The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 54, 23 January 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1877.

One of the most important and difficult questions of the present day, all over the world, is—What are we to do with the drink traffic ? Senators, magistrates, philanthropists of all classes, have given their most earnest attention to it; and yet it seems to be as far from solution as ever. Certainly to us belongs not the vanity to imagine for one moment that we can do what so many have failed to do. Three plans have been proposed —one is what has been called " the destruction of the Ps." The Good Templars are supposed to be in favour of this plan ; at any rate some of the more pronounced of them advocate it strongly. They think that the evils of the drink traffic so far exceed its benefits, that none would be losers were the whole thing swept off the face of the earth. Others, on the contrary, contend that the true solution of the difficulty is to multipl// the public-houses, remove every restriction, and grant absolute free-trade. They maintain that the demand would regulate the supply, and that publichouses would be better conducted than now, kept as they are under espionage. Some would also cheapen drink, believing that human nature is so contrary that as it rushes to what is forbidden, so it would despise what may be had for a trifle. The third plan, and what we hold to be the most sensible one, is to regulate the trade. We hold it is entirely Utopian to dream of eradicating it; and we are afraid it would be altogether too risky to apply to it the principles of free-trade. We have an idea that the ad libitum supply of "buckets of beer" for a trifle would not be a consummation devoutly to be wished. Dangerous, however, as the traffic in strong drink undoubtedly is, aud exceptionally liable to abuse, we hold that hotels and accommodation houses are necessary. The travelling public require them, and therefore the real point is hoAV to regulate, where to plant, and what restrictions to put ■upon them. We have no sympathy with those who would regard publicans as having no scruple as to what mischief they do ; how many cases of delirium tremens they produce; how many families they blast with a curse ; how many burdens they manufacture for public charity to bear. We reluctantly grant that not a few, without principle, without heart, simply seeking an easy and quick way of making money, take up the drink traffic ; and by the unhappy influences of this trade become by-and-bye case-hardened and fit for the basest expedients. When accommodation houses are turned into " Lambing-down establishments," and wretches trembling from the effects of debauch are yet supplied with " buckets of beer," the only aim being to pocket the money of such fools, then we are ready to cry shame ; and every right-thinking man and woman will join with us. A plague spot is such a public house ; and public opinion—that thermometer of public virtue—ought to make it too hot for it. But we maintain that such is not the rule ; at any rate, we hope and believe not. We repeat that we should be sorry to brand all publicans as public pests, and therefore we regreti when they give way to the importunities of the drunkard, and come befon\ the public as corrupters of society.

Our remarks have been occasioned, as our readers no doubt have imagined, by the revelations recently made regarding the Pigeon Bay Hotel. We arc sorry that the young proprietor cf that hotel should have made so poor a beginning. His case richly deserves the severe reproof of our Resident Magistrate. We have not seen so unsatisfactory a piece of business for a long time, and though we do not excuse the imposition, Aye see in it a just retribution., and a good illustration of the old saying " The biter bit."

A meeting of the householders of Le Bon's is convened under the provisions of the Education Boards Act for Monday, January 29, at the schoolhouse, at 8 p.m., for the purpose of electing one person to serve on the school committee, The poll, if necessary, will take place On the sth February. On Friday last a child, aged 15 months, the son of Mr. Johandes Mehrten, farmer, cf Tai Tapu, met with its death by falling into a tub of water. It appears that the little fellow was playing with his brother and sister, when by some means or other he fell into the tub. The little ones at once gave the alarm, but when thedeceas3d was taken out of the tub, life was extinct. Among the passengers who landed at this port per Wellington, yesterday, we notice the name of Mrs. Darrell (Mrs. Robert Hare), who is on a visit for the benefit of her health. The mortality among the quadruped race continues uuabated. Yesterday the effluvia arising from the carcass of a defunct cur lying opposite the culvert near the reclamation work was anything but pleasant to passers-by. To remove this nuisance, the expenditure of another 2s Gd will be necessary. The Borough Council's undertaker is having quite a busy time of it. We learn that as Dr. Buhner, accompanied by Mr. Knight, was returning from Le Bon's Bay, on Friday night last, after visiting a patient, his horse narrowly escaped being gored by a bull. When nearing German Bay, his companion called out to him to gallop for his life or he would be in danger of being attacked by a bull who was bombarding the highway. The medicus with great presence of mind, applied spurs to his horse, thus defeating the would-be attacker, and saving us the task of writing a sensational article of a desperate encounter with a bull. It would be Avell for the owners of these beasts to keep them within securely-fenced paddocks, otherwise they may find themselves liable for heavy damages for their playful freaks. A meeting of the Peninsula Jockey Club was held at Frank's Hotel, on Saturday last. A programme was submitted and adopted. The events, nine in number, comprise a maiden plate, of 10 soys ; hurdle race, 15 soys ; flying stakes, 10 soys ; Peninsula handicap, 20 soys ; Little River handicap, 15 soys ; publican's purse, 10 soys ; hack hurdle race, 10 soys ; consolation stakes, 10 soys ; hack race, 5 soys. Handicaps close on the Bth February, and entrances to close on the 17th February. It was decided to engage the services of a brass band from Christchurch. The programme will appear in our next issue. The nomination of candidates for the Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust Board for the districts of Little River, Wainui, Ellesmere, Springs, and the Borough of Akaroa is advertised in another column to take place on Tuesday, the 29th January, and the poll, if necessary, on Friday, the 9th of February. We are glad to learn that our esteemed townsman, Mr James Daly, who for some time past has been confined to his bed under the care of Dr. Pearde, is now able to leave his room, but he is by no means sufficiently convalescent to enable him to attend to his usual duties. We understand th at he contemplates an early visit to the Hot Springs, and we sincerely trust, in which hope we are sure that we are joined by every member of the community, that he may speedily return with recruited health* The Nelson Times states that the Motueka Highway Board has resolved to have printed on post cards the form of the third schedule of the Rating Act, 187G, for the purpose of sending to each ratepayer a copy of the valuation of his property as required by the 13th section of the said Act. The editor of the . Lyell Argus, who stood as a candidate for the County election, thanks the one " independent elector" who voted'for him The so-called independent election was 'himself. A little girl, two and a half years old, named Flora Weaver, daughter of Mr. George Weaver, Opawa, was burnt to death on Friday morning in her bed. Mrs Weaver had been detained in town on Saturday night with her other children, and the deceased child slept with her father. Yesterday morning Mr Weaver got up at six o'clock and left the child sleeping, there being no one else in the house at the time. Mrs Weaver returned home between seven and eight, and when she entered her bedroom found the bed on fire and the girl lying on her hands and knees face downwards and dead. Her night-dress was burnt, and also the greater portion of the bedclothes. With the assistance of neighbours she put the fire out. No fire had been lighted in the house that inorniug, but a full bos _of matches had been left in a candlestick near, and this was found in the bed, and must have been placed there by the child. The body was not burnt very much* and death seems to have resulted more from suffocation.—Press. In Marlborough, the proprietor of the Express has laid it down to his readers that a woman is not an old maid until she is thirty-five years old. The tide of feminine emigration to Blenheim has consequently set in from all parts of the Colony, and their isn't an emigrant over thirty-four years old. Good news to those in SeP.roh of female cArv^'iK;,

