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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 118, 4 September 1877, Page 2

"Ishmael's"contribution, "Continuation of Narrative," and the " Education Lecture," aro unavoidably held over until our next issue. The Amateur Ethiopians gave their entertainment; .as advertised, on Friday evening last: In spite of the inclemency of the weather, there was.a fair house, and the audience seemed well pleased with the various items of the programme. It is not our Intention to criticise, but Mr Black's local stump speech, as the feature of the evening, deserves special mention. Trusting that Mr Black and the members of the company will take our remarks in the same friendly spirit that evokes it, we venture to suggest more rehearsal, and that the various dialoguse should be committed to memory by the performers, instead of relying so much on what is technically termed ' gag" on the evening of representation. With this exception, the entertainment was a good one, and evidently afforded much enjoyment. We understand that the next performance of these gentlemen is to be given for the benefit of the regatta funds, a most worthy object, and one that we are sure will draw a full house. No doubt, for this purpose, many others would contribute their mite of talent; and, we trust, that a bumper entertainment will be presented on the occasion. . ; ... ' ■ ' ' Akaroa is beguiling to 'acquire a most unenviable reputation for petty thieving. Nery recently we had occa-sion to draw attention to an act of this nature in connection with the rope falls of the Government boat, and since that, no less than three other instances have been brought under our notice ; nothing seems to be safe, from a piece of rope to addled eggs and feathers. There's something very rotten in tho state of Akaroa, when tilings have come to such a pass. Connot the police do something in the matter V It is surely their duty to endeavour to catch these light-fingered individuals, and it only wants a good example to bo made of one of them to put a stop to these disgraceful doings, Avhich are a blot on the fair name of the whole community. During the South-east gale, of Saturday night last, Mr George Wright's centreboard whaleboat the " Edith Wynne" carried away her mooring chain, and was driven before the wind against, the piles of Daly's jetty, one side of-her being completely smashed to pieces. Mr Bushell's. white four oar racing whaleboat, which was moored astern of the " Edith Wynne,', was of course, driven along'with her, and had a plank stove in. We have to sympathise with these gentlemen in the loss they have sustained. Mr. Dominick's whaleboat, and Mr Billens' dingy were also carried away in the same direction, but fortunately escaped with only the loss of a little paint. We trust the damage done will in no way affect this year's regatta. As an instance of the force of the gale on Saturday last, a steamer, bound for the South, presumably the s.s. Hawea, was observed off Flea Bay at 12 oclock on that day, and by 3 oclock was again seen to have only made as far as Akaroa Heads. The following fragment of a parody on one of the " Bab " ballads, alleged-to have been picked up on the teach, was to us for our information :— «' For I' am the Mayor, and the Council too. And boss o'er the engineer, I sets them straight, at the paltry rate - Of a hundred odd a year." What can it refer to ? Last Thursday, a low glass, and a.lowering sky, threatened a change for the worse in the weather, signs which were quickly verified, and winter has visited us again. A strong south-cast wind, with snow and hailstorms, prevailed on Friday and Saturday, the ranges once more beingwhite with snow.

The usual weekly meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association was held last Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance. Tho subject for debate was ■ 'Napoleon versus Wellington." Mr W. Adams, one of the leaders iii the debate, was absent, and, none caring to take his place, Mr Nichols, who is always ready to help in an emergency, came forward in a spirited and able manner, and maintained the cause of " Wellington." The speaker on the other side was Mr. C. E. Watkin s who displayed a good recollection of the principal events in Napoleon's career. The seconders were Messrs Armstrong and 11. Watkins, the latter of whom especially showed careful preparation. The Napoleonic champion, however, was Mr Hughes who, in an ingenious and masterly manner, maintained that, for generalship, Napoleon was far superior to Wellington. Owing to the special business transacted at the opening of the meeting, relative t the anniversary entertainment, there was not time to bring the debate to a conclusion. The adjournment was moved by Mr McGregor, who will therefore be tho first speaker for this day. This to be one of the best debates yet held, and a large audience is anticipated. The preparations for the anniversary are being carried forward ; and it is expectod that a complete programme will be ready. The date of the anniversary is fixed for September 21, and the place of meeting, the Town Hall.

