will be wholly commanded by very young men and I cannot believe that such an arrangement will be conducive to the interests of the corps. The youthful culprits remanded j from yesterday, were discharged this | morning. j

You will have noted bow carefully the Press Association has suppressed the name of the Standard in its report of the discussion in Parliament of the unfair manner in which you were treated. Of course this is another proof of. the fairness and broadmindedness of the people who at present enjoy a monopoly of the privileges of the Association. As you will be dealing with the subject yourself I desire to say nothing more than this: that some member should have poin ted out to the House that the fact of your having started a paper in Hastings was perhaps the reason why Mr E. W. Knowles (who is the Chairman of Directors of the Association) seemed so anxious that a prohibitive entrance fee was asked for. Contrast the conduct of the directors in your case with their decision in the case of a Christchurch evening paper, and then tell me if they are unbiassed and then let me know of what "color" they are:—The proprietors of the Christchurch Telegraph had made arrangements with Mr Evison to publish for them a new evening paper called Truth. It was undoubtedly the property of the Press Company, but that Company did not wish that fact

to become known to the public. Truth, then, was a new paper to all intents * and purposes. Did the Press Association demand a new entrance-fee of £SOO ? Not at all. It permitted the transfer of the Press rights from the defunct Telegraph to the new Truth. Verb sap. Invitations are, I understand, to be forwarded to your gallant defenders by " our boys in blue." These are to ask the clay-colored soldiers to come into Napier and enjoy a social time with the Navals. I believe the arrangements are now nearly all complete and that a first-rate and happy time will be the portion of all who attend. It has been suggested to me that that Sir Robert Stout, for his advocacy of the money-lending institutions as against the State advances, and for his special pleading on'behalf of the Press Association, should be called the Monopolist Knight. What a come down after having been regarded as the People's Tribune of New Zealand!