The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3942, 8 March 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1884.

Why did he write it? That is the question that must force itself upon anyone who may have taken the trouble to read Mr Buchanan's letter to the Municipal Council on the subject of the Corporation offices. The letter to which we refer was published by vis in our report of the Council's pro ■ ceedings last Wednesday. Mr Buchanan in this letter volunteers the information that at some uncertain date the Hon. Mr Mitchelson will visit Napier, and that when here " will look,into thn question of the occupancy of the old provincial buildings, and inspect them himself." So far as the Corporation is concerned with the provincial buildings, it must be a matter of supreme indifference whether Mr Mitchelson ever comes to Napier or not. _ A good many Ministers have "looked into the question of the occupancy" of that old edifice, and the results of their observations have been equally unsatisfactory. Wo are not aware that Mr Mitchelson can do anything more than look, and make promises, and then go away and forget all that ho saw and said. So why Mr Buchanan should have gone to the expense of a twopenny stamp to inform the Corporation of the impending visit of the Minister for Public Works wo are at a loss to conceive. Mr Buchanan, however, had something moro to communicate. Ho wished to assuro the Council of hi.; conviction that the result of -this visit would be the ratification of the opinion formed by Sir John Hall andthe Hon. Mr Johnston, that there was sufficient room in the buildings for the offices of the Corporation as well as for those of the governmental departments. Mr Buchanan does not say what the result of such a ratification would be, while it is abundantly clear, from the light of recent events, that, whatever might have been the opinion oi Sir John Hall and Mr Johnston, the Corporation was bundled out of the buildings. Mr Buchanan, however, would make it appear that, in consequence of Sir John Hall's opinion respecting the capacity of the buildings, a tacit understanding had been arrived at by which the Corporation would not have been disturbed had it not injudiciously set up a defiant claim of right to permanent occupancy. The Corporation docs not want at this hour of the day to bo lectured on what it did or left undone. As the apologist for the Government Mr Buchanan .assumes a position that can confer no dignity upon himself, and in which he can do no good to the Ministry. It would be as well to remind him, nevertheless, that when he told Ministers, from his place in the House last session, that on Sir John Hall's visit there was plenty of room in tho buildings without disturbing any of the then occupants, Major Atkinson flatly contradicted him. It would thus appear, if Mr Buchanan's recollection of what Sir John said on the subject is not mistaken, that Sir John Hall, like some other Ministers we know of, could say one tiling to his cicerone and another to his colleagues. We are not told that Sir John took any notes of the representations made him by Mr Buchanan ; but some twelve months afterwards the Hon. Mr Dick did, and ho lost them. Now, as far as we remember, Sir John Hall came to no understanding whatever with the Corporation ;' but on tho ocasion of Mr Dick's visit there was so much of an understanding that tho Council felt justified in calling for tenders for the erection of a strong-room. After Mr Dick's interview with tho Mayor and councillors nothing I could have seemed more satisfactory, and, although no title to the occupancy of the offices could be given, it was certain tho Corporation would not bo disturbed for many years. This happy state of affairs, however, was not destined to last long. Parliament had not been sitting a month before Mr Buchanan asked whether the attention of tho Government had not been called to Ojo unsuitability nnrl insufficiency of tho office accommodation at Napier for tho Register of Deeds Department, and if it were intendod to improve and extend the same. And he went on to say that " when Sir John Hall and the Minister for Public Works, accompanied by himself, went through these offices, it was admitted on all sides that they wore unsuitable. He might say that in their dimensions and in their dirt they were not fit for a decent kennel." It is thus obvious enough that tho object of Sir John Hall's visit to the buildings in company with Mr Buchanan was on behalf of tho Deeds Office, and it is equally clear that in bringing tho subject before the Houso Mr Buchanan's motivo was to improve and extend that offico in the only way in which it could bo clone, namely, by absorbing the adjoining rooms and turning the Corporation out. Major Atkinson seized the opportunity that Mr Buchanan gave him, and said, <( Th.o department in Wellington had done its best, without resorting to violent measures, but bo was sorry to say that the Borough Council of Napier was in possession of tho necessary room, and the Government wero endeavoring to get them out, but they declined to go. Tho Government, however, pi-oposed now, having given them a very ample opportunity to make proper provision, to give them another notice,; and then to take the necessary steps to get tho room they occupy." On receiving this answer Mr Buchanan, apparently, foli that ho had made a false move, and, referring to Sir John Hall's visit to tho buildings, said there were several rooms unoccupied which could havo been taken long since without disturbing any ono. Major Atldnson replied that that was not so, and . tho matter dropped._ That is the history of the whole affair, and now that the Corporation has been kicked out Mr Buchanan expresses his " regret that the quioscenco which existed for two yoars should havo been disturbed by the injudicious setting up of a defiant claim of right, when a permissive occupancy only existed." Surely Mr Buchanan never thought that the Corporation could consent to bo shoved from post to pillar in the,

buildings as occasion might require the the Government to occupy the rooms P If so Mr Buchanan must attach very liltlo importance to the convenience of the corporation officers and of the public, or to tho • safety of the municipal records.

