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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 97, 22 June 1877, Page 2

Some months have now elapsed since the erection and thorough completion of a building at Akaroa, for hospital purposes. Up to the present time, however, nothing, as far as we are aware, has been done towards using the building for the purpose it is intended for. We elsewhere record an unfortunate accident, the sufferer from which was brought into Akaroa, and placed in the Immigration Barracks, as itwas found that no one here apparently has anything to do with, or control over, the so-called Hospital building. We give this matter publicity in the hope that those in authority may use their influence towards the properly recognised opening of this much-needed necessity for poor suffering humanity, and would suggest the appointment of a medical officer to attend to the duties connected with the Institution. . The Lite hour at /which the Ethiopian Concert finished last evening precludes us giving a detailed account of the performance. Suffice it to say that the Hall was crowded in every part by an audience who testified to their enjoyment of the enter tainment by repeated af>plause and laughter. The local hits were happy and fair and the last born of our local Societies may be congratulated upon their first public appearance. Our Okain's Bay correspondent informs us that at last the Government jetty there, has been practically tested. The ketches Black wall and Janette were both alongside the wharf at the same time taking , in cargoes of firewood. We regret, however, to say that on the Blackwall going to sea the Captain fell down the hold and broke his collar bone. This is especially unfortunate as he has for some time been under medical treatment for a bad knee. There can be no doubt of the great advantage to the district that a wharf is in thia Bay.

[ What might have been a very serious accident, happened to Mr. A. Scott, carter, on Sunday morning last when the steamer Wanaka was alongside the wharf. The hook used for slinging the goods ashore in some way became detached and struck Mr. Scott a violent blow on the head which completely stunned him. After having his wounds attended to he was, we are glad to hear, able to goto work on Monday. It has often struck us that a large number of the people who assemble every Sunday on the wharf on the arrival of steamers at this port are not absolutely required, and the above accident should to some extent act as a warning to them. The usual weekly meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society was held in the ] public schoolroom last Tuesday evening. The attendance was not large owing to the inclemency of the weather. The question discussed was Capital Punishment. Mr. Nichols and 0. Watkins took the Positive, and Mr. Cork and Brocher the Negative. The question was put to the meeting and the votes were in favour of Capital Punishment. George Wood was brought np before the Resident Magistrate yesterday forenoon on a charge of rape, and remanded till Tuesday 2Gth inst. Messrs Bridge and Bushell hold a sale of Mr. J. SunckelFs dairy stock and utensils on Thursday next, at Mr. Sunckeli's homestead. Mr. Sunckell is giving up the dairy business, and his entire herd will be sold. They are well known as an uncommonly quiet and useful lot of cattle. Mr. Adams, so long and favourably known in connection with the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board as their clerk, has we hear, resigned his position as such. At the childrens service, which is to take place in St. Peter's Church, on Wednesday next, an appropriate sermon for children will be preached by the Reverend the Incumbent. It will be gathered from our»report of the Licensing Court held here last Tuesday, that the travelling public will not suffer by a license not being granted to Mi-. Stanbury. The Beach Hotel wil still be kept open by Mr. Birdling, and we ha\e no doubt the public, Avhose business takes them in these parts, will duly appreciate the advantages of hotel accommodation in these dreary wastes. The chapter of accidents has been increased by two accidents, both of a rather serious nature which have taken place in the Bays on Wednesday last. The first was one of a rather extraordinary nature and occurred to a child of about two years old, belonging to Mr. C. Marshall, Okain's Bay. It appears that the child's mother was cutting sonic firewood with an axe, when the child who was playing about ran forward while tho axe was uplifted for a blow, and before the stroke could be stayed in time to save the child being struck, the axe inflicted a large gash on tho side of the child's head. The little sufferer was brought to Akaroa yesterd ay, when Dr. G-uthrie attended to the wound and pronounced it not wo dangerous as was at first anticipated. The second accident happened to one of the workmen, at Mr. Smith's saw-mill, Le Bon's Bay, In shifting a log at the saw bench, he had incautiously brought his hand too near the saw, when in an instant his hand was fearfully lacerated. Dr. Guthrie fortunately happened to be in Le Bon's Bay at the time and saw the patient at once. It was found necessary to remove all the fingers of the hand. The Doctor ordered his removal to Akaroa, and he has been accommodated at the Immigration Barracks, no provision being made as yet for the reception of accidents at the hospital. Surely the Borough Council, who have paid so largely on the part of the public for hospital conveniences should move in the matter and have the present building made available for accidents of the sort we have recorded_ We would remind our readers that Mr. Wascoe's important Art Union will take place on Saturday, at the Town Hall tomorrow, the first prizes are impcrtant and well worth having. The Akaroa and 'Wainui Road Board held their adjourned meeting last Tuesday, the report of which is unavoidably left over till next issue. All the members of the Board were present, with the exception of Mr. Williams, and a large amount of important business was transacted. The Akaroa Hope Lodge, 1.0. G.T., according to advertisement, held an Open Lodge meeting on Wednesday evening last. After the ordinary business had been disposed of the Lodge was'throwu open to the public at 8 o'clock. The entertainment commenced with tha address, " The Spirit of the Order," by the D.G.W.C.T., which was followed by readings, recitations, and songs, by members of the Order. We must congratulate our Good Templar friends on the success which has attended their efforts to provide amusement for the public free of cost, as the hall last night, as on previous occasions, was filled to overflowing. A woman named Mary Collins fell dead at Waimate the other d.ay. The deceased, who was aged 37 years, waa employed as a cook at Richmond's Hotel. She was gathering some sticks in the yard, when she was seen to suddenly fall, and to keep rolling about. On Mr. Richmond approaching and addressing her, she was able to reply. However, shortly after being removed to her room she was found to be dead; The police, who took possession of the body, found abottle labelled "Poison" in her room.

At the Greymonth Resident Magistrate's Court lately a man named Hugh Barnhill was fined £30 and costs for sly-grog-selling; and, two clays afterwards was again convicted of the same offence, and let in for a similar amount A third charge was postponed for the evidence of a witness. Some queer things are seen at times in Hawke'e Bay. The state of the electoral roll in the Mohaka district is such, as if at an election, now pending, one candidate can make sure-of the votes of his proposer and seconder, his own will tie, and that of the returning officer would decide the contest. A man went into a butcher's shop, and, finding the owner's wife in attendance in the absence of her husband, thought he would have a joke at her expense, and said, " Madame, can you supply me with a yard of pork ?"— '* Yes, sir," she said ; and then turning to a boy, she added, " James, give that gentleman three pigs' feet." An exchange soys : —The last novelty in Wellington is an iron pair-oar outrigger skiff, which has just been constructed at Mr. Love's shop. It is made entirely of sheet iron, the length being 22ft Gin., by Bft. beam, and 7in. in depth. It has a bead running all round the upper edge 2in. in diameter, but hollow. Each end is covered with iron, perfectly watertight, making it almost impossible to sink the boat, which is exceedingly light, and pulls very easily. We shall be curious to learn how the new iron skiff answers in competition with the ordinary boats. The Grey town (Wellington) paper is responsible for the following : — v There is a Scandinavian in Greytown who has a penchant for cannie flesh. It is suggested that he should be appointed registrar of J dogs, as the animals he did not register he I would eat."