NAPIER NEWS-NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 464, 7 June 1890, Page 3

NAPIER NEWS-NOTES.

GENERAL JOTTINGS ON VARIED TOPICS.

[fbom our own correspondent.] Napier, Thursday night. It would appear that the offer of a position as Native Land Court Judge, which was made by the Government to Captain Preece, Resi dent Magistrate here, was not tempting enough. I suppose their Native Land Court judgeships will go a begging all round the colony. The Eawke’s Bay Steeplechase takes place on the 19th ins'. Sportsmen are awaiting the result of the Great Northern Steeplechase before venturing to express au opioiou as to the probable result. The Caledonian ball, which is to be held on steeplechase night, will be the grandest affair ever held in Napier. The drill shed has been engaged for the occasion. The Napier Chamber of Commerce is like Chambers in other parts of the colony. Members never roll up unless there is going to be a big row on. A woman, whose particular weaknes is Old Tom—and p’enty of it—strayed into the Salvation Army barracks the other 'night. This injudicious act proved her downfall, for she was lodged in a police cell and subsequently fined £1 10s for drunkenness and disturbing the worshippers at the shrine of the big drum and colored flag. It is thought that no further steps will be taken by the Harbor Board against tha breakwater contractors- in connection with the rubble deficiencies, until the completion of he contract —then there will be rue ions. A number of changes are being effected in the local Telegraph Office in view of the opening of Parliament shortly. There have been a number of bankruptcies «d here lately, but the estates are only what y be characterised as “ small potatoes/* ' Major Gudgeon, Chief Commissioner of Police, has been inspecting this district during the last few days. Attention was drawn at the Chamber of Commerce meeting this afternoon to the fact that the Government spent thousands of pounds in importing iron bark timber instead of using totara for works which they had in hand. It was pointed out, however, that it was required for bridges, &c., &c., iron bark was more durable, and far in advance of totara or any other timber for the purpose named. The Opera Company has been collecting the dollars in sackfuls since they have been here. The public contribute more towards this kind of thing than they do to the Napier Hospital. It is seldom or ever now that creditors in a bankrupt estate turn up to discuss his affairs. They kt things siide. It is only a waste of time do discuss a£s estate. That is the total amount of assets some debtors have shown

lately. Yesterday an aggravated assault was committed on the person of James Morrison, bead bailiff in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, a man named Patrick John Carer, who at one time occupied the position of drill instruetor for the Hawke’s Bay district. It appears that there has been considerable ill feeling between the two men cf late, and affairs were brought to a crisis when Ca>ey went to the house of Monison and commenced belaboring him with a walking stick. Morrison sustained some very nady gashes about the face and head, and Dr Innes had to ba called in, to sew them up. Carey was of course placed in durance vile and charged subsequently with having assaulted Morrison with the intent to indict grevious bodily harm. As the informant was in bed, and would not be able to appear for a few days, Sergeant Cullen applied for a remand for a week, which was granted, Carey asked to be liberated on bail, and the Justice who occupied the Bench agreed to release him if be found rwo sureties of £lO each, and enter into a bond nf £2O himself to appear before Court to answer the charge on Thursday next. The Committee of the Napier District School have gone in for a new idea. They decided at the last meeting to have the boys attending the main school instructed in drill and gymnastic exercises on two afternoons in the week by the Volunteer drill instructor, Bergt,-Major Huddelston. Each boy pays sixpence a quarter. An experiment is to be made for one quarter, and if it is successful the practice will be continued. There have been quite a large number of the rising generation prostrated by the obnoxious la grippe lately, and as a consequence the average attendance at the schools Das gone down considerably. A number of resolutions which were recently passed by the Chamber of Commerce wi’h regard to the desirableness of a ptoper system of “ immigration " being adopted, are to be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, and also to the other Chambers throughout the colony. At Court the other day Mr Corr.ford, who appeared for a defendant in a case, applied to Mr Preece, who occupied the bench, to allow Mr Wardell, of Wellington, who was in town, to hear the case, which arcs? out of an action heard seme time ago, when Mr Preece gave a decision against his client, Mr Prebce eaid be was willing to let Mr Wardell hear the case, but he thought that a viei’ing B.M. would not have jurisdiction ovr £2O, and in this case the claim was for 125. The Act was looked op, and this was found to be the case. Next day, however, Mr Preece happened to be absent from town, and Mr Wardell was asked to dispose of a criminal case. He did

so, and then, for the information of the reporters and the public, stated that he held appointment by warrant to act as B.M. in Napier, ever since he had taken Mr Preece’s position before, when that gentleman was ill, and his jurisdiction was £lOO, That appoint ment had never been cancelled, and be could legally have sat on the previous day had he been asked so to do. b The Maori King takes a great many thousand carcases of mutton from Nelson Bros, for the London market. It has been suggested that a road should be formed from town to ths breakwater, the thoroughfare to be made a joint affair between the Municipal Council and the Harbor Board. A road from the Spit to the breakwater is already provided for. The Star of England is expected to arrive here in about a week’s lime. She takes from here 85,000 catcases from the establishment of Nebon Bros., and the Lady Jocelyn 18,000 Mtcases also from the same firm.