News Of The Day.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 378, 21 May 1866, Page 3

News Of The Day.

Nomination Day.— The electors of the town of Napier will do well to bear in mind that the day appointed for the nomination of a member to fill the remaining vacant seat in the Provincial Council is fixed for To-moehow, Tuesday, the 22nd Inst., and that in the event of a contest for the same, that the tolling will take place on the next day, Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Peovincial Government Gazette. —A Gazette, published on Friday, 18th inst., contains the notification of the return of William Colenzo, Esq., to the Provincial Council; and an abstract of receipts and expenditure for the quarter ending 31st March.

The Queen’s Biethday. —A correspondent has written to us, suggesting that the Queen’s Birthday be celebrated by a regatta; and we think his proposal a very good one, provided there is time to make the necessary arrangements. We may state that most of the other provinces, as we learn from our exchanges, intend to celebrate the day by Tsports of some kind, and we certainly see no reason why thjs Province should not do the same; for although not altogether difll, Napier is not remarkable for its gaiety. Resident Magistrate’s Couet. —On Friday, Patrick Dunn and Thomas Meehan were fined ten shillings each for drunkenness, this being the second offence for each; in addition, the latter devotee of the fiery god had to forfeit 5s for cab hire. Same day, Robert Parker and Emanuel Debes were fined thirty shillings each for beiug drunk and disorderly in the streets of Napier on Thursday night last. At 2 next morning they were found in the house of Mr Jones, Emersonstreet, where they had betaken themselves in order to have a “ lark.” Fines were paid in each of the above cases.—Same day, the following cases were disposed of: —Miller and Lindsay v. H. Morrison, judgment by default for £22 3s 5d ; Shears v. Mantell, judgment by default for £l7 2s 6d; Sutton v. Mantell, judgment by default for £lO 11s 6d.—On Saturday, Patrick Dunn was charged with having stolen a bottle of champagne the night previously from the Commercial Hotel, for which ho received seven days’ imprisonment in the common gaol at Napier. The Condemned Maoei Peisonees. —At length his Excellency has seen fit to ease the public mind with regard to the fate of those Maoris who were condemned to death at Auckland recently for the Opotiki and Whakatane murders. For the murder of Mr Yolkner, three are to die ; a fourth (who was recommended to mercy by Chief Justice Arney) has had his sentence commuted to penal servitude for life. With regard to the others (twenty-five in number), two are to be hanged ; eleven to have penal servitude for life; five for fourteen years ; four for seven years ; and three for four years. Militia and Yolunteees. —Mr W. E. Russell has been gazetted as ensign in the Napier Militia; date of commission, 28th April.—His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept the resignation of Lieut. A. Browne, of the Napier Rifle Volunteers.

New Zealand Patriotic Fund.— From Wellington we learn that the subscriptions collected in that city alone towards the above fund amounts to £1,394 9s. When is Hawke’s Bay going to contribute her share towards the above laudable object? Is it not nearly time something was done in the matter ?

All is not Gold that Glitters.— The people of Wellington were recently thrown into a state of great excitement owing to certain reports having been assiduously circulated to the effect that a gold-field had been discovered in that province. It turned out, however, that there was no foundation whatever for the reports —much to the annoyance, no noubt, of the’good folk of the Empire City. - Sir G. Grey a Teetotaler. —lt is. with feelings of giatification that wo announce the fact that his Excellency has taken the pledge (arid with him the Maori chief William Thompson) to abstain froin alcoholic liquors for the period of twelve months. We learn that Sir George, with his usual philanthropy; has taken- this step with the commendable object of putting a stop, if possible, to the excessive drinking at present carried on among the native race. We trust many of them will be led to follow the noble example set them by Sir George Grey and William Thompson.

Postage Stamps— The NelsonEsaminerthinks it false economy to discontinne the five per cent, allowance hitherto given to sellers of postage stamps. It says : —“ As the public convenience is greatly served by multiplying places where postage stamps are procurable, it is ill-judged to check the practice of private persons undertaking their sale. By abolishing the small poundagefees, Mr Stafford will cause many persons who now supply postage stamps to decline doing so any longer, and this will not only ha a great inconvience to the public, but will cause no small additional work in the Post Office.”