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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 89, 25 May 1877, Page 2

Messrs Saxton and William's saw-mill at Robinson's Bay* so long successfully carried on by them, and famed for the excellent quality of the timber and style of cutting, is, we hear, likely to cease working, owing to the great distance from which the timber has to be procured. Some of the tramways along which the logs are brought to the mill being three miles long. The present low prices of building materials, and the great distance from which the trees have to be transported before sawing, making the operation an unprofitable one. This is to be regretted on account of the amount of hands that will be thrown out of employment, and curtailing the inarketf or a supply of locally manufacture timber.

The meeting of the Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association for auditing and receiving the annual accounts, was held at Barker's Hotel, Head of the Bay, on Monday last. There were present—Mr. Buchanan, .the president (in the chair), Mr. Aylmer, the treasurer, and Messrs. Dicken, W. Wright, J. Wright, and C. Bates. The chairman proposed that the balance sheet, which we publish in another column, be adopted, which was unanimously agreed to, and [carried. It was also agreed that the balance to the credit of the association in Bank, £21 95., be carried forward to new account: The meeting, on the motion of Mr. Buchanan, seconded by Mr. Dicken, further agreed to call a public meeting of residents in the district on Monday, 18th June next, for the purpose of enrolling new members, and electing office-bearers for the current year. This society is much to be congratulated upon the satisfactory state of its finances and its generally flourishing state. We hope to be able to record a large increase of membership, so that a healthy impetus may be given to this body, which promotes the rearing of the best stock, the backbone and sinew of the

Peninsula.

The usual weekly meeting of the Akaroa Mutual Improvement Society was held in the schoolroom, last Tuesday evening. The programme consisted of readings and recitations by various members of the society, and the room was quite crowded by the members and their friends. Mr. Nicholls was very successful in his rendering of the " Jackdaw of Rheims." It has been arranged to hold the meetings during the winter months weekly, and a better way of spending an evening we can scarcely imagine. Next Tuesday evening a debate will take place in regard to the admission of Chinese into the Australian colonies. The negative will be opened by Mr. E. Reddin, and the affirmative by Mr. G. Black, a question which is exciting great interest both in America and Victoria. The Rev. Mr Douglas, the president, in summing up, gave a general criticism of the efforts of those who had taken part in the proceedings, and at the close of the meeting the roll of membership had increased by five additional names.

A report is current here that Mr. John Greig, of Ashburton, a gentleman of large property in the southern part of the Province, and well known as a man of energy ? has purchased Mr. Thacker's mill in Okain's Bay, which has been advertised for sale for some time past. Should this statement prove to be true, while regreting Mr. Thacker's leaving the Peninsula, we hail Mr. Greig as an acquisition to the district.

A petition, intended for presentation to the House of Representatives, is in course of signature on the Peninsula. It asks the House to grant fuller powers of local self-government in regard to the liquor traffic, and that the House will be pleased to pass a Bill to give to a majority of the inhabitants or ratepayers, as may be. deemed expedient, power to veto the carrying on of the liquor traffic in their respective districts. It also stales that under the existing licensing system, the traffic in strong drink is continued in many localities against the wish of the large majority of the people resident therein.

A friendly rifle match between the members of the Akaroa Artillery took place yesterday, when some fair shooting was made. We hold over the scores till our next issue.