NAPIER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 147, 14 March 1874, Page 2

NAPIER.

[from our own correspondent.] March 7. Napier has been in a great state of perplexity during the past week. When I say Napier, I only mean, in this instance, the Government officials, because the rest of the town has been rather enjoying the anxiety of tne authorities. The facts are theseln the early part of the week it transpired that His Excellency the Govenor had signified his intention of visiting Napier on or about the 14th instant, and it at once occurred to the official mind that a suitable reception would have to be given him, and that a reception would cost money. Several influential people were sounded on the subject, but no consolation was derived from those sources, the answer was that the reception of the representatives for the Colonial Prize Firing was as much as the town was prepared to undertake. The fact of the matter was the public had turned very sulky. The residents of Napier had resolved to give the representatives a hospitable and costly reception, for the honor of the town aud the province ; the subscription list went round, but to the surprise of all, His Honor the Superintendent had ouly his name down for a paltry £5 ss. The names of country settlers were conspicuous by their absence from the list of subscribers, only three contributing to the funds, and it was evident that, from the Superintendent downwards amongst the wealthy runholders, the reception of the representatives was regarded as purely a town affair. Some £3OO were, however, collected, but the Napier public determined that if any money were required to do honor to the Governor, it would have to come out of Hie pockets of those who possibly might be personally honored by His Excellency’s presence. The consequence is that, beyond arrangements of a private character having been made for the accommodation of Sir James and Lady Fergusson at the residence of Mr. Kinross, nothing whatever has been done. It was proposed to give the Governor a ball, but I believe the idea has been abandoned, aud it is more than likely that His Excellency will ouly remain here a day or two, and then go off to Tauranga, via Taupo. If Napier had been blessed with a Mayor and Corporation, I venture to say nothing so disreputable would have been allowed to have occurred as a discussion concerning the cheapest way of receiving the Queen’s representative. March 9.

The ship Invererne, 93 days out from the time of landing the pilot, arrived from London in the roadstead last night. She brings 270 passengers, immigrants under the free passage system, all well. Soon after leaving England sickness broke out amongst the children, and sixteen deaths occurred. There were two weddings on board during the voyage. The passengers, of whom about fifty are Scandinavians, are not nearly (if I may be allowed the expression) so respectable looking as those who came out by the Queen of the North ; they doubtless are quite as respectable, but they appear to have been drawn from a poorer class. They are worse dressed, and are in fact principally composed of the manual laboring classes, just the people most wanted at the present moment. The camp prepared at Greenmeadows for the representatives is all that could be desired, and is situated in a large paddock in front of Mr. Tiffen’s homestead. Here, about fifty tents, with a few marquees, have been erected, besides a large mess tent of about 100 feet in length, and a rotunda, containing a bar, for the refreshment of visitors. The cooking and mess arrangements are as perfect as they can be, while the bill of fare is said to be approaching the luxurious. In the adjoining paddock the ranges are situated, five targets having been placed in a semi-circular row, sufficiently apart to allow of five squads to fire together. The targets are backed by a clump of willows, and beyond that the hills form an excellent baulk for stray bullets, and shelter from the prevailing winds. By the new road to Taradale, which branches off from Scinde Island about midway between Munn’s Point and Onepoto, the distance is about six miles to the range from town. March 10. The s.s. Taranaki arrived at 1 p.m. today. The representatives were received by the local volunteers and band, and the whole town was in a semi-state of excitement, which, communicating itself to your humble servant, precludes him with the assistance also of want of time, giving you any further news.