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

We beg to draw the attention of capitalists and others to the sale of business premises, of Mr. W. Meech, advertised to be sold by auction at the Town Kail tomorrow (Saturday), May 5, by Messrs Bridge and Bushcll. The four-roomed house and office adjoining alone return a rental of £50 per annum. In view of the advancing price of this description of property in Akaroa, this is a capital investment, and should not be lost sight of. A list of persons objected to as not being entitled to have their names retained on the list of voters for the Electoral District of Akaroa is published in our advertising columns. Objections will be heard by the Revising Officer at a date of which due notice will be given. Tho annual meeting of ' subscribers to the Akaroa Library will take place on Monday next, and we would remind all members whose subscriptions may be in arrear, that they will be debarred from exercising their votes in the election of officers for the ensuing year, unless such arrears be paid, prior to the meeting. We have lately tested some extra strong ale, brewed by Messrs. E. Hooper and Co., of the Akaroa Brewery, which was ordered especially by one of our local publicans. We consider it to be much superior in quality to anything we have drank of Colonial manufacture. The flavour is remarkably fine, and with regard to strength it is quite equal to the very best English ale, in fact it reminds us more of Bass's extra ale, or the strong Edinburgh ale than anything we have ever tasted, and as it is made much cheaper than mild ales, and thoroughly genuine, we can most confidently recommend it—our impression being, that eventually it must supersede the imported article.

The projected new Oddfellow's Hall for Akaroa. has fallen through—at least for the present. The plans were considered of too elaborate and costly a character by several members of the Order for Akaroa in its present era. The motion for the adoption of the plans was lost by some eight votes. We understand that it is the intention of the promoters to revive the scheme at an early date, and that an amendment in the plans and specifications will be proposed.

Owing to the absence of the advocates for trial by Judge, the debate set down for discussion at the last meeting of the Mutual Association did not come off. Readings and recitations were improvised, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The subject, however, will stand good for next meeting, when we hope to see the respective sides well supported.

Several complaints have reached us of the havoc being made by persons upon the pheasants before the advent of the shooting season. Yesterday morning some person was bold enough to fire a shot at one of those birds, at the back of the Akaroa Library, and -we trust that the ranger will exercise the functions of his office, in order to protect his care from wholesale destruction.

The Chief Surveyor for Canterbury paid Akaroa a visit on Wednesday last, and we understand that he has been gathering information relative to the state of the surveys on Banks' Peninsuia. We trust some good may result from the information received.

We regret to announce that Mr. W. F. Robertshaw, the officer in charge of the Telegraph Station at Akaroa, was seized with a fit on Tuesday afternoon last, and,

on his recovering consciousness, was placed in a trap, and conveyed to his lodgings, where he was promptly cared for by Dr. Pearde. The cadet—Walter Parsons, —who has been but a few months connected with the office, was fortunately successful in his efforts at the instrument, and through his aptitude, no interruption was allowed to take place. Mr. Daniel Sustens —a gentleman connected with the Christchurch office —arrived by the steamer Wellington on Wednesday evening to take charge, pending the recovery of Mr. Robertshaw.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the second number of the New Zealand Country Journal, a quarterly record of information connected with agricultural, pastoral, and horticultural pursuits in New Zealand. The journal is exceedingly well got up, and contains most valuable information on the pursuits above named. We would most strongly advise all the settlers in this district to support the work. It is edited and published by the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The subscription is 2s. 6d. per number. Our Okain's correspondent writes :— "Two accidents, fortunately unattended with any serious injury in either case, occurred at Okain's during the past few days. Last Saturday Mr. T. Ware was driving a horse and dray to a rick to get a load of hay. There was a ladder in the dray, which, whilst crossing a creek, struck the horse on the head, causing him to shy and capsize both himself and the dray. Mr. Ware was enabled to crawl from underneath the dray uninjured, through the guard of it lodging on the bank of a cutting. The second accident happened to Mr. R. Gilbert, or more correctly speaking, to his gun. Whilst out boar hunting on the ranges, Mr. Gilbert, having occasion to load his gun in haste, just dropped a rather small bullel down the barrel. On taking aim at a pig, the bullet rolled back to within a few inches of the muzzle, and there lodged. When the gun was discharged the barrel burst, nine inches of it being blown away. There is no doubt that had it not been a good twist barrel the damage would have been much greater, for Mr. Gilbert escaped uninjured." Mr. G. H. Saxton, of Robinson's Bay, has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace for the Colony, and was sworn in before Mr. Ayliner this week. We regret to learn that the nominations of Messrs Piper and James Bell for the vacancies in the Ellcsinere District for the Trust Board have not been confirmed by the Government, owing to reasons explained in a letter by Mr. E. C. Latter, published in another column. There appears to be some fatality hanging over this measure, and we do hope that Mr. Fitzroy will not further " dally " in the matter, but nominate straightaway, and allow the Board to begin operations. Some unthinking persons issued the following "extraordinary" the other day in Hobart Town, and a largo number of copies were distributed, and great excitement was caused before the hoax was discovered :—" War declared between England and Russia !' ' A Russian fleet in Hobson's Bay!' ' Melbourne is threatened with bombardment 1' ' Cruel. and blood-thirsty foe !' ' The enemy threatens to reduce Melbourne to ashes!' ' The streets of Melbourne are occupied by Russian soldiers!' ' A Russian fleet of seven huge ironclads has sailed through Port Phillip Heads!' 'The Victorian volunteer force, who opposed the foe, were shot down and slaughtered like sheep. ' The streets of Melbourne were clamorous with the dying shrieks of men, women, and children butchered by thousands; the channels running with the blood of the slaughtered !' ' Children have been torn from their mothers' breasts, and butchered before the eyes of their parents!'"

Tlie extraordinary feat (says the Daily Times') of eating twelve dozen oysters within an hour was accomplished by a young man of slim proportions at one of the city oyster saloons on Monday night. He easily won the wager that was laid against him.

The " Intelligent Vagrant," writing in the New Zealand Mail, says :—" A Wellington jeweller was heard telling of an inexpensive manner for appearing at a ball in very costly ornaments. You have only to occupy a certain station in life, then on the day of the ball to direct the jeweller to send you several ' sets' on approval, wear the nicest, lend the others to your friends for the night, and return the whole to the jeweller the next day, with a polite note stating that none of them would suit."

The Premier, in speaking at a banquet at New Plymouth, a few days ago, summed up the policy of the -Government as follows:—To complete the establishment of local self-government throughout the colony ; to complete the establishment of a system of primary education : to promote the settlement of our waste lands by a yeoman population ; and to cultivate and maintain a good understanding with the native race ; to reduce considerably the annual expenditure on public works? and to continue the construction of main lines of railway throughout the colony until they were completed; to reduce ordinary expenditure to within the narrowest limits consistent with efficiency; to simplify our finances and place them on a sound basis for the futufC.

It is said that in consequence of some unsatisfactory betting arrangement, two Nelson girls have announced their intention to publicly horsewhip two young men. Some fun is expected.

Melbourne taken by the Russians.—lf this were trueit would astonish thenativesYou may be astonished to hear that the Kaiapoi mills are not making any more flannels or blankets. Call at once and secure some before the stock is sold out. G. Black, Criterion House.—[Advt.J