AKAROA WANTS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 102, 10 July 1877, Page 2

AKAROA WANTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKABOA MAIL. g IB) _In your issue of Friday last I observe that you, with others, are willing to put plenty of work on the shoulders of the willing ones, or rather to make " balls for other people to roll:" You suggest the formation of a Fire Brigade, and the erection of Baths, while a .correspondent suggests the resuscitation of the Horticultural Society and the members of the* Domain Board are desirous of shifting the responsibility of their charge to the shoulders of somebody else. Now, as a citizen, I am perfectly willing to assist in any works that may or will be for the benefit of the place generally, and amongst these we must certainly not overlook anything that will tend to render the place as attractive as possible to visitors, because as the Hon John Hall said at the banquet in December last. "We should,- like the Swiss, look upon our beautiful scenery as part of. our resources.". I certainly think that persons proposing these balls should give us some idea as to ways and means. It is all very .well to start, subscription lists, but the onus of collecting seldom falls. on the parties proposing them; and when we look at the amount of money that has been and has to be collected from themembers of the Presbyterian and English Churches in connection with their respective bodies it must be apparent, when we take into consideration the depression that has existed and does still exist in the market for our produce, that a very large portion of the community has been taxed to the limit of their powers. Of course, I, with others, admit the desirability of the works suggested ; but a Fire Brigade without appliances would not be likely to be very successful; and to provide the requisite outfit I contend would be beyond our means. With regard to the Baths, I have been in a position to hear the remarks of many outsiders, visitors to Akaroa on business or pleasure, and the generally expressed opinion has been one of surprise thai nothing has been done in the way of erecting them. Why the matter fell through when last mooted, and with the liberal offer of the Borough Council to back the subscription lists I could never understand, but so it did, more's the pity; and now I'm afraid the Council have hot the means to pay the promised subsidy. With regard to the Horticultural Society, I presume that any profits arising from their exhibitions would scarcely pay the prizes necessary to be offered to ensure success. I think, without a doubt, that the efforts of the society would meet with public approval, aad if the shows were properly arranged, would be well patronised, but it requires all to work with a will, and not A to refuse to send his exhibits because B has something there. Let all the members go in with a will, and there is no doubt their efforts would be crowned with success. m With regard to the Baths, I should like to see the matter taken up, but am afraid considerable difficulty would be experienced in collecting sufficient to-provide necessary accommodation, particularly as the people of Akaroa do not appear to think the matter so important as outsiders do.-Yours,&c, : ..-' ci —