NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 73, 21 July 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[Feom Gub Own Cobbespondent.] Napiee, July 21. Theatre-goers are all agog over the visit of the " Gaiety Girl" Company, which is Williamson and Garner's Eoyal Opera Company in a new role. As soon as the touring manager, Mr Joe St. Clair, arrived, I spoke to him about Hastings, but he declared it to be impossible, not only because of the difficulty with dates but also on account of the great expense. The cost to the management for the production of the comedies is £IOO a night, and if we add the expense of travel and location there would be nothing but a heavy loss to face through going away from the larger towns of the colony. So Hastings, in this instance, must not grumble. Even theatrical managers expect to be paid for their work. But, happily, there is an alternative, and if your townspeople waken up and cast round for a special train at reduced fares, there is no reason why they should not sec the "Gaiety Girl." Then, you say, that is a heavy tax, the train fare added on to the admission. No more than we have to pay in here for cab hire. So, you see, again you have no real reason to complain. That the comedies are wonderfully amusing and most brilliant in spectacular effects I am well aware, and those who fail to see them will lose a great treat. Of that there is no possible doubt "no possible doubt whatever." I was much saddened yesterday by witnessing the burial of Miss Mollie Blythe. And it is not too much to say that many more besides myself were deeply affected. Burials are all more or less depressing and sorrowful, but surely none more so than the placing of a young man or woman in the grave. Death visiting the old is not a melancholy event, but when the grim King lays his hand upon a fair young brow, and a young life is snapped short —even before it had reached its due season of maturity—then we feel a sorrow we cannot ■well express, and there is more than ordinary sympathy for those bereft. There was the most beautiful display of wreaths that one can imagine—all made up of spring flowers ; for in spite of the fact that as yet the leaves are falling and the bronzes are turning to gold, the spring flowers are very numerous and very beautiful just now. And so the friends of the dead girl sent many beautiful wreaths, and they were placed upon her grave to beautify it, but at the same time to typify how short the life of the beautiful things of God are. Bright and beautiful and glowing in colors to-day ; touched with, decay in a few hours, and then dead before we have time to realise what has happened. Truly indeed, " Brief life is here our portion." Are the Rifles afraid of catching cold ? I ask the question because so many of them, apparently, stayed home from last night's inspection parade. Those who were present had some good drill, but I vould respectfully point out that i little more of the soldiering element parades would not be out of pi ice Dr Sweet has been accepted as the locum tenens of Dr Jarvis By the Court Sir Charles Napier. Dr Jarvis, I may say, is having an extended trip to Europe and Dr Sweet is carrying on his practice. A Wellington musician has written a Maori cantata entitled " Huiemoa," which is now under rehearsal. The choruses comprise one for Maori maidens, two tuneful fairy choruses, a powerful chorus for Maori warriors, and one or two choruses for the Ml strength of the society.