LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 92, 31 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A special service at the Napier Cathedral yesterday in connection with the Bishop of Melanesia’s visit was very largely attended.

The prevailing drought in South Canterbury has rendered the prospects for winter very gloomy. Blight has completely destroyed the turnip crops, and the grain crop is the smallest for years. In the Wesleyan Hall at Westshore last evening a very pleasant social was held. There was a large audience, and all who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The Southern Cross, as it appears on. the New Zealand flag, will appear on the Royal armilia - or stole, one of the vestments to be worn by the King during the Coronation ceremony.

To-morrow afternoon, at 2 o’clock, the examination of pupijs for proficiency certificates will pe held in the Napier Municipal Baths. At about 4.30 an exhibition of life-saving with the surf reel will be given by a ladies’ team and a men’s team.

The chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County Council has received a copy of the petition sent to Minister of Internal Affairs asking that Napier South be formed into a town district. This matter wjll come up for consideration at tl>e next meeting of the County Council.

Last evening a meeting, of thf Napier General Labourers' Unjor ' was held in Abbot’s Hall, Mr. W. Geordine presiding' over a good ftt--1 tendance. It was resolved, this Union considers it desira|>h that candidates for election as members the Borough Council - at the forthcoming poll should call a public meeting and address the electors on'matters connected with the borougii works, arid expenditure.” ; -- + - / “It is only a month ago when I ' promised you if. you .kept 1 would grant you a pension,” remarked Mr. W., Barton, B>.M., at Gisborne, to an elderly..man named John Heaphy, who. , pleaded .guilty to a charge of drunkenness. His Worship added that the day after the man had been seen drunk. “I am not going to grant pensions to be spent in liquor,” his Worship added. A fine of 10/- and 2/- costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, was' imposed.

Whilst on his recent visit tq the Coast the Hon. R. McKenzie dbserved quantities of imported chaff packed in bales. On making inquiries the Minister, who is acting temporarily as Minister in charge of Customs, ascertained it was Australian chaff. He at once ex- / pressed the opinion that the tariff should be raised on Australian chaff, and that New Zealand farmers should be ablv to supply the Dominion’s own requirements in this direction. At Mr. Frank Morton’s address at Napier on Wednesday, among other absurdities of a similar nature, he stated that he had no fear of death. Such a fear one would gather from his remarks is unnatural, and to a certain extent cowardly. Yet we know that selfpreservation is one of the strongest and most primitive passions in man. This arises purely out of fear, cowardly or otherwise, of pain, and of death, and is common to all mankind.

Members of the New Zealand Legislature are hardly likely to hear with- unruffled feelings the semi-official announcement now made that the members of the Imperial Parliament actually sent invitations to -..the number of fiftyeight to representatives of the Oversea Dominions to be the guests of the British nation during the Coronation festivities? Those invitations were sent out in these proportions :—Eighteen to Canada, eighteen to Australia, twelve to South Africa, eight to New Zealand, and two to Newfoundland. All except New Zealand accepted. There will doubtless be some angry questioning when the House meets as to why so much secrecy was observed on this matter, and why one branch of the Legislature vas absolutely ignored.

The monthly meeting of the Edu-1 cation Board was held this after- ’ noon, in the board's offices, Ten-| nyson street, Napier. j

A Melbourne cable states that * the Rev. Gordon, of Victoria, has I been elected president of the Aus-j tralasian Baptist Conference.

On account of the extinction , the Butchers’ award, all butchers f will have to work the hours required by the Shops and Offices Act. .

The arrivals in New Zealand last! month numbered 3370. and the de-| part u res 3525. In February, 1910, i there were 2689 arrivals and 28431 departures. :

In Abbot’s Hall last night the’ monthly meeting of the Napier j Arts Society was held. There was i a good attendance and, in addition to a splendid display of work, some! very pleasing musical selections were rendered.

A Christchurch message states that misty rain with an occasional [ thick drizzle has been the order of | the weather since 4 p.m. yesterday. ■ The moisture is freshening vegetation, but it is a mere drop compar-j ed with the bucketfuls required byj the country. i

A meeting of the Harbour Lea-i gue was held last night at the Pub-| lie Hall, Westshore. There was a| fair attendance, and a committee, was elected for* the purpose of carrying on the propaganda of Mr. > George Nelson’s Inner Harbour scheme. i

A committee meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held in the Napier Borough Council Chambers this morning, for the purpose of electing a medical superintendent, vice Dr. Ivan Wilson, resigned. No particulars ran yet be given, as the committee’s recommendation has to be approved by the Minister before the appointment is confirmed.