NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 10, 7 May 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Ocr Own Corbespondemt.]

There is an ugly rumour that the successful contractors for the breakwater extension intends bringing the bulk of their labor from Wellington. If this is so, and I sincerly trust it is not, the result will be disastrous to the present employees, a large number of whom are married, with families. lam sure the Harbor Board will see that their men receive justice at the hands of the new contractors and net permit them to be cut adrift just as the winter is upon them. A young fellow has just died in the Napier Hospital from the effects of injuries received on the football field. An old bye-law of the City Council against tradesmen having signboards hung outside their business places has just been unearthed, and the Inspector having little else to do has been pushing this by-law to its utmost limits, causing considerable annoyance to the merchants of the city. A protest, signed by the principal inhabitants, was placed before the City Council, which met last evening, and a heated discussion ensued, several members denouncing the by-law as harsh and tyrannical. Cr Smith proposed, and C'r Cohen seconded, that the by-law be referred to the Public Works Committee for reconsideration ; but, on the Mayor proceeding to put the motion, Cr McYay protested vigorously, and a warm passage resulted, which ended in C'r McYav resigning his seat on the Council. The motion was utimately put and carried amidst considerable excitement. Mr Mc-Yay, who has considerable weight in the deliberations

of the Council, and who is a painstaking and conscientious man, can hardly be congratulated upon his action in this instance. A display of ill-temper and obstinacy such as was exhibited last night is perile and unworthy of a man of Mr McYay's breath of mind, and I trust he will reconsider his resignation.