A young lady (says the Western Independent, Bathurst) last week went into a shop, and thus unburdened herself : —" It is my desire to obtain, a pair of circular elastic appendages, capable of being contracted or expanded by means of oscillating burnished steel appliances, that sparkle like particles of gold leaf set with Cape May diamonds, and which are utilised for retaining proper position of the habiliment of the lower extremities, which innate delicacy forbids me to mention." The vendor of calicoes was nonplussed, but not wishing to appear ignorant, said that he was just out." After her departure he ruminated in silence for a few seconds, when a new light broke upon his distracted brain, and he burst forthwith. "By thunder ! I'll bet that woman wanted a pair of garters." An English paper writes :— <; A very sensible proposal is being urged upon cricketers, namely, to increase the number of balls delivered before an over takes place. It is a loss of time and renders the game almost dreary to spectators, especially as cricketers move off to their respective places in such lethargic way as to infect,the minds of the looker-on with something of the same all-forlorn spirit. The controversy might be settled by letting the bowlers bowl each four balls from one end of the wicket. There would be no extra fatigue for the bowlers, and less time lost in changing the position of the field. The Otago Daily time of Saturday week reports : —A shocking accident occurred yesterday at Port Chalmers to a little boy named Arthur Smith, of some six summers, and the son of John Smith a laborer. The child had been sent from home with mid day meal to his father, who was working at the Graving Dock. Having delivered his father's dinner, he was despatched home again, but instead of making direct for the entrance to the dock enclosure, he made a detour and attempted to walk across the dock gates, which were closed, the steamer Rotorua being in the dock, and the dock of course dry. Whether the poor little fellow turned giddy or missed his footing will never be known, but when half way across he fell headlong into the dock, upon the stones apron, a depth of twenty-four feet. Men working about the dock—amongst them the boy's father—rushed to his assistance, but the first glance at the prostrate body sufficed to banish hope, the little fellow's forehead being split from temple to temple, his brains protruding, and a portion of them bespattered on his clothing.

The Castlemaine 'Representative' relates the folloAving incident in connection Avith Mrs Scott-Siddons' final performance in Melbourne:—" When Mrs Scott-Siddons left the theatre by the back entrance in Little Bourke street—a most unsavory neighborhood by the Avay —there Avere crowds of the gallery boys Avaiting there to bid her fareAvell. They swarmed, but they Avere quiet. There was no rude jest, no loud laughter, no coarseness, no jostling, only steady Availing to say 'good bye.' Then the lady, in her modest promenade dress, came out to get into the unpretentious waggonette. The boys then crowded up a bit to look at her. With true good nature and kindliness she shook hands with a feAv of the nearest —1 saw one boy kiss his oAvn hand after it—and just as the cab Avas going away a small fellow said • give me a flo Aver, please.' The cab Avas stopped, and the bouquets thrown by the dress circle were divided as far as they Avould go among the throng. Not one asked for a penny, but all asked for a bud or blossom, and Avhen they Avere all distributed, and the vehicle was going off, a tiny shrill voice gave the word, and three cheers for Mrs Siddons were given with immense heartiness—if not with accurate time—and many of them ran after the cab calling 'Good-buy' as far as the Town-hall. This Avas an evidence of genuine feeling, regard, and appreciation, and, be it remembered, Avas obtained, not by any appeal to the loAver tastes, but to the higher of the class of persons avlio are popularly supposed to care only for 'breakdoAvns' and.a liberal display of legs."

In its in memoriam notice of Sir Donald McLean, the ' Wananga,' a bitter opponent of the late ex-Native Minister during his lifetime, thus feelingly discourses :— "Against Sir Donald McLean, as a private individual and a personal friend, Aye have nothing to say. He has rendered this colony many signal services—more than enough, Aye hope, to counterbalance those actions of his which from time to time we have been compelled to comment upon in the Wananga. The grave closes on all private and personal feuds—and Aye do not desire to speak one bitter or unfriendly Avord ef the dead."