Our contributor, the " Sundowner," informs us of an act of kindly recognition which he has received at the hands of the late proprietor of this journal, Mr Joseph Ivess. The " Sundowner " writes that he was agreeably surprised at receiving an elegant silver plated spirit cruet, with an engraved plate thereon, testifying that it had been presented to him by Mr Ivess ? for communications which appeared in the Akaroa Mail during that gentleman's proprietary. Our contributor wishes to thank Mr Ivess, through the medium of this journal, for his much prized gift, and begs to assure him that —although he has " Uncles " of the greatest respectability— this souvenir of their former literary connection will always have the-post of honor on convivial occasions, and its donor's health, and prosperity, shall be duly given ; and, he hopes, very,.very often responded to by that gentleman himself;

The elder Disraeli * wrote'# book called the '• Curiosities of Literature;" who, we wonder, will write a book on the curiosities of telegraphic messages T We append a curiosity, in the latter line, which was sent us by tho Press Agency, on the evening of the 27th ult.:—An empty house at Blenheim, apparently occupied, lastly by a person now resident in Wanganuii was burned down, the supposed cause of the conflagration being ' fire left in a colonial oven whilst gone to church.' Who can grasp the meaning of this mystic message ? We cannot, and give it up in despair. However, let the telegraph tell its own tale ; this being how it tells it :— " Blenheim at 7.3o.—Sunday evening : empty house; lately in occupation of Kitchen Saddler, now of Wanganui, burned down, value about £700, insured in South British, £500. Supposed cause is that care taken in leaving fire in colonial oven, whilst gone to church."

We are informed that the whole of the kelp near the jetty at Wainui has disappeared, and that part of the breast Avork of the jetty itself has been washed away by the force ef the sea, during the recent South-east gale. A passenger per the s.s. Wanaka on her last trip from Dundin, informs us that she Avould have called in here, as advertised had the weather been such as to allow her sailing directly after discharging. This, however, the captain considered Avould not be practicable oAving to the force of the gale, and therefore decided on proceeding direct to Lyttelton, Avhere the Akaroa cargo noAV lies a%vaiting transfer to this' port.

In three months, and a few days from the present time, the Regatta day wilj have come round again ; and, as yet, no steps are being taken in the matter. We urged > in a former article, the necessity of some organised club being formed with a view to the improvement of rowing amongst our young men; but no meeting or. movement in connection with that, or other boating matters, has been set afoot. Feeling, as we do, the importance to Akaroa generally of our Annual Regatta, we must again, at the risk of being troublesome, urge our boating men to take immediate steps to ensure its success ; and, as we should do, render the coming regatta an improvement on tho last. Year by yeai, W.P. (weather permitting), we should attract more visitors to our town on that day, and the more that come to soe our regatta, the greater the good, in the shape of ready money, that, is .circulated in the place. Besides • this,, people are. led to- come down here, on an .occasion of the kind* who would never otherwise see Akaroa, and, -impressed by the beauty of the place, these go away to spread the information amongst others, and thus the number of our visitors becomes increased* But, when they do come, it - is only right that we should prepare a regatta that is worth the seeing, and, to do this, we must begin to work early, and work hard s putting ourselves heart and soul into the matter, each doing his utmost for what is really the common weal. The Hon. J. Hall has told us that our scenery

epresents so much capital to us. We will go a little further, and add to our scenery, our regatta. We trust pur former suggestion, about the formation of a row ing club, and our present reminder of tbe importance of the regatta, will be productive of immediate steps being taken towards successful a carrying out of both.

The Borough Council have reason to be gratified with their street lamps. Perhaps it would have been impossible to have subjected them to a severer trial than they havo undergone during the -first three nights of their' illumination. And well they have borne the test 1 It is probable they have borne their trials better than the lamplighter, however, this is a mere supposition on our part. We would wish to draw the Council's attention to the real necessity for another lamp being placed between the one at the Mail office corner, and that at the end of the sea wall. The dense shadow cast by Lucas' if ill absolutely dulls the effect of the two lamps mentioned, and the road between them under the. hill is as dark now as it was before thfiir erection. Very little expense |is involved in the putting up of another, and, we presume, the contractor would require but a trifle extra for the additional lighting &c, while the convenience and benefit that would accrue to the public would be considerable. We trust the suggestion may receive the Council's earliest consideration.