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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 124, 25 September 1877, Page 2

The Rev Mr Anderson, with Mrs Anderson and family, anived yesterday via Pigeon Bay. Mr Anderson's duties commence, we are told, next week, when the Rev Mr Coopei will take his much-needed rest from the arduous duties of his sacred office.

The annual meeting of the Akaroa Mutual Improvement Society, for the election of officers, and other business, took place at tli3 school-house, last evening, when the Rev W. Douglas*, was re-elected, president, Mr J. D. Gnrwood, vice-presi-dent, Mr J. Dalglish, treasurer, and Mr C. E. Watkins, secretary. The next meeting was arranged to be held on Tuesday, the 2nd prox., and all future meetings to take place on each alternate Tuesday succeeding. The gross receipts from the late entertainment were stated to be about £13. A cordial vote of thanks was awarded to the donors of prizes ; the successful recipients acknowledging with thanks their acceptation of the same.

At the recent meeting of the Board of Education, Mr A. Nicholls, Master of the Akaroa School, was placed in the ffrst division of the second class. We congratulate Mr NiciioiJs <m bis accession oi" grade.

The anniversary entertainment of the Mutual Improvement Association took place on Friday evening last, and was' financially, and otherwise, a marked success. The chairman and president of the Association, ths Rev Mr Douglas, gave an interesting , account of the year's work and progress, which speaks highly for the Association, and proved the utility of such an institution. The programme was well given. . Special mention deserves to be made of the excellent manner in which Master L. Watkins sang his song " Eobin's Return," which, difficult as it must have been to a beginner, and for a first venture in public, was admirably rendered. He has a beautiful fresh, clear, soprano voice, not powerful, but very sweet. It was quite a treat to hear a boy's voice once more, and that, 100, shewing signs of careful training, with great natural taste and talent. Mr H. Watkins, jnn., carried J off the prize for an essay on " Mutual Improvement Associations," and, in accordance with the usual custom, read his successful composition to the. audience, who listened attentively throughout, and, at the finish, testified their approval by hearty applause. Mr C. Watkins received the prize for elocution. In the dialogues Mr Nicholl's " Cato " was exceedingly good, the elocution being perfect. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, and to those ladies and gentlemen who had rendered assistance in the evening's amusement. Altogether the entertainment seems to have given pleasure to all parties, and to have gained the commendations of every one present. But one ifault has been found with it, which was that there was too much of Mr Herbert Bridge's vocalisation, —in fact, that the entertainment was "too much Bridge"—a mistake which can be easily rectified on any future occasion. In another column is advertised rather a novel way of introducing and doing business. We allude to Messrs Golberg and Co.'s notification of a bazaar, and ball, to take place at the Town Hall, to-morrow evening. No doubt the novelty will draw support; curiosity being deeply ingrained in the minds of most of us.

The Regatta Committee met on Saturday evening, and adjourned to this evening, owing to the poor attendance, due, no doubt, to shortness of notice. It is hoped all interested in this matter will attend.

Another old colonist has been called away from among us, and one who will be greatly missed. We allude to the late Hugh Buchanan, of Kcnloch, Little |Kiver» Mr Buchanan first settled on Banks Peninsula in 1851, taking up his residence at Ikolaki ; after some years removing to Little lliver. Mr Buchanan has always taken a great interest in all public matters connected with the peninsula, and was a firm supporter of every movement tending to its material advantage : as president of the pastoral association, and in connection with other societies of a kindred character, he was a truly zealous officer and hearty supporter. For some years Mr Buchanan represented the Wainui constituency, in the late Provincial Council, he was also a J. P. of the colony. Mr Buchanan had been suffering, for some time, from, we believe, cancer in the stomach, but we had not heard that his" illness was likely to have so soon ended fatally. The lamented, and much esteemed, gentleman, breathed his last at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr J. Struthere Williams, Christchurch, on Sunday the 23rd inst.

