NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 21, 20 May 1896, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES.

Fkom Our Own Corkespoxdemt.]

Napiet:, May 20. Quite a sensation was caused in town yesterday when it became known that Detective Kirby, the well known officer, had been arrested 011 a charge ol blackmailing. Some fourteen years ago Kirby, it is alleged, extorted a gold watch and two cheques for I'2(10 and i':3oo from a Timaru tobacconist named Hermann, under the threat of charging him with an unnatural o:'t'ence. It appears that Hermann denies all knowledge of the crime. Kirby is supposed to have charged him with it, and he only paid blackmail in a period of temporary mental paralysis occasioned by the enormity of the charges to prevent his name, which was respected, being mentioned i;i connection with if. Hermann sold off, leaving the colony for Englund, thence to America, returning to ibis country twelve months ago, when it appears he demanded the return of bis money from Kirby and got it. Kirby was brought before the S.M. vesterdav and remanded to appear in Willi ngton on Thursday morning, bail being refused. He left here for Wellington by the express to-day, a small crowd of about eighty people assembling on the platform to get a glimpse of him. Miss Bateman, a Baptist mi->-.ionary in India, delivered a lecture lust night upon her work in that held and the manners, customs, and dress of the people. Rev. Mr Cox presided, and her audience were interested and sympathetic, as the collection amply demonstrated. The organ recitals in the Cathedral are become quite popular. Last night the seats were nicely tilled by what appeared to he a rather critical audience to enjoy a splendid programme as interpreud by Mr YV. T. Sharp, the organist- It was evident the instrument was under the control of a master hand, which it recognised and responded to as only an organ of all instruments can. It is for the time endowed with the lite and soul of the performer, and like a living quivering thing, he thunders forth the wild crash of his triumph, or wails and moans in his sorrow, shrieks as with deadly pain, or whispers soft, dreamy harmony to lull our mad unrest, like the sweet stealing murmur of an angel mother, in whose arms one longs to nestle and be safe. Miss Cliegwidden's solo, " O Rest in the Lord," was well rendered; and the duet, " I waited for the Lord," Miss Marett (soprano) and Mrs Finch (contralto) was exceedingly good.