The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 90, 29 May 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1877.

It is refreshing to note the unanimity which prevailed at the first meeting of the "Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trustees." Each member was careful to state that he was in favour of draining the lakes, and even our friend Mr. Murray, although he complained that we had " hauled him over the coals for " questioning at a late banquet the " means to be employed for the drainage " of the lakes," said, " he was in no way " opposed to the work." We think Mr. Murray is mistaken. If we remember rightly we hauled him over the coals because he attributed improper motives to Mr. Montgomery who brought forward the Trust Bill and successfully carried it through Parliament. Be that as it may, we congratulate ourselves on the success which has attended our experiment of cremating a lively subject, for Mr. Murray has, Phoenix-like, risen from the funereal pyre with renewed life and vigour. The Trustees apparently mean business, and the steps which they have taken in order to become possessed of the plans of drainage which have hitherto been prepared, as well as to ascertain the amount of funds at their disposal are, we trust, only precursors of the initiation of measures, which will terminate in Parliament being asked for further powers not only to drain the lakes but to construct a railway to Akaroa.

The Borough Council of Akaroa are to be commended for the steps they have taken to obtain an endowment in land in aid of the funds of the Borough. Such an endowment will be far more valuable than the grants in aid hitherto doled out year by year to Municipalities, because it will be permanent; and although the revenue derived from it may at first be but small, yet, as property increases in value, so the revenue arising from the endowment will also increase. The City of Christchurch has already obtained the grant of a valuable block of land in the South ; Lyttelton is moving in the same direction, and, we see no reason, why the Borough of Akaroa should not come in for a good slice of land as an endowment. We wish the Borough Councillors success in their efforts.

Those, who, sometime since, were for breaking up the " Bank'e Peninsula Pastoral Association" mustnow be satisfied that the conclusions- they then arrived at were founded on «rror. Not only was the last show a decided success, but at the last meeting of the Associa- - tion it was shown that after paying all expenses there remained a balance in hand of upwards of £21. It is to be hoped, that there will be a large attendance at the meeting convened for the 18th June for the election of officers, and that progress instead of retrogression will mark the future career of the Association. Nothing tends more to awake a healthy spirit of emulation amongst the owners and breeders of stock, than the competition consequent on the Annual Exhibition.