The Akaroa Mail TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 92, 5 June 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1877.

The members of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board appear to have been much exercised lately anent the payment of a certain sum of money alleged to be due to one, T. G. Johnston, a contractor, for certain work performed by Mm on the Pigeon Bay road. It seems that this work was not done under the supervision: of the Board, that they did not order it, in fact that they had nothing whatever to do with it further than to hare allotted to them the doubtful honour of payment out of a subsidy voted to them. Under these circumstances it is no wonder that the Board felt somewhat riled, and after indulging , in tie Englishman's privilege of a " civil growl" the members ultimately determined to send the money back to the representative of the Government, Mr. Rolleston, requesting him to pay Johnston's account, and accompanying the same with a protest expressing the Board's dissatisfaction at the manner in which the work had been carried out. The members of the Eoad Board in fact in polite terms declined to interfere in any way, with what appeared to them to be a piece of jobbery. According to the discussion which ensued, it appeared that the work had been carried out under the direction of the late Provincial Engineer, that no public tender had been called for, but that a private arrangement for its performance had been made between the engineer and the contractor, and that the late Superintendent of the province had remarked that the metal used for the road had not been half broken. If these things are true, no marvel at the Board being riled, and we are sure that right-minded men will rejoice that the Provincial Engineer's Department has ceased to exist; for these private arrangements for carrying out public works often give rise to feelings of disattisfaction.

The learned curator of the Museum, Dr. Yon Haast, seems to be in no great favour with the Press. Ever and anon there has appeared an article in our contemporary's columns pitching into the sayan, one in particular we recollect having reference to a lamb with eight legs. This time however, one of a niore serious nature hag appeared. The Press alleges* that no less a sum than ten thousand pounds, has been voted by the Provincial Council for a geological survey of the province, and it calls upon Dr. Yon Haast to give an account as to the manner in which this money has been spent, and where are the geological maps and reports, consequent on this survey. This is really a most important question, and one which it would be well that the learned doctor should answer fully and speedily.

Once more we call attention to the desirability of some means being adopted tor providing a series of entertainments during the long winter evenings whicn have now set in. Surely some cheap concerts might be got up, or entertainments in which readings and recitations might be interspersed with vocal and instrumental music. At present the only means of spending an evening in Akaroa, except in the bar parlour of an hotel, is at the open lodge meetings of the Good Templars, or at the discussions of the Mutual Improvement Association. Is such a state of things to continue ? If so, it will be a sign of retrogression rather than of progress.