On our back page will be fomid some interesting reraiuiscenos of opera bouffo and the "La Mascotte " company, Wβ liavo made arrangements by -which we will be able to post this evening the winner of the V.R.C. Champion Stakes. There was no business at the JR.M. Court this morning. The subject of Mr Paterson's lecture tomorrow evening - is " Hard up." Should the weather bo at all fine to-night the Pritchard Family will positively perform. Proofs of debts in bankrupt estates must be rendered to the Assignee before the hour of meeting. " Jacob Faithful's " consultation on the Napier Handicap is now nearly filled, so those who purpose applying for tickets had better do so at once. A meeting of the Licensing Committee for the district of Meanee was held to-day at Taradale. The only business was an application for the transfer of the license of the Greenmeadows Hotel from Mr Kose to MrL. Binnie. The application was granted. The education reserve at the corner of Hastings and Browning-streets, the lease of which expires next August, comprises the half of Mr Jacobs' fancy goods repository, Mr Prebble's fruiterer's shop, Mrs Kemp's dress-making establishment, the premises lately occupied by Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co., Mr M. R. Miller's, and the South British Insurance offices. This valuable < t corner it has been decided to re-let in two lots for a period of 42 years. . Mr Ormond, as Chairman of the Harbor Board, has received the following telegram from the Governor's private secretary, in answer to the Board's request for an opinion on Mr Goodall's plan, in accordance with a resolution moved by Mr W. C. Smith:— "The Governor regrets that inasmuch as the proposal of the Napier harbor works must come before him officially in Council he will be unable to give aiiy previous formal report as an engineer on the subject." Dr. L. Sinclair, whose intention to visit Napier has been announced for some time, arrived by the To Ariau this morning, and has taken those premises at the corner of Hastings and Browning-streets formerly occupied by Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. Dr. Sinclair intends staying but a few days in this town, so that those who desiro to consult him should do so without delay. Dr Sinclair, in addition to being a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, is also a Licentiate of Dental Surgery. ■■ ■ ■■■'.-■ We had the pleasure of visiting Mr Lindauer's temporary studio this morning, and of inspecting the portrait hois engaged upon of Mr J. A. Smith: Tho picture will not be finished for a week, but it already , presents a most speaking likeness. Tho portrait, which is half-length; represents Mr Smith sitting in an arm chair. It is this portrait that the Hospital Conimitteo ordered, and which will bo hung in tho Hospital building, in commemoration of Mr Smith's services to that institution. A heavy traction engine having , passed over the bridge on tho main road known ac Danvers' bridge, near Havelock, and one of the stringers having been carried away, tho chairman calls attention in another column to the fact that the bridge is unsafe for heavy traffic. The defect was reported to tho road overseer to-day, who immediately made an inspection, and the County Council hopes to have tho necessary timber for the repairs on the ground on Monday morning, and by the end of next week it is anticipated the bridge will be in its usual condition. J At the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, the 22nd of March, Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrovo's opera companywill open in "La Mascotte," to be followed by Olivette," and '' Cloches do Comevillo.'' Some interesting gossip regarding some of the members will be found on our back page. The success of the company in Auckland has been most pronounced, tho season there will extend over twenty-eight nights, and in addition to . tho operas we have named " Tambour Major" and "Patience" will bo produced in tho* Northern city. . v At last night's performance, which did not take place, there was one exquisite scone. A packet of: caudles, surreptitiously, obtained when tho gas was turned, out, were lighted by four gentlemen, each of whom— after severely burning their fingers in attempting to keep the theatre lit with matches—held a lighted candle, a sergeant of police and two constables looking on, whilo a shilling sweep was got up, with no prizes but all blanks, tho money to be devoted to obtaining legal redress, one of the candles having to be borrowed to enable a professional to change his dress. A curious accident occurred at Kelly's Hotel, Hastings, on Thursday at 3 a.m. Mr Kelly was .awoke by a glare of fire in his bedroom, and a strong smell of burning. Getting up ho found the window curtains on fire, and tho wall paper adjacent