The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 83, 4 May 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1877.

It is said that the Governor, during his late flying visit to Akaroa, expressed himself as greatly pleased with the appearance of the town and its neighbourhood. We are not surprised at this. There is a luxuriance of beauty about the scenery which cannot fail to charm even those who have not a very keen sense of the beautiful. His Excellency is not singular in his opinion; visitors generally go away talking of the romantic loveliness of Akaroa scenery, of the mildness of the climate, and the fertility of the soil. All this is quite true. Nature has been prodigally lavish of her gifts, and we, who live in the midst of them, are proud thereof, and vauntingly exclaim " who would not live in " Akaroa?" There is, however, another side to this pleasing picture. Visitors, whilst they depart talking of our fine scenery, are also impressed with the idea that we are a people sunk in supineness, too indolent to make use of the good gifts which God has so lavishly bestowed upon us. This, too, is true. Generally, around our dwellings, instead of a garden remarkable for its trim neatness of appearance and bright with flowers, there is a luxuriant crop of weeds. Our orchards, about which so much has been said and written, are, in the spring time certainly very beautiful, and in autumn they are loaded with fruit, but visit them during the summer and what do we find ? Instead of a velvet sward the ground is covered with rank grass and docks, so rank in their growth, that they reach almost to the branches of the trees. We welcome the advent of a Chinese gardener as if he were a messenger from Heaven, because he conies to grow us vegetables which hitherto we have been too lethargic to cultivate for ourselves. Until lately the state of our streets has been disgraceful, thanks however, to the energy displayed by the members of the Borough Council and the Local Board of Health great efforts are being made to improve the state of the streets and the sanitary condition of the town. On more than one occasion we have called attention to the imperative necessity of steps being taken to procure the means for the extinguishment and prevention of fires, and the organization of a Fire Brigade. A few nights since one of the largest Hotels in Akaroa had a narrow escape of being burned to the ground. Once more we give warning. Do the citizens of Akaroa require property to the value of thousands to be destroyed, and perhaps a life or two to be lost—by that most appalling of all deaths—a death by fire—before thej will move in the matter ? If the Borough Council will not do so, let the burgesses put pressure upon their civic representatives and the thing will be done. Such is Akaroa of the present, it is for the inhabitants to determine what Akaroa of the future shall be.