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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 70, 20 March 1877, Page 2

An accident occurred at Okain's on Friday morning last, by which four men narrowly escaped losing their lives. It appears that at about 7 o'clock a.m. the men were in the act of moving the pile engine and winch used in the work of piledriving for the jetty now in course of construction, when one of the planks suddenly gave way, carrying with it the machinery and men into the sea. As there was about fourteen feet of water where the accident took place, and a heavy sea rolling home at the time, the men, some of whom were unable to swim, found it exceedingly difficult to reach an object for support. One man named Roger Russell was just in the act of sinking, when one of his mates went to his aid. Fortunately the whole four reached dry land safely. The next meeting of the County Council will be held at Haines's Hotel, on Thursday next, at 11 a.m. The question as to whether the Council will adopt the third schedule of the Act or not will be decided at this meeting, as the Act permits of no further adjournment beyond the 31st March. In our report of the ease Sims v. Murray, published in our last issue, we inadvertently omitted to give the verdict, which was for the plaintiiY, for the full amount claimed, and costs. Messrs. P. O'Reilly and Co. have commenced business as livery stable-keepers, opposite the Madeira Hotel, where persons can be supplied with, saddle horses or stabling accommodation. An assessment Court was held at Little River on the loth instant, at the school, by Justin Aylmer, Esq., R.M. Objections to the assessment had been lodged by Messrs H. Buchanan, G. 11. Joblin, and T. H. Parkinson. Mr. G. R. Joblin's objections were first heard. lie contended that the assessment of his run and freeholds was excessive in tlie extreme, and entirely unjustifiable, and he produced papers and made statements in support of his representations. The valuation was upheld by Mr. James Wilson, assessor and clerk of the Little River Road Board. Considerable discussion ensued, and finally the court decided that the objections were sustained, and directed material reductions in the assessment. Messrs Buchanan and Parkinson not being present or represented in support of their objections, the court overruled them. This and some other technical matters having been accomplished, the court rose. The ball, advertised in commemoration of Ireland's patron saint, came off on Friday last, in the Town Hall. The company was by no means numerous, but those present appeared determined not to allow the paucity of the attendance to mar their pleasure, and the cry was "On with the dance, let joy be uuconfmed." The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens. Mr. W. Adams was the caterer. We regret to announce that Mr G. 11. Tribe M.H.R., who for some time was a resident of this district, died at his residence, Wellington, yesterday. This sad news, will, Aye are sure, be read with sorrow by Mr. Tribe's friends in Akaloa. The final match between the East and West side of the harbour, was played on Saturday last, and resulted in an easy victory for the East (Akaroa) by 30 runs, and 7 wickets to fall. The nomination for a member to serve in the Diocesan Synod for the district of Akaroa is appointed for the 2nd day of April. All nomination papers must be left on or before that date at Mr. S. Watkin's residence, Akaroa. W. 0. Jacobson, late teller at the Colonial Ban!; of New Zealand, Christchurch, was committed for trial on a charge of having embezzled the sum of ,£37, being the amount of a deposit paid in to Mr. Redpath's account. The County Council of Westlfind appear now desirous of bringing the whole of the Counties Act into force. At its last meeting Mr. Seddon said, that he found that the non-adoption of the Act had been injurious to Yvestland, and had indeed been nothing short of a public calamity. A general feeling exists amongst the councillors that the welfare of the district will be especially consulted by bringing all the clauses into operation. The Cromwell Argus publishes the letter it has received from Mr. Pyke's solicitor, who demands a full and ample apology for the "false and malicious statement concerning his client, made in a letter headed 'A Lunatic's Lucubration,' in tlie Argus's issue of the 27th ult. The Argus rejoins that the article complained of had not the slightest reference to Mr. Pyke's private character, and being conscious of having done that gentleman no wrong, it absolutely declines to humiliate itself at the bidding of any manCaptain Boynton has accomplished the feat of swinnning down the river from Turin to Ferrara, a distance of over 500 miles. On reaching the latter place he is stated to have been received with great enthusiasm by the foreign as- well as Italian residents. In November he swam from Turin to castle Nuovo in his lifesaving dress, 280 miles, in eighty-three' hours, but was obliged to leave the water

feeling that a fever, caused by the malarious atmosphere of the river and his exertion, was coming upon him. He was laid up for several days at Castel Nuovo. On • starting again from that place, however, he completed' the journey down the Po to Ferrara, 280 miles, in ninety-six hours, without a single break.