LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 96, 6 April 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A social and dance will be held in the Public Hall at Fernhill on Easter Monday.

The usual Good Friday services were held in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches at Hastings yesterday.

The Napier South Town Board will meet on Friday, 12th inst., to confirm a resolution regarding severance from the Hawke’s Bay County Council.

Messrs J. and R. .Scott, of Dunedin, arc the successful tenderers for the supplying and laying of the. pipes in connection with the reticulation of the Invercargill outer area. The contract price was .+‘19,349.

Professor Bruff, who hypnotised Nurse Haines in Napier on Wednesday evening Inst is going to bring her round at 9.30 this evening at the Central Auction Mart, Emerson street, Napier. At 8.30 p.m. be is going to hypnotise several members of his audience and an entertainment of interest is promised.

The Otane Horticultural and Home Industries Exhibitionn was brought to a close on Thursday night. The management deserve special credit for the way in which it was carried out. It is confidently expected that at least £lOO will be cleared. This is to be devoted to the improvement of the new Recreation Ground.

Although the date for opening the new Napier Municipal Theatre is a long way off councillors are somewhat puzzled as to what company shall have the opening nights. As a,way out of the problem we would suggest that the opening night be devoted to the councillors so that they may “get off” the speeches they are unable to make at the council table. Next Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 5 and in the evening from 6.30 to 9.30, Havelock ■ holds its «autumd show of fruit, flowers, vegetables and produce in the Village Hall. Schedules may be obtained from the Arts and Crafts. Afternoon tea will be served in the small hall. A very energetic committee is sparing no pains to make the show a success and have been promised so much support that we feel sure that the visitor will consider the sixpense for entrance well spent.

The netv Recreation "Ground at Otane has recently been ploughed and sown in grass seed and it is hoped that it will be ready for use next winter. There are eight acres, and the trustees intend to lay down a bowling green, tennis court and hockey ground, as well as an oval for the use of the Athletic Club. Recently a pavilion and grandstand were built as a coronation memorial. The grandstand will accommodate about three hundred people. On the top floor there are tea rooms 40ft by 10ft, and below there is a secretary’s room and two dressing rooms. The building cost about £2OO.

At the Hastings Court this morning, before Messrs. C. Hughes and M. W. P. Lascelles, J’s.P., Robert Robinson was charged with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse. Defendant pleaded guilty. Detective Butler outlined the facts of the case, but the Bench insisted on hearing the evidence. Constable McGruer deposed tha tthe accused, who was very drunk, was riding a horse on the footpath near the Albert Hotel at about 10.15 on Thursday evening. Suddenly he set his, horse off at a gallop in the direction of the railway crossing, narrowly escaping a collision with a motor car at the Carlton Club corner, whilst witness himself was nearly run over further up the street. The Bench imposed a fine of £2, with 2/- costs, or in default seven days’ imprisonment.

Before the adjournment of the Hastings Court this morning, Mr. M. W. P. Lascelles, one of the presiding justices, said he wished to make a statement in reference to the case which was heard on Thursday last, the Police v. Joe Baraha and Kurupo Tareha. He wished it to be understood that the statement was simply a personal one, as his cojustice (Mr. C. Hughes) was not on the bench when the case was heard. The statement was also made without consulting Major Gascoyne who, with the speaker, heard the charges. Continuing, Mr. Lascelles said that he had since found from reliable quarters that the circumstances of the case were of an entirely different nature to the impression he had gathered at the hearing. He saw now that a mistake had been made in not calling the evidence, as they had done in the case they had just heard. No evidence being called by the prosecution, he did not think the case was so serious as it really happened to be, and he had no doubt that if the evidence of the constables had been taken. flic decision would have been very different to what, it war. In justice to Detective Butler, who conducted the prosecution, it must be stated that he outlined the circumstances of the charges, and it is not. the usual procedure to tender the evidence of witnesses when an accused pleads guilty.

Messrs. Morgan and Climic have accepted' Mr. R. McGaffin’s tender of £378 for forming and metalling the new road at Pakowhai. Four tenders were received.

The offertories at the St. Matthew’s Church yesterday were devoted to the fund for the children stai ving in Britain as the result of the strike. The amount collected at the services was £l6/17/2. Mr. McLernon has on view in his window in Hastings street, Napier, a potato grown by' Mr. J. C. Field, of Gisborne. The tuber, which is of excellent shape, weighs no less than 41b. He is also showing a magnificent lemon plucked from a tree planted by him in Gisborne 18 years ago.

Business at the railway station, Napier, has been particularly brisk during the last few days, -and the number of visitors to the town is large. Those who have come in from the country for a “breath of sea air” are obtaining it under most favourable conditions. So far the weather tor the holidays has been perfect. The music of “The Passion” (by Saul) was rendered by St. Matthew’s vfioir in the Anglican Church, Hastings, last evening. Mr. P. W. Tombs presided at the organ. The work was admirably handled throughout, the contrasts in light and shade as demanded by the various themes ot the piece being effectively given. The solos were in capable hands and the whole performance was a very creditable one. There was a large congregation. The visiting delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, which is being held at Hastings, were taken for a tour of the district this morning; visiting the Arataki Experimental Farm and Frimley Canning works en route. This afternoon they attended the football match at the Ridge, Rovers v. Onga Onga' seniors, and this evening they will be the guests of His Worship the Mayor at a dinner in Messrs. Anthony' and Co.’s tea rooms.

The New Zealand Association of Nurserymen will hold a conference in Auckland on April 10th. A circular letter states: “The executive believes the time has arrived when a determined effort should be made tc limit the varieties of fruits planted to a fe wof the very'best that will meet the requirements of the trade, and suit the various soils and ccndi tions under which they arc grown, and to this end asks your aid. Will you kindly fill in the enclosed forms,' giving all the information you can. and stating your reasons briefly, and return the same.” '