NAPIER NEWS-NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 486, 29 July 1890, Page 3

NAPIER NEWS-NOTES.

(from OUR own correspondent.) Napier, Saturday. The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union still desire to play Gisborne on the Ist prox. It is considered inadvisable to postpone the match until a later date, as all existing arrangements re cup or other matches will be upset It is not wise to unnecessarily prolong the season. The Union Company are taking the Napier men up at 25s per head. A lot of Napier money was taken to Christchurch for investment on different horses at the Grand National meeting. I am afraid not much of it will come back. It may possibly be interesting to know that there are 87,175 acres of land in the Hawke’s Bay district owned by absentees, the value being £301.555. Mr W. Kinross White has been elected a fellow of the Colonial Institute. Mr G. H. Callen, formerly clerk in the Beeideut Magistrate’s Coart, died daring the »week, He was a very old resident, and his remains were followed to the grave by a large nomber of people, including the officers of the Court, and members of the bar. The deceased had been ailing for some time past. A lad named Charles Nicholls was killed at kWimbledon the other day by the falling of a tree. At the last meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, Mr H P. Cohen alluded to the present Refuge, which he characterised as a disgrace to the country. He thought a new building should be erected, and that the

public should be asked to subscribe towards the project. Mayor Swan agrees that the building is not all that could be desired, but says the men have plenty of blankets, food, &c., and are as happy as possible. Mr H. S. Tiffen, I believe, has promised to subscribe a hundred pounds if four others will come forward and donate a like amount.

Captain Preece, R.M., and Mr J. A. Connell, of Auckland, have been appointed Royal Commissioners to inquire into the dispute between the Crown Lands department and the natives in regard to the boundaries of the Awarua Block. They sit to take evidence this week.

A man charged with forgery at the recent sittings of the Supreme Court pleaded not. guilty one night just before the Court closed, but altered his mind during the night and pleaded guilty next morning. He got 12 months.

Captain Baker, formerly of Poverty Bay, who recently desired to be relieved of one of the positions which he now holds—Master of the Refuge, and Secretary of the Hospital—has been induced by the Hospital Committee to continue in both positions, as the reason why he wished them separated was because he did not think be could perform the work of both in a satisfactory manner.

The case of the Bank of New Zealand versus the trustees in the estate of the late William Fletcher has been occupying the Court for a day or two. This ease is one which has arisen out of the celebrated Parker will case, which collapsed, as you will probably remember. The present case is that the estate should pay £5OO, £175, and £225, such amounts being; inscribed in three different bills. These bills were made in Parker’s favor by Fletcher. Parker got them discounted by a moneylender named Turner, who has cleared out, and Turner got them discounted at his bank (the plaintiff bank). The defence alleged that the bills were forgeries and that they all were originally for five pounds each. The writing in the body of the bilis is that of Parker, who, it is asserted, left space for the extra wording and figures, and the alterations and additions are obvious. Evidence to this effect was called. The jury returned a verdict that the bills were altered, but that Fletcher was guilty of negligence in signing bills which could have been altered. However, the bank had not exercised due care in respect to the documents. It is intended by Mr Cotterill to move for a new trial.

I hear it is probable that Captain Russell, Colonial Secretary, will be opposed at the next general election by a strong candidate in the person cf a well-known surveyor, formerly of the Gisborne district. It is thought that should he stand, the election will be a very roughly fought one, and that the Captain will be unseated.