NAPIER NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 77, 25 July 1896, Page 2

NAPIER NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] Napier, July 25. All traces of the Masonic Hotel fire are rapidly disappearing. Mr Palmer's substantial addition in brick, to take the place of the wooden stable destroyed by the fire, is being pushed on with rapidly, and will soon be finished. The partly destroyed portion of the hotel has been pulled down, while the ruins left by the fire have been cleared aivay, and a fence built round the section, preparatory to making a start with the new building. When this is finished the block will be the best built and handsomest in the town. The Athenreum subscribers held their annual meeting yesterday evening. After the annual balance-sheet and report had been read, the chairman, Mr E. R. C. Bowen, president of the institution, in moving its adoption stated that the financial position was £lO better than last year in spite of the fact that the revenue from entertainments was less than that received during the year before. Arrangements had been made in the course of the present year to reduce the interest on the mortgages, which would have a beneficial effect on the financial position of the institution in the year to come. The balance-sheet was as follows: —To subscriptions, £l9B Is 6d; rents, £lB2 ; hire of hall, £2O 2s 6d ; sale of books, £2 14s 9d ; entertainments, £35 4s 2d; bank overdraft, £36 IBs Id; unpresented cheque, £lO 19s 2d—total, £4BO 15s 2d. By overdraft, £57 8s 6d ; salary and commissions, £77 8s ; gas, £SO 19s lid ; books and papers, £99 8s 6d ; expenses and petty cash, £ls lis 4d ; printing and advertising, £2 ; rates, £36 19s 4d; interest, £lOl 17s 2d ; insurance, £2714s 9d; fuel, £l2; total, £48215s 2d. Assets :—To rateable value of property, £2,300 ; books and papers, £600; fixtures, £200; subscriptions due, £3O : total, £3,160. Liabilities—By mortgages, £1,450 ; Bank of New Zealand, £47 12s 3d; proportion of interest due, £43 ; balance, £1,619 17s 9d; total, £3,160. The officers elected for the year were:—President, Mr E. R. Bowen, re-elected ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr W. Dinwiddie; Committee, Messrs J. W. Carlile, P. S. McLean, James McLean, T. McCarthy, W. Buchanan, J. Parker, G. White, H. B. Lusk, and C. H. Edwards. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Bowen (President), G. White (who acted as auditor), and W. Dinwiddie (secretary), for services rendered. It cannot be said that the position of the Athenffium is as satisfactory as it might be, and it is time something was done to make it more popular with the general public. It would no doubt be beneficial if the institution were taken over and " run by the borough. At present it is rather too much of a class affair, and can never be very well patronised while managed as at present. The Female Court of Foresters met for the second time last evening and decided to call the Court the Hinemoa (a very well chosen name). The following sisters were duly elected officers: —C.R., Ellen Mole; S.C.R., Alice Taylor; Treasurer, C. Mole ; Secretary, L. Gilberd; S.W.C., C. Taylor; J.W., J. Mullmder; 5.8., A. Tankard; J.B. H. Isralsen. A committee was elected to draft bye-laws. The D.C.R. congratulated the members on the excellent start made. After the meeting refreshments were partaken of, followed by a dance. The manager of the Union S.S. Company writes to the morning paper stating that the reason the Waihora was not berthed on Thursday was that owing to the numerous buoya and foul i bottom captains of steamers are afraid . to come inside the breakwater. j