LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 28, 9 January 1862, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Napier Choral Society. —The concert in aid of the Church of England Building Fund was given last evening by this society. The audience, which included the elite of Napier, was exceedingly large, so much so, indeed, that many were unable to procure seats. Occurring, as it has, on the evening preceding our morning of publication, we are prevented from making any but general observations. We noticed a very marked improvement over the last concert given by this society. Practice has had its reward in giving more confidence to the performers, and consequently more brilliancy of execution. The pieces were very well received, and several of them were encored ; and we hope that this success will lead to future occurrences of these entertainments. The weather, which during the evening had a threatening appearance, unfortunately ended in heavy rain before the concert terminated. The room, we may remark en passant , was exceedingly hot, which we scarcely need observe is no fault of the society’s ; but we must confess a little surprise that in these days of improvement so little attention to ventilation should have been given by the designers to our Napier public buildings. The Leasing of Native Lands. —A public meeting was held in the School-house on Thursday last, to consider this matter. Although the meeting was fairly attended, we thought it smaller than the important subject warranted. Mr. Fittall was called to the chair, and the following resolutions were passed : 1. That the Government agent should endeavour to negotiate with the natives for a portion of the Ahuiiri Plains as farms for the working classes. 2. That no farm ought to exceed 100 acres to prevent a land monopoly. 3 That each should be leased under the sanction and protection of the Crown. 4. That in event of the natives wisliing to sell during the term of lease, the leaseholder shall have the pre-emptive right properly secured to him. 5. That in event of any one purchasing, one of these farms during the occupation of the original .leaseholder, on coming into possession of the same he shall be bound to compensate the holder of the lease for his improvements according to valuation. 6. At the end of the lease the native owners OU 2 , p J :o P a .T the leaseholder for improvements. 7. That this meeting do elect a committee to communicate with the Hon. Crosbie Ward, requesting him to carry into effect the views of this meeting Such committee to consist of Messrs Mittal (chairman), Searles, Lindsay, Rose, Steele. Mater and France. It will be seen from our advertising columns that another meeting is called for Wednesday evening next. Prospecting foe Gold.— At a committee meeting held at the Settler’s Hotel, on Thursday last, it was resolved that a memorial should be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, to grant .£IOO from the public treasury in support of the undertaking, This has been accordingly done, and his Honor has promised to submit the matter to the Council. xxih, elections. — Mr. <T. D. Ormond has been returned unopposed for the Porangahau district, and it is expected that Colonel Russell will be returned for Waimarama. For reasons named in an advertisement, it will be seen that Mr. Newton vacates his seat for the town, so that another must be added to the long list of elections which have lately occurred in the Province. Person Missing. —Mr. G. Imrie, well known to many persons in Napier and the country, was last seen on Friday, the 3rd

instant. It appears that he was the worse for liquor, having been, previously, some days in town drinking. He was last seen in Petane, and had left Mr. Villers for the purpose of proceeding inland. Several of the settlers, seeing his unfortunate condition, strongly advised him to remain, Mr. Richardson kindly offering him shelter. This he refused, and said he had determined to go back to McKain’s. Seeing that any advice to detain him was useless, Mr. Elwain put him on his road, but not before having, with the others, strongly urged him to remain. Mr. Imrie left them, and has not since been seen. Great fears are entertained that he has lost himself and perished.