Local and General

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 28 December 1925, Page 4

Local and General

The Napier Palmerston North Relief express does not run on 29th and 30tt December, but it does run on the Ist, 2nd, 4th January. in to-day’s issue will be found a further advertisement by the Railway Department giving particulars of the altered train arrangements for the holidays. The races at Hastings and seaside resorts are provided for. A lire occurred on Saturday in a fish shop at Ponsonby occupied by C. Andrews. The building was considerably damaged, particularly the top storey, which was used as a dwelling. The furniture was insured for £3OO and the shop fittings for £350. The editor thanks Ids little friends at St. Hilda’s Home for the very pretty card bearing their Christian name autographs. Coining from so many little ones he is confident that their good wishes to him for the New Year an? all going to materialise. The Wellington yacht Mana, when 'leaving Wellington for the Sounds, went ashore at Chaffers Passage, on the western side of the harbour entrance. but was got off later very little damaged, though the trip was postponed for repairs to be effected.— (Press Association.) Early on ’Xmas morning the Napier Fire Brigade was summoned to an outbreak of fire in Wellesley road, at a house occupied by-Mrs Williams, dressmaker. The front part of the house was badly gutted. Three bedrooms were saved but the contents were saturated with water. The house and contents were insured with the North British and Mercantile office. The twin-screw 43-footer Ruamango left Auckland on Saturday with a party comprising Messrs. A. 11. Court (owner), J. Kelly (engineer). J. Collings (builder). .1. B. Johnston and R. Noten for a two months’ cruise to circumnavigate New Zealand via Russell. New Plymouth. Wellington. Dunedin, west coast of the South Island. thence by the east coast of the North Island home.

Tho Havelock North Fire Brigade desires to acknowledge the receipt of £5 5/- from Mr. and Mrs AV. C. McCormick towards its funds.

Alarmed by the barking of a dog, Mr. Hutton, his wife and two children had just time to escape in their night attire from a blazing house at Papanui this morning (says a Christchurch telegram). The place was burned to ashes.

Under the will of Mr. F. J. O’Connell (says a Christchurch telegram) the following bequests are left: Marist Brothers’ new school, Christchurch. £2000: St. Bede’s College, for a bussary £400; St. Mary’s, Manchester street, £100; to Catholic Cathedral £lOOO.

The building returns for the ■’•ear almost completed show that’ Napier has made steady progress. The value of tho work for the year was £138,162 4/-, being an increase of about £5,400 on that for 1924. Until another area can be made available foi settlement there is not- likely to be any great increase in the erection of dwellings, owing to the remaining sections being at a high premium.

The flannel dance held at Haumoana Hall on Boxing Night, in aid of the Haumoana Tennis Club funds, was a pronounced success. About a hundred couples occupied tho floor and danced until the small hours to the music of Mrs Dunn’s orchestra and under the supervision of Mr Sellars, who acted as M.C. A bountiful supper was provided

and every one’s enjoyment was com plete. Thanks was accorded Misses Cr and T. Mills and Miss E. Taylor. An other dance will be hold on New A’car Y Evo.

Tho bush fires at Puketitiri. which have been causing anxiety in that district for tho past week, became threatening on Christmas Eve, when both McLeod and Gardiner’s and Messrs R. Holt and Sons’ mills were in danger of destruction and all hands joined to avert the peril. The advance of the fire was checked, and in the meantime the wind changed, leaving the mills secure, a position they are in at present, but a change back in the wind may renew the menace.

An earthquake of unusual severity was experienced at Masterton .on Thursday. Tho shake was preceded by a pronounced rumbling for about ten seconds, and the tremor occupied five seconds, during which buildings rocked perilously. No serious damage is reported. the most severe sufferers apparently being tho crockery shops, whore the Christmas displays, were disturbed. The town was full of Christmas shoppers, am] many shops were quickly emptied, tho severity of the tremor causing considerable alarm.

During tho year just closing a total of 23 persons in Hawke’s Bay found it necessary to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court, the number showing that Hawke’s Bav is experiencing better times. In 1922, 12 farmers found it impossible to carry on, while this year none have been obliged to file. The greatest proportion of bankrupts were labourers while the position of Maoris has improved from 16 in 1923 to one this year. Hastings heads the list of bankruptcies with 9, Napier being next with 7. and Taradale 3. The remainder como from places up the line.

A isitors to the Waipukurau Hospital on Christmas Day, franKly expressed their admiration of the beautiful decoration displayed in all the wards ami the various other departments of this capably administered establishment Each, ward had a colour scheme of its own and considerable originality, constructivcness and artistry were demonstrated in the radiant pictures present cd, reflecting the highest credit on the nurses, whose devoted efforts were responsible for the adornaments. Quite a festive atmosphere prdvade-d the entire institution, sisters, nurses, domes tie. staff and patients alike, and on.' could not help feclling that the p.aJ tients were well looked after and that every one was happy.

At the Napier Magistrate's Conn this morning, before Messrs 8. Prime

and AV. White, J.P’s., three seamer, named J. Hennessy, S. Furze and F. Crocombc were charged with being ab sent without leave. All three pleaded guilty. The captain of the Mahore stated that the men got ashore on Thursday by means of a lighter. They were arrested yesteilday on a warrant The accused had made a practice of absenting themselves without leave at all the ports previously visited by the ves sell In each case a sentence of 24 hours’

imprisonment was imposed and the mon were ordered to be placed aboard the vessel before she sails to-night. They were also ordered to pay cost amounting to £2 18s lid each. !