NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 121, 15 September 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Ouk Own* Correspondent.] Napier, September 15. Lake, who deserted from the Ringdove the other day was yesterday arrested by Constable Riordan, of Waipawa. The man was actually a prisoner aboard at the time of his escape, yet he managed to secure a boat lying out from the stern of the vessel and row away without being challenged by his warder or the sentries—a very bad advertisment for all concerned. Mr Yerex, of Wellington, has offered a gold medal to the cyclist who shall make the fastest time between that place and Napier (luring the ensuing season. How do the Ileretaunga's feel on the subject '? The fishing season opens in Ilawke's Bay to-day. I am sure, Mr Editor, you wiii be pleased to sample and duly record any catches which may be made.

There are at present 2136 names on the roll of the Free Association of Employers and Workmen of Hawke's Bay. The labor bureau attached to the association found employment for 128 worker * daring the year viz—B-1 general hands, lads. 29 cocks, 14 married couples, 3 ploughmen, 4 shepherds. 4 wool-elassers, 1 gardener The balance-sheet to be submitted to the annual meeting on Thursday shows that after providing for the year's expenditure there remains in the bank £l(s 8s 7d on current account, besides a fixed deposit of £650.

At the meeting of the Ilav. k. Bay Philosophical Institute last night very interesting papers were read by I)r Moore on " Present discoveries in Egyplology," and by Mr Hill. F.R.G.S. on " The Maori, present and future." The latter is a particularly interesting paper and I tried to get hold of it to make a j>m-k for your paper, but was informed that a keen News reporter had already been on the scent and that it was to appear in the columns of that paper. The paper is to be discussed at the next meeting of the Institute.

I hear now that the subject for discussion between the Napier Club and the Hastings Debating Society is to be "Is Prohibition desirable?" Napier taking the affirmative and 11astthe negative. The debate, 1 believe, is to take place in the Theatre Koyal, and a small charge made for admission in aid of a charitable purpose. I see by this morning's paper that Dr. Hosking has accepted Mr F. Sutton's challenge to debate the subject in the Hastings Theatre on a date to be fixed.

There was a great crowd at the Theatre Royal last night to witness the military assault at arras and concert given by the local volunteers and crew of H.M. ship Ringdove. The whole affair went swingingly from start to finish,but it had the disadvantage of being sustained till close upon midnight. A popular item was a song by C'ommander Brimer who was rapturously encored. Amongst the singers was Lieut. Riclgway, of the Heretaunga Rifles, whose song " Rule Britannia" was a very successful effort.