NAPIER NEWS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 4053, 17 May 1900, Page 3

NAPIER NEWS.

(Own Correspondent.) Napier, Yesterday. Under instructions from tho Defence Office Lieutenant Hovell, son of the Dean of Waiapn, will proceed to South Africa by the s.s. Orinazon next weok to join one of the New Zealand Contingents now serving at the front. It was recently announced that a number of the Imperial commissions granted by the British Government were to be distributed amongst the officers now on service, and it is surmised that Lioutenant Hovell’s appointment is to fill a vacancy created by the transfer of an officer to the Imperial Army. The valuation of the Whare-o-marae-nui reserve led to some very strong remarks being made at yesterday’s meeting of tho Harbor Board. The valuers (Messrs W. Shrimpton and W. H. Smith), were unable to agree, and an umpire had to be called in. Mr C. B. Hoadley was chosen, but he refused to deliver up his award until his fee, a hundred guineas, was paid. When this was announced at the Board meeting, members were almost unanimous in stigmatising tho charge as exorbitant. Mr Coloman, indeed, was particularly strong, characterising it as monstrous, and even worse than that. The Board, however, having appointed Mr Hoadley as umpire, were bound to pay their sharo (half). This they did “ under protest.” Mr Hoadley then delivered his award, which was £5872. Mr Shrimpton for the Board valued the property as worth £7580 and Mr Smith for Langlands and Co. at £4412. It is not unlikely that tho Board will take legal proceedings to recover such portion of tho £52 10s as is considered excessive. Mr P. Dinwiddie resigned his seat on tho Harbor Board yesterday, giving as his reason that he found his duties outside clashed with the Board meetings. The ever present baths question occupied the attention of the Borough Council for a full hour to-night, and the outcome of the discussion is that Mr Coleman is to be asked to renew his offor.

Up to tho present 1050 rats have been delivered at the pumping station. A very volumnious .report from the newly appointed Health Commissioner, (Dr de Lisle) was read at to-night’s meeting of the Borough Council. At the outset Dr do Lisle said the inhabitants were to be congratulated on the cleanliness of tho town, and if real filth existed it had to be searched for. The report dealt at length with various premises which the Health Commissioner considered insanitary and advised action according to the circumstances of each case.