NAPIER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 143, 5 March 1874, Page 2

NAPIER.

[from our own correspondent.] February 28. A state of repose is natural to Napier, and therefore the dulness of the town during the past week is so much a matter of course, that it may be always taken for granted —unless specially mentioned to the contrary —nothing is stirring. It is true, houses are going up every week, and in the language of Sam Weller, the town is “ wisibly swelling trade is, apparently increasing, and the shop keepers are prosperous ; but still there is nothing to write about, the secret being that there is no political life in Napier. Very few persons here care one jot about anything which does not immediately concern them, and it may be, and probably is, to this cause may be attributed much of the substantial prosperity of the province. Not that there is no room for improvement, for there is abundance, nor that if there had been created in the minds of the settlers, such an interest in politics as to have materially altered the character of many of the institutions under which we have, to a certain extent, flourished, would the province have been less prosperous. Neither the form of our Government nor its administration is perfect and though the means are to hand to effect changes, the people remain inactive. This supineness is more noticeable, in the matter of the mode of election of the Superintendent. Mr. Ormond, during the last session of the General Assembly, following the example of the Superintendents of the provinces of Marlborough and Taranaki, succeeded in getting an Act passed by which the election of the Superintendent could be placed in the hands of the electors of the whole province, on a petition of two-thirds of the voters being presented to the Governor. Although there is every inducement to bring about this change, as it necessitates an immediate dissolution of the Council, the Superintendent’s Election Act remains a dead letter, and troubles no one, nor causes more thought than if it referred to the appointment of a Tartar to a Manda rate in Shan-tung. The same utter indifference is manifested with respect to the good government and improvement of the town, and though wc are being constantly told that we are at least fifty years behind other towns in the colonies, the information neither excites our ire, nor stirs us up to advance our position. As we get older, it is possible an influx of strangers will infuse into the community more vigor, but we cannot hope for any circumstances to arise by which suddenly a stream of new blood would be poured in amongst us, sufficient to alter the character of the people, as occurred at Dunedin at the'time of the gold rush. The few new arrivals whose position would entitle their opinions to consideration, appear to think that a dinner of herbs with contentment is better than a stalled ox with strife. And there is no doubt about it, there will be strife if there is any attempt made at innovation. We are close on the eve of the excitement that is sure to be created by the arrival of the competitors for the prizes at the Colonial firing. Major Gordon is expected by the Rangatira on Monday morning. The Volunteer Artillery are to be inspected on Wednesday. Tenders have been called, and contracts taken, for the supply of rations, ic., for the representatives ; and our shootists are on the tip-toe of expectation. “ Society” is also in a mild state of gentle flutter at the thought of so many handsome young men in uniform coming amongst us, many of whom are known, and the reputations of others have preceded them. The Governor is also expected, as well as the

Premier, and Napier looks forward to being as gay as the capital city during the height of the season. The marriage of Mr. John Hall, junr., officer in charge of the Napier Telegraph Station, to the youngest daughter of Major Withers, took place this morning, at St. John’s Church, and, in the words of the orthodox penny-a-liner, attracted a large and fashionable congregation at that place of worship. The Church, in fact, was better filled than it usually is on Sunday mornings. There were eight bridesmaids, and as many groomsmen, and the interesting ceremony, which was conducted by the Rev. J. Townsend, passed off with the greatest eclat.