NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 147, 16 October 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

Napier, October 1G

Thg Napier agent of the Press Association sent a wire through the colony that the strike at the breakwater was at an end because the contractor had offered eight shillings a day. The fact is that the strike is still on. Yesterday morning the men went down to the works and Mr Saunders, senr., told them to be ready "to go on at 8s on the following morning. A juvenile Saunders standing by blusted out " But what is the good of putting all of them on if you are going to sack some of them in half-an-hour '? " Then the fat was in the fire, and the men absolutely refused to commence unless they were given a fortnight's guarantee subject to good conduct, ant subsequently wrote to Mr Saunders to that effect. He is thinking the matter over with the assistance of the wet weather. Meanwhile the members of the Harbor Board (several of whom are local storekeeper) are getting restive, and if the works are not in full swing again by Tuesday next when the Board meets " there's bound to be a row." A young man named Cousins escaped from the prison gang yesterday and was away for twenty-five minutes, being eventually found and captured by tSfe wardtrs and police in a stable behind the Bungalow on the Bluff Hill. He made no attempt at resistance. Cousins was recently sent to gaol for 12 months by a Hastings Bench on a. charge of vagrancy.