NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 280, 25 March 1897, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[FROM OIK OWN Correspondent.] Xapikr, This Day. The Hawke's Bay section of the New Zealand railways is perhaps the most meanly "furnished in the colony. | The rolling stock is totally inadequate for the requirements. On ppeci.nl occasions the travelling public are forced to put up with what they can get, and passengers who have- paid for a first-class ticket have oftimes to be content with standing room on the platform or a second-class carriage. I believe the late trailic manager made te.eral ove:turts to the head of the department for an increase in the rolling m ck, but ineffectually. The law prevents overcrowding in a public lia!!, and it limits the number of passengers to be curried by public conveyances, but it altogether overlooks the fact that times oat of number scores of people for whom seating accommodation cannot be found are permitted to travel on the railways. It was once said that a bishop had to be killed before a railway company would consider a question of much-needed reform, and perhaps the New Zealand Government is waiting for a high ecclesiastic to meet his death before it will take into consideration the wretched accommeebition meted emt to the Hawke's Bay public. It is a positive certainty that an accident wili happen if passengers are compelled to stand 011 the platforms of the carriages. At holiday times the traffic is very considerably increased, but the department does not appear to cope wiih the increase. As the Easter holidays are approaching it would be well for Mr Donne to make enquiries as to the disgraceful scene witnessed at the Hastings station on Easter Monday last, when the train from Napier to the Ivaikora races arrived at your town almost full, to find about four hundred people lighting at the station to get near one small ticket window. Honestly there was accommodation for perhaps 100, but the train was not despatched until four times that number had been crushed into the carriages. It will be remembered that an outcry was made in the Press against the niggardly treatment of the Hastings passengers—many ladies being compelled to stand during the whole of the journey. Judging by the crowds travelling to the Hastings and Napier races, the passenger accommodation has not been materially increased, and it is scandalous that such a state of things should be allowed to continue. While on the subject of railway manageme nt I might mention that the action of those in power, in requiring a prohibitive guarantee- for the trip of the Woodville schoolchildren to Napier, has caused a great deal of adverse comment. Surely it was never intended that the children's excursions were to be run for the sole purpose of making a proiit. I am not an authority on engineering, but I should say that the £9O demanded by the department was quite outside the cost of the run to the seaside. With the boasted X"100,000 profit for eleven months of the financial year surely a concession might have been made in this case. " I WISH TO TUNE MY OdVKRINO LYRE." For writing music to items like the above Mr Arthur Sullivan received a Knighthood at the hands of the Queen ; and for writinga theological treatise Mr •John Hoskin.Lj was awarded a degree of Doctor of Divinity at the: hands of an American rniversity. Those who have been privileged to read the latter work will agree with me that Mr 1 tasking deserved to get all the letters of the alphabet tacked 011 to his name. However, he was satisfied with a plain D.D., and he is no doubt proud Of a distinction which marks him as being abene the common herd. W hen the Dr. was a young man he gained some notoriety by tackling a big gun in the Agnostic line on the stage of one e>f the Melbourne Halls. He claims to have then gained a victory, but in the opinion of the audience honors were even. Afterwards he is credited with purchasing a printing press and plant and turning out a young newspaper and pamphlets by the dozens. I mention this to prove that he knows something of " The Press." When in Christchur.-h his D.D.-sbip enabled him to do a little business in the private detective line, by which he was enabled to find particulars of an American adventurer named Worth ington. The doctor was made use of by one of the Christchurch papers, which made an expose of the leader of the Temple of Truth, who immediately made up his mind to leave for Tasmania. Covered with glory at exposing what he termed a "quackery'' Mr I tasking was transferred to Hastings. Since his advent there he has been a constant contributor to the newspapers, and very lengthy correspondence has appeared over the signature of " John Itasking." I'nder the circum.-tanees it will be admitted that he is no mean autheirity, and when he states that " the members of the Pre~s are the greate-t liars out of hell " he inusi get credit for a statement which he is eminently competent to make. Of cour-e no one will take ativ notice of the remark, as mo-t of his statements are taken for what they atv worth. But for a professed mini-tcr of religion to -pi ik in that strain ipasseth ail undir-taiiding. The Wesleyan Confinnee n 1 ently decided to ask the ir mim-u r- to <on form to certain rules, and it is di-gii-t'uv that one so his-di in learning should break the command aneiit " evil >ptaking, lying, and slandering." A preacher who could so far forget bins-elf is hardly the right i*.-r-un to have cl ir_ of a llock. It is plea>mg lo note thai •' • learn* d doctor will ><>>n be is <>\> 1 i!»tar- - n« w, when? it is liojm 1 b v. have no re&son to make a -tatt.» Ilk.- that of Tata lav evening iu t | -a -tat. nit nt that will brand hiui for ! ore a- a •'qaivering hre." ! « anrki>, as iNy' n;v. A little contret«mp; that will take r *otu«fc?i>i*iouig on

c-.-nsse yesterday afternoon. Whvn the bell rang for saddling up for illSecond Trial Hurdles some commotion was noticed amongst the Stewards, and shortly afterwards the public were made aware of the fact that the first race was to be delayed to allow of a horse owned by the Hon J. D. Ormond starting, although its name did not appear in the race-card. The squire of Karamu protested that he had accepted wii.ii St. Anthony, but those who were responsible for the acceptance money stated otherwise. After a delay of half an hour the race was run, the Karamu representative being one of the competitors. Had the horse won there would have been a proper howl, but he never appeared to have a chance. However, that is not the point—either tho horse was accept'-:! for or it was iv t. If the former the blame should !><■ put on the right shoulders ; if the latter then a very grave charge is laid against the stewards of the Napier Park Club. The public would like to know what the result would have been had any other owner than the Hon. J. D. Ormond been concerned. The race would probably have been run at the advertised time. The case recalls an instance at the Hawke's Bay meeting la-t year, when the rider of one of the Karamu horses was ordered to -'stand elown " for a period for foul riding, while the stakes were not taken from his mount, which won. If the owner of an animal is to be considered before justice is done, the turf of Hawke's Isay will soon become as demoralised as that of Victoria. The Metropolitan Club must hold an enepiiry into yesterday's allair, and the result will be awaited with interest. liENliliAL ITEMS. There is a certain amount of mild excitement in town to-day over the licensing election. The Independents aird the Moderates are fighting hard to gain their seats, and it is extremely doubtful what the result will be, though the Moderates appear pretty certain that their representatives will be 011 top when the poll is declared. As predicted .Mr Harry florman won the Swiming Championship last evening. In the swim oil for the dead heat in th-"> Ladies' Bracelet, T. Roulston easily defeated J. Hamilton. (leorge Hope, who was injured at the Park Races on Tuesday, is progressing favorably, though it is probable he will bo a sufferer for life. The Bluff Hill bowlers were well pleased with their Hastings trip yesterday. They speak favorably of the entertainment provided by the ladies in the shape of refreshments. The Ada Delroy Company concluded a most successful season last evening, and Probasco's Circus show for the last time to-night. Crabb has arrived and the Prohibition Party are according him a hearty welcome, and cold water appears to agree with him. At anyrate beer gives him something to talk about. The Garrison Band's carnival next week promises to be a big success.