FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 79, 20 April 1877, Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1877.

It would really seem as if the Government intended the " Lakes Ellesmere " and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa " Railway Act," which was passed during the last Parliamentary session to remain a dead letter. In another three months Parliament will again meet, and, according to present appearances nothing will have been done in order to carry into effect this most important measure. There are two vacancies in the Board of Trustees, which it is the duty of the Government to fill up ; moreover the Act throws upon the Governor-in-Council the onus of calling the first meeting of the Board. Neither of these have been done, and at the last meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council a resolution was passed, calling the attention of the Government to this matter. It must be rather humiliating to the gentlemen forming the Cabinet, who are supposed to possess the confidence of the country, to be reminded of their laches by a body possessing such comparatively limited power as the Akaroa Borough Council, the members of which have shown a degree of pluck for which we hardly gave them credit. Mr. Montgomery, too, has urged the matter upon the Government, so that there is positively no excuse for further delay. It is a great pity that this spirit of circumlocution and red tapeism prevails to such an extent in the doings of' the Executive, as it has by no means a tendency to recommend the Central Government to the people as a body eminent for its promptitude of action and despatch of business. The work which the Trustees have to do is of paramount importance, and it is to be hoped that the Government will throw no further impediments in their way.

Messrs Pooley and Bramhall, two of the English cricketers who were acquitted at the last session of the Supreme Court, of wilfully and maliciously destroying the property of one Ralph Donkin, have been presented by a circle of admiring friends with a farewell token of affectionate love, which took the form of a purse of fifty sovereigns. Mr. Pooley was also the fortunate recipient of a gold ring, the gift of three enthusiastic admirers. The interesting ceremony took place on board the Ringarooma on Saturday last, and of course, there was the usual amount of gushing and lushing. The whole affair is no marvel to us, for " birds of a feather will flock together," but it is a matter for surprise that, two morning papers of Christchurch should insert a report of the proceedings. It is news, certainly, and so would an account be of a presentation to an eminent burglar on his release from custody. Of Mr. Bramhall we have not one word to say, but Mr. Pooley was convicted and fined £5 at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, for an assault upon Donkin, a much older and feebler man than himself, and we are no admirers of bullyism, no matter by whom, or under what circumstances it is committed.

The Inspector of Nuisances appointed by the Akaroa Local. Board of Health appears to be determined to do his duty thoroughly and efficiently without fear, favour, or affection. Only a short time since he reported that the closets attached to the public schools were in a disgraceful state, and, at the last meeting he presented a similar report regarding the police closets, nay, more, he stated that he had served no less a personage than the Resident Magistrate with notice to abate the nuisance. This is as it should be, and we are glad to find that the Board seem determined to back up their officer in the straightforward discharge of his duty. It is bad enough when private persons, by neglect, cause nuisances which are injurious to the public health, but when such bodies as School Committees, Resident Magistrates, and the Police who ought to be patterns and examples to the community, are the offenders, they should be dealt with in no common manner. We trust that every burgess of Akaroa, to the utmost of his power, will assist the Inspector in the fulfilment of his arduous and by no means pleasant duties.