NAPIER

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 237, 9 January 1875, Page 2

NAPIER

(from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 5. With a sigh of relief, one looks back to the termination of the late unfos ive season. There were few amusements to cause divergence from the monotonous groove into which of late, we have bee unc imbedded. Most of those am use men .s, such as they were, the elements contrived to mar, and with uncommon success too. Ou New Year’s Hay, a grand fete chimpetre was arranged to take place a Hastings, some twelve miles fromNaj-it r. On that morning, despite the threatening aspect uf the weather, hundreds of pleasure seekers wended their way towards the Railway station, all clinging to the hope that they would have a gala day. The Fates, with their customary pertinacity, decreed otherwise. The covered-in carriages, were “ filled to overflowing ” with the gentler sex, and the sterner ditto ensconced themselves as best they could in the open luggage vans. At the appointed railway time, but txoo minutes before New Zealand Mean Time, the train moved away. I have italicised the two minutes, for “ thereby hangs a tale.” Within a very short distance, and within sight of the railway station, was a large procession of Odd Fellow's and Foresters, marching to catch the train. These societies were to take an active part in the sports of the day at Hastings. The train having started before the proper time, the procession was left behind. As may be imagined, no small dissatisfaction was expressed. This contretemps, was succeeded by other manifold disappointments. The rain poured down in torrents, nearly the whole day. Tne sports at Hastings, were but very partially carried out, owing to the adverse weather. Wuile going and coming on the train, the exeurtionists presented a pitiable sight in their saturated state. JJut this was not all. A few who wished to see the new Kiilway terminus, which had just been opened at Paki Paki, some five or six miles from Hastings, took a run down in the train. The train was advertised to stop there for half an hour, It remained only fur twenty-one minutes, and then s arted back, leaving the passengers b.-hind, wirii no other, alternative but to walk to Hastings, in a peltering rain, which caught ’hem in the face, at an angle of forty-five degrees. It is unpardonable irony to suppose people enjoy themselves under such circumstances.

Now, as it were to “ pile on the agony,” a Nor’easter sprang up, and gieat fears were entertained for the safety of vessels lying out in the open roadstead. In the morning it was ascertained that the brigantine Helen had dragged so far during the night that she was very close to the outer breakers, and a slight prolongation of the storm would have caused her to be stranded on the beach. The Queen Bee was all right. She had, however, to avail herself of a hundred fathoms of cable. On Boxing Pay, races were held at Havelock. The Maori Weed, Pakowhii, Te Hurangi and Wild Duck. One race in parricul:r—the .race Wild Duck won—disclosed a palpably “shady” action. Lady Grey was the favorite, and would h.*ve come in first, had her jockey soelected, but he pulled her up, when coming down the straight, and asked the rider of Wild Duck to “ come on,” which he did. Tne public were very dissatisfied with this race. There were also races at Pakowhai, which were carried out well. All the events at the recent races, except consoiatioiv stakas>. have been carried off by

horses owned by Maoris. As 1 am now on matters of the turf, I may inform you that a new Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club has been inaugurated. A well-attended meeting was held on the 2nd inst. It is anticipated that, races will take place here in a couple of months. Our attempts to establish a boating club, have so far fallen through. I fear some time must elapse before we will be in a position to accept a challenge from your local club. The good ship Clarence, now over an hundred days out, and bringing about three hundred immigrants for this port, has just arrived. Sheep-shearing is still being carried on vigorously throughouttheprovince. There are, however, two or three stations which have not yet begun operations. The woolships, too, are loading rapidly. In the beginning of February next, will be held at Hastings, the annual Ram Fair, at which some excellent rams will be submitted to auction. It is thought that this will be the best show, that has yet taken place in the province. We soon shall be absorbed in the interestofourMunicipal Council elections. The 7th inst. is the date appointed for the nomination of candidates, and the 18th the day for balloting. It is not anticipated that there will be much excitement over the matter. At present we boast such a pristine state of innoceney, as regards the affairs of a municipality, that we must wait till the different cliques am properly in esse, before we have amongst us that chronic snarling hitherto so inseparable from any Municipal Corporation in the colony.