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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3746, 18 July 1883, Page 2

Mr. James Kirker, the manager of tho Napier branch of the South British Insurance Company, Avroto a letter to tho Harbor Board which was read at the Board's meeting yesterday, touching the ev-idence that Mr H. Kraeft gave beforo the Court of Enquiry into the Avreok of tho schooner Transit. Mr Kirker in his letter says:—"l wish to draAv your attention to the pilot's evidence given in cross-examina-tion—l ( don't think I have power to compel the master to bring his vessel insido, oven when I do not consider it cafe for tfce vessel

to remain outside.' 'It was not my duty Avhen I saw the state the vessel (Transit) was in to order her to come inside.' If tho harbor-master and pilot does not know tho responsibilities and duties of his position, as would seem to be the case from his evidence at the enquiry, I need not point out to you that a repetition of the Transit disaster may occur at any moment." Now, in common fairness to Mr ELraeft it is only just for us to point out that, if Mr Kirker knew as much of the duties of Harbor Master as that officer does, the above letter would not have been written. The Transit was only some 70 odd tons, and by tho Harbors Act of 1878 vessels below 100 tons are exempt from compulsory pilotag-e. Therefore, if Mr Kraeft had ordered the Transit to come into port, the captain of that A'essel might have said something tho reA'erse of polite. Before attacking a painstaking and efficient officer it would have been better had Mr Kirker paused to look into the Act that limits a pilot's powers.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening at the usual time and place.

Mr AY. 0. McLeod has been gazetted registrar of births, marriages, and deaths for the Hastings district.

The resignation by Mr F. Pell of his commisssion of Lieutenant in the F. Battery of Artillery as from the 12th of June is gazetted.

We hope to see a. crowded house at the Theatre Royal to-night to witness the inaugural performance of the newly organised "Napier Amateur Dramatic Club."

Tickets for Lola Montes' consultatiou on the 1533 cups to bo run at Flemington, Melbourne, ond Christchurch may be obtained at Mr Jacobs' Fancy Repository.

A telegram was read at the Harbor Board meeting yesterday from Mr Buchanan giving information as to the steps to be taken for proceeding with the Napier Harbor Bill. We rather think the chairman of tho Board can give Mr Buchanan several points, and then beat him easily on parliamentary procedure.

A meeting of the Petane Jockey Club -will bo held on tho 28th instant, when arrangements Avill be made for the annual meeting. It -will nlso be a part of the business of the meeting to appoint an honorary secretary in tho room of Mr J. Steven, who has resigned after successfully serving the club for several years past.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before E. Patten, Esq., J.P., and E. Lyndon, Esq., J.P., John Smith, charged Avith lutA'ing been drunk at Hastings yesterday, was fined 5s and costs, with the usual alternative. Thomas Gilbcy, for haA'ing beon drunk at the Spit Avhilstin charge of a dray and horses, Avas fined £1 and costs. Henry Hudson, for vagrancy, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment Avith hard labor.

The head master of the Napier district school is to be congratulated on the results of tho late scholarship and pupil teaclior examinations. AYe notice that of thirteen candidates for the Board's scholarships the first eight are district school pupils, whilst the tAvo senior pupils teachers who head the fourth year list came from the same school. This must be very satisfactory to the parents of pupils attending tho school as showing the sound and satisfactory character of the work being done in the institution.

A singular accident occurred on the Marine Parade to-day. Tho driver of one of Mr Hyland's carts was backing his vehicle up to the boundary of the shingle bed opposite Coote road, in order to shoot some rubbish, but, having backed too far, the cart went oa'ci* the enbankment, of course dragging the horse with it. Both cart and horse were turned clean over in the descent, tho latter alighting with his. head on a large stone, and being killed instantaneously. The cart seems to be none tho worse for tho fall.

It is, perhaps, hardly nocosssary to remind both thoso who have already joined and those who intend joining the Napier Musical Society of the practice at St. John's schoolroom this evening A largo attendance is earnestly desired, and thoso aa'lio have copies of the "Messiah" and "The Lay of the Bell" arc requested to bring same, with them. Ladies and gentlemen wishing to join should lose no time in communicating Avith the secretary, Mr A. P. Sheath, so that tho committee may bo in a position to complete arrangements with respect to procuring music, kc

The hose-reel team of tho Spit Fire Brigade, under Superintendent AVilkie, tested the neAV high pressure water supply last evening with very satisfactory results. At the corner of Coote road a jet of over one hundred feet iv height was thrown from a three-quarter inch nozzle, ordinary canvas hoso being employed, and standing the test well. Trials Avere also made of the supply in Hastings-street near Mr Garry's foundry, in Chaucer road, at tho Hospital, and at A'arious other places on the hills. As slioaviny the force of the water on the higrh levels wo may mention that a jet was obtained at tho Grammar School that was thrown easily over the top of the blue gums on tho school grounds.

Surely there arc other ways of wasting public money than by unnecessarily breaking up and raising footpaths to tho injury of private property. To-day avc noticed that the footpath in front of Mr Murray's and Mr Collins' shops, Hastings-street, which Avas in very good condition, Avas broken up, and being raised above the flooring of those tAvo places of business, to bring it to an exact leA'el Avith that iv front of the Bank of Ncav South Wains and Messrs Large and ToAvnley's Avharchouse. In other parts of the town foot passengers can easily break a limb through tripping into innumerable holes iv the pathways, but these pitfalls are left alone for tho sake of a piece of unnecessary fancy Avork.

The Clive Square Mutual Improvement Association met last night. The President occupied the chair, and there Avas a good attendance of members and friends. The rules as rcA-ised by the committee were brought fonvard, and passed Avith a few amendments. The preliminary arrangements for a debate betAveen tho Napier Mutual Improvement Association and this society Avere agreed to. The remainder of the evening was devoted to the reading and criticising of the "Magazine." Articles Avero Avritten upon Trades Unions, the small birds nuisance, hints to essayists, &c, and the evening passed off very successfully. Special attention is called to the fact that tho next meeting will beheld on Thursday, the 2Gth, Avhen Mr R. Rush will deliA'or a lecture on "Phrenology., versus Physiognomy." The public are cordially invited to attend, and the lecturo Avill be followed by free discussion.

AVho steals my purse steals trash, 'tis something, nothing. But he who fikhos from mo my good name, &c. AVho brands some impuro compound as AVolfe's Schnapps " filches " from it its good name.—[Advt.]