just bursting into a flame. There happened to bo a bath tub full of water in the room, and he succeeded in putting out tho firo before much damage was done. It appears that the fire was caused by a leak from a spirit lamp kept in the room for tho purpose of heating the infant's food. Tho solder of the lamp melted, and tho burning spirit dropped on the toilet table. The damage done was not moi-e than £5 worth. To the Editor: Sir, —As one of the victims at the Theatre last night, allow me, through the medium of your widely circulated paper, to congratulate your pretty little town upon tho possession of the most good natured population to bo found auywhere I should think in the universe. Tho persons composing the audience last night, on being told that, they had paid their money for nothing, and that they would not get it back, behaved admirably. They neither smashed the furniture, nor broke the money-taker's head. There is a limit, howevez', to patience, and I should not adviso those concerned to try a similar game on to what was played last night. For less provocation I have seen a theatre wrecked.—l am, &c, Cosimerctal Travelled. Judging from Auckland telegrams the people of New Zealand must be in a feverish state of anxiety concerning Mr Sheehan's choice of a constituency at tho next general elections. First of all we aro told ho was going to stand for Newton; then ; after a visit to Sir . George Grey, Napier was to be honored by his candidature ; tho next news was that it was ntb to bo Napier, but his old seat for the Thames. We were, of course, thrown into paroxysms of grief at tho intelligence, but wo dried oui" tears at' last.' To-<3ay wo earn that Mr Sheelutu. Ims decided to stand for Auckland City North. Better than all this Mr Sheehan returned to Napier this morning, and perhaps 'he ' will bo kind enough to allay further anxiety by saying, once for all, whore he is going to stand for; and what ho had "toetand" to keep his name so prominently before the public. The School Commissioners hold a meeting yesterday. Present Messrs Baker (in tho chair), J. Buchanan and F. Button, M.H.R's., and Mr J. D. Ormond. It waa decided to forward a statement of acoounts to the Education Department. It was also decided to reaffirm their previously expressed opinion, that the Commissioners should have power to lease reserve sections for longer terms than are at present allowed by the department. It was decided to vote £250 to the Board of High School Governors in aid of the Girl's High School. It was decided to lease the reserve at the corner of Browning and Hastings-streets (tho present lease expiring in August next) in two portions for 42 years. An application will bo made to Government in reference to a section at Tautano containing 9000 acres, to the effect that tho Commissioners may havo power to deal with it as ordinary Crown lands. After passing accounts the meeting adjourned. The Board of Governors of the Napier High Schools met yesterday. Present: Messrs J. D. Ormond (in the ■ claair), Buchanan and Sutfcon, M.H.R.'s, Rev. D. Sidcy, and Messrs M. R. Miller, A. Dillon, H. S. Tiffen, and J. Andorson. It was decided to pay £2 10s to Mr Roardeu, half the expense of erecting a fonoe botweon his property and _ tho Boy's High School. Mr Haydon was informed that his lease muet bo complotcd at onc.o,' nnd tho building insured for £150 in the Board's name, or tho lease would be determined. Miss Hewitt's proposals re commencement of terrnsi at ffirls' High School were adopted. Tho Chairman said the following gentlemen had been appointed members of the Board.— Messrs J. N. Williams, J. W. Neal, A,

Dillon J D. Orrnond, and J. G. Kinross. Miss Martiadale was appointed teacher of tho French class at £9 per term. Mr Spackmnn was added to tho list of music teachers. It was decided to apply to to Government for authority to reduce tho upset price of the reserve at Wairoa from .£12,000 to £10,000. Vouchers to the amount of £383 10s 3d were passed for payment, leaving tho Board's account at tho bunk overdrawn £1030 6s Bd. Thoi'O is some talk concerning the advisability of establishing a telephone exchange in Napier, but tho difficulty that presents itself is in embracing tho Spit within the circuit. Tho subscription is £12 for tho first year, and £10 afterwards, for any distance within half a mile from the Telegraph Office, and for every additional quarter of a mile £1 10s extra for tho first year, and £1 afterwards. The minimum number of subscribers is twenty. It is possible, however, that if say between thirty and forty subscribers could be obtained a substantial concession would ho made which would bring the annual subscription to within a reasonable limit. The Foresters' anniversary ball was held in tho Town Hall, Hastings, on Thursday night, and was a great