NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 111, 3 September 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

Napier, September 3. Next Thursday we are to have a visit from the Otago representatives now touring the North Island. It is probable that the same team chosen to meet Wellington will be asked to do battle for Hawke's Bay on this occassion, but as they are for the most part quite out of form, and have never played together once, the visitors should have an easy bone to pick considering how near they got to beating Taranaki.

The Junior Club had aiively debate last night on the prolific theme "Is the craze for athletics injurious." When it came to the vote two to one present said it wasn't. So of course it can't be. Mr H. D. Brewer led for the affirmative and Mr D. Jameson for the negative. The local Council is going in for wholesale summonsing of defaulting ratepayers. The sum of £2O was voted for this purpose last night.

Mr J. H. Kerr a well-known and popular resident of this town who recently managed the Napier branch of the Union Bank but who was one of the victims of superannuation, has been appointed local inspector of the South British Insurance Company. A very old resident of this province died at Napier last night. I refer to Mr T. K. Newton who died last night, aged 67. He was the part-owner of one of the first stores erected in Napier, and at one time was a partner of Mr William Douglas in the Te Mahanga run. He also owned several other properties. Later on he conducted a big wholesale and retail business on his own account and accumulated a good deal of money. He took a good deal of interest in public affairs, and at one time sat in the Provincial Council. He leaves a widow and ten children, eight sons and two daughters. He had a bad attack of influenza some time ago from which he never recovered, his heart being affected, and he passed quietly away in his sleep, at his residence, Thompson road, where he had been living a retired and quiet life for a- number of years. Verily " His end was peace." The Druids held a " plain and fancy " social last night, attended by about 90 couples and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Songs were contributed by Miss M'Kernan, and Messrs G. Rowe and P. Carver. The officials of the Post and Telegraph and Telephone Departments and their wives and friends and friend's wives held a gay " shivoo" in the Forester' 3 Hall last night. A musical "At Home" was the first item, the members taking part in drawing room games while vocalists and instrumentalists filled the air with melody, songs being contributed by Mrs Yates, Misses Jago. Eidgway, and Hewitt, and Messrs Pirani, G. D. Cameron, Knapp, and Collins. Mr Wilkie gave a Scotch reading and Mr J. Calders a dramatic recital, Miss and Master Hughes, lilliputians indeed, played a pianoforte and violin duet in great style. Befreshments were then put on in abundance, and a dance followed and ended a very pleasant and most enjoyable reunion. The Borough Council is talking of spending £2OO on their Chamber. If the ratepayers do not object I suppose if they do not object I suppose it's all right, but it seems a bit of a farce when the money could be so much more advantageously spent elsewhere. P.S. — The ratepayers don't care! fide the recent election. The Borough Councillors were in a cantankerous mood last night and spent a large amount of valuable time in paltry squabblings. It is time there was new blood, but nobody seems to hanker after civic distinction now-a-days. The Eev. W. Morley told a moderate audience in the Trinity Church last night "What I haw and Heard in America." The lecture was natur- , ally very much appreciated. i