NAPIER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 118, 3 January 1874, Page 2

NAPIER.

[from our own correspondent.] December 27. Public Holidays in Napier are always dull affairs—so dull, indeed, that people Here have almost given up keeping them. At one time—a year or two ago—what we were pleased to call sports were held on high days and festivals in Clive Square, and crowds would gather to see a few foot races, a little jumping, and a good deal of drunkenness. But the novelty of the thing soon died out, and so this season of merry Chirstmas passed over in much same way as if by Royal Proclamation we had been commanded to observe a solemn day of rest and prayer. We got up a little later; some of us went to Cnurch, but a good many stayed at home ; there was a good deal of real but unostentatious hospitality ; there was moderate feasting but no laughter; there was plenty to drink btv no merriment; everybody’s heart appeared dull within him, and so Christinas passed away. In the c c un try, on Boxing day, there were horse races, queits, and swearing, at various road side inns, and at Havelock, a tidy little sum of money had been raised by public subscription for a race meeting. The horses had not much to boast of either in the way of breed or training, but they galloped, and some jumped over,the hurdles, and others fell or bolted off the course, and there was nearly as much excitement amongst the onlookers as if the races had not been got up by a couple of publicans in order to improve trade, and afford amusement. There is no denying the fact, we are getting frightfully prosaic. For the past fortnight there have been two places of public amusement open—Charles diorama, and Mr. W. A. Chapman’s Auti-Spiritist entertainment. The diorama has absorbed the whole of pleasure seekers’ attention. Not that the .beauty of the painting or the excellency of the mechanical accessories command of themselves large houses, but because gifts are given away, do the Napierites pay their 4s and 2s according to the seats they take. Mr. Chapman’s entertainment is really good, but I am sorry to say he has not once had a large house. The Wairoa and Napier Volunteer Companies have recently been firing at their respective ranges for choice of representatives, to compete for the honor of representing the district at the Colonial Prize Firing. A "Wairoa Volunteer, Lieutenant Power, made the highest score, and now the six best men will have to fire off to determine the moot point as to who is the crack shot. The high score made by Mr. Power rather took the Napier V olunteers by surprise, and now it is rumored that the Wairoa men fired a day before they received their instructions regarding sizeof target &c. It is reported that the target was not of the regulation S.ttern, that it was altogether too big, and at if the Napier men had. fired under the same circumstances, Wairoa would not hav& stood a chance. I believe Major Withers is about to proceed up there to make enquiries. A certain storekeeper, up co' ome -<4»> «cr-' — - - pf

It is rumored that a company is abiut to be floated here and at Wellington, for supplying Napier with gas. The idea originated at Wellington, and it is said that a gentleman from that city is now on his way up here, on board the Rangaiira, with the object of ascertaining the pecuniary prospects of the venture. Later.

On Sunday morning some gloom was cast over the town by the news of the death of Mr. J. J. Wi Gowing, the wellknown Chemist and Druggist. The deceased bad been for some time in a state that precluded his friends from anticipating his recovery. Mr. Gowing leaves a widow and two children.