success. Dancing, which began at half past 9 o'clock, was kept up with great spirit until 5 o'clock in tho morning. The hall was beautifully decorated, the floral arrangements being of decidedly a novel character. The supper table was laid on the stage, which was artistically ornamented with tulips, ferns, ornamental grasses, and tropical plants. Mr R. Thayer catered for the refreshments, which were served in first-class stylo. The music for the twenty-two dancea # on the programme was supplied by a piano and two violins. About forty couples were present, and as the floor was in good condition an enjoyable night was spent. Among many tasteful dresses, a dross of old gold satin, with tablier embroidered in bronze, and red panniers with old coffeecolored Italian lace looped up with satin on tho train ; a brown satin dress, exquisitely embroidered with flowers in shades of terra cotta ; a brown tulle and brocade costume, with wreathes of yellow lillics on one side, tied with large bows of brown satin lined with yellow ; a white dress, with the front arranged with flounces of yellow lace, and the back with deep plaits of white satin, the bodico almost covered with lace, were moat conspicuous. Tho proceedings at tho Theatre last night caused tho utmost annoyance to some two score persons who had paid their money to witness tho porfonnanco advertised by the Pritchards. Prom two gentlemen who were present wo received the following account: —" Wo entered tho Theatre a little before 8 o'clock, and in walking towards_ the ticket office Mr Ashton passed us and said to the money-taker, ' You must stick to everything to-night.' We took a couple of half-crown tickets, and entered tho body of the Theatre. Wo waited till twenty minutes to 9 o'clock, when somebody came in front of the curtain, and made the following little speech : ' Ladies ancl gentlemen, as there ia not sufficient money in the house to pay for the theatre I am sorry to say there will bo no performance this evening, but the tickets you have paid for will bo available for tomorrow night.' There was a demand made by some of tho audience, ' Give us back our money,'when tho gentleman on the stage replied that ho was very sorry ho could not do so ;he could not help it; he was obeying Mr Ashton's instructions. Leaving the Theatre we demanded our money from tho man who had sold us the tickets, but ho told us he could not do so, and, apparently wearied at last with our remonstrances, he told us to 'go to the devil!' One of us then went to tho Occidental Hotel and saw Mr Ashton on the subject, but all the satisfaction obtained from him was that he knew nothing about it." Belgium's foreign trade last year exceeded £210,000,000. Cromation is finding many powerful adherents in Germany. Last year's Californian vintage was valued at over one million sterling. Hutchins, the champion sprinter, has run 300 yards in 30 sees., the fastest time on record. Winship, who with Bob Chambers formed tho celebrated champion pair-oared crew of England, is dead. A Sheffieldcr recently picked up a genuine Tumor for five shillings in a second-hand shop. Ruskin has pronounced it genuine. Tho Imperial Government is still paying a pension to the widow of a naval officer who was killed at Trafalgar 78 years ago. Tho Genova Socioty of Arts has arranged a chronometer competition, so as to ascertain tho causes of temperature affecting watches. The Alabama claims are not yet settled. Most of us were young when they began ; a majority of us will be dead Avhen they are finished. A woman who was recently prosecuted for vagrancy in Melbourne produced a bank book showing a credit balance of some three thousand odd pounds. The death-rato in the English navy last year was under 10 per thousand, showing conclusively the advantages of a fixed regimen and discipline. Georgo Eliot's poem, "The Dead," set as a cantata, with orchestral and vocal offects, was given at the Positivist festival of the dead in London on New Year's Day. The sum of £25,000 has been raised to build an observatory on the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland. An effort will now be made to raise another £25,000 with which to endow it. Mr Corrie Grant has incurred tho wrathful displeasure of tho London Court of Aldermen, through his having at the late Ipswich election, made the following statement: —"Ho had been to many of tho London Corporation dinners professionally, and had seen members of tho Corporation so drunk that they had to be carried out by servants, and yet these same men sat on tho Bench noxt morning to judge those taken up drunk and disorderly in the streets." The Court of Aldermen having discussed tho soft impeachment resolved to "let it pass in the hopes it would soon bo forgotten." About the wisest thing _ they could do, since they oouldn' t disprove it.