We would remind our readers that the adjourned Cricket Club meeting takes place to-day, as advertised, at three o'clock. Those who would assist in keeping up this noble old English game are requested to attend.

The Borough Council held a special meeting last Saturday afternoon to consider a proposal by Messrs Sigley and Dixon, the contractors for the footways, that certain disputed questions between the Council's Engineer, Mr H. H. Fenton ) and the contractors, be submitted to arbitration. After a long discussion, during which several members of the Council expressed themselves strongly against the proposal, as such was to some extent an acknowledgment that, the Council has a doubt on the matter, and that arbitration practically shelved the Engineer. It was ultimately resolved that the request to have the disputed question submitted to arbitration be acceded to, and the Council requested Mr E. C. Latter to act for them. We understand that Messrs Sigley and Dixon have since intimated to the Council that they have chosen Mr J. F. Roberts as their arbiter.

It is time that something was being heard of, and done by, the Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association. Some time ago the}' held a meeting, and agreed upon certain rules, but since then, nothing is known about their proceedings. Time is going on, and the Association is standing still, consequently time will have the best of it, and in the end they will be no. where. We can understand that the sad illness of their respected and influential president, Mr H. Buchanan, whose death we are sorry to have to record in this day's issue, has cast a gloom over their proceedings, and we fully sympathise with tUein in the loss they sustain in him, but, in the interest of the public, we must urge them to get to work with a will, so that the show this year may not fall short of expectation.

What has become of the Akaroa Horticultural 'Society '? It is a long time since we have heard of any of their and it is to be regretted that so little interest is taken in the Society, as to cause its becoming a thing of the past. We can remember a time when their shows were most creditable for so small a district, and were eagerly looked forward to. Plenty of exhibits and exhibitors too were always to the fore in those days ; and why not now ? Have we deteriorated so much in our gardens, and our orchards, that we can produce nothing worth the shewing ? If so, then we want the Horticultural Society to be up and stirring in order to better our class of production by a healthy rivalry, and emulation. But if we have not deteriorated, and still can display as goodly a show as in days gone by, then the Society should be steadily working to keep up, and improve the standard. We trust that the coming summer will revive the Society from their" torpor, and that we may have the pleasure of recording many triumphs to those who give time and study to the i production of first-dass exhibits in thia line.

The members of the Trust and Keclamation Board meet to-day, at Wascoe's Beach Arms, Ellesmere, for the despatch of business. Nothing further has been heard of, or from, the Board's engineer, Mr Latham, who is supposed to be on his way from Sydney here, by the '' Wakatipu." The Government have placed one thousand pounds f> the credit of the Board, so that the want of funds will not be an hindrance to the members proceeding with business in right earnest.

The Akaroa Domain Board are to be congratulated on the successful result of their labors in laying out the Domain Grounds. Much, of course, remains to be done, bat, bo far as the work has proceeded, their efforts to beautify and render attractive have succeeded admirably. The winding walks, with comfortable Beats here and there, at well chosen intervals, the varied hues of the different shrubs, some native some planted, the ever changing views of the town and harbour, together combine to render these grounds a constant source of pleasure to the inhabitants of Akaroa, and an additional attraction to visitors. They will, doubtless, when the weather is more settled, and summer has regularly set in, become a most popular resort. For children, the Domain is invaluable. There, free from any dangerous accessories, they may iomp and play from morn till night, gaining health in the pure air, sheltered from the fierceness of the sun's heat, and we hope to hear the echoes ringing with their innocent mirth and sport. The youthful portion of our community will find plenty of opportunities for the moat perfect flirtations in its shady and convenient nooks and bye-paths, and, we have little doubt, that the '' old, old story" will be whispered into many a willing ear—Ah! if we were only young again! While for the more mature, the peaceful, quiet, rustic beauty of the whole, its shade and retirement, will be a refined enjoyment. Altogether Akaroa may well be proud of possessing so charming a public recreation ground, snd it should bo the interest of all to see that no damage is done to the trees or property placed in it for their use and convenience.