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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 127, 5 October 1877, Page 2

Mr Latham, engineer to the Lakes Forsyth and Elles- mere Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust, has arrived in New Zealand by the s.s. Wakatipu, as expected, and will shortly enter upon his duties. An accident of a somewhat peculiar na+ure occured at Barry's Bay, on Wednesday morning last, to a son of Mr David Lecompte, junior. It appears that the boy, who is about four year's of age, was playing with the door-serapcr, when a bucket fell, causing the sharp edge of the scraper to completely sever the forefinger of his left hand. The little sufferer was at once brought to Akaroa, whero he was attended to by Dr. Watkins.

-When one sees some tumbled-down, time-worn, and rotten old shanty being patched up here and there, new timber being joined to the old, and what not, one remarks : What a waste of money ! What a pitiful keeping up of appearances ! while a certain proverb about putting new cloth into an old garment is irresistibly brought to one's recollection. We thought all this, and considerably more, <vhen we observed, yesterday, one of our local artizans engaged in tinkering up a portion of our government buildings. Would it not be more appropriate, and beneficial, if a few carpenters were set to work to pull the whole fabric down altogether? The venerable pile (save the mark !) has done its duty well, but it is a gross waste of public money to spend any more on it.

At the last emergency meeting of the Lodge, Akaroa, No. 1666, E.C.. held at the Masonic Hall, Akaroa, on Tuesday, the 2nd inst., after the ordinary business had been disposed of, Bro Scarbrough, S.W., stated that he had been deputed by the members of the Lodge to present to their retiring W.M., the Rev. W. IT. Cooper, a purse of sovereigns, as a testimony of the the respect and esteem in which he is held by the brotherhood. The worthy S.W. highly eulogized the disinterestedness of Bro Cooper, and testified to the zeal displayed by that gentleman in all matters connected with the craft. In acknowledging the unexpected presentation, Bro Cooper feelingly thanked the brethren for their handsome gift, as well as for the courtesy, and cordial co-operation which he had always received from them. Where all the officers had been so zealous, and energetic, it would be invidious to particularise but, he thought it but due to one who was not now with them, to give him the meed of praise he deserved, he alluded to Bro H. Pearde, their first J.W.. In bidding them adieu, he hoped to hear of the continued prosperity of the Lodge, and all connected with it, assuring them that he would always take a lively interest in the well-being of Lodge, Akaroa.

An open lodge and entertainment in connection with the Akaroa Hope Lodge) I. 0. G. T.. took place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Jollie-street, Akaroa, on Wednesday evening, 3rd instant. W.C.T. John Bruce presided. The entertainment-consisted of instrumental selections played by Miss Connell, with great .precision and delicacy of touch, on the new piano belonging to the lodge; songs, by Messrs. Billens, Cork, Creevy, Gutberlet, and Kobertshaw ; recitations, by Messrs. Morgan and Newton ; readings, by Messrs. Borland, Billens, Bruce, and Black ; dramatic dialogue from the " King-maker " —King Edward, Mr Robertshaw, Warwick, Mr Harlock ; and by the latter gentleman, an ably written essay, containing a great deal of statistical and other information, relative to the rise and progress of Good Templarism. The members of this lodge are to be congratulated on the acquisition of so splendid an instrument as the piano they now possess, and it is to be hoped that the proper officer will see it is not thumped upon or damaged in other ways. Whilst on this matter of music, we would wish to impress upon gentlemen vocalists the necessity of studying the lights, shades, and marks of expression, in the compositions they sing. We do not like to hear a part sung forte when it should be given pianissimo. We do not intend these remarks to be taken as criticisms, as we are strongly of opinion that amateurs who give their services gratuitously, for praiseworthy objects, should not be carped, or cavilled at, by a newspaper scribe. In the same spirit, we would suggest to gentlemen taking part in dramatic renderings, the necessity of learning their parts by heart. It looks bad, .md mars acting, to see gentlemen declaiming and referring to the inamisi-ript held in the hand. We enjoyed the entertainment greatly, and re-echo the sentiment given by the W.C.T., when he said at the conclusion that "he hoped all present would meet again shortly for the same purpose as that they had met for that evening."

Wo desire to draw the attention of the powers that be, to the dangerous state in places oi: the Akaroa and Le Bon's Bay main road, and to urge upon them the necessity of at once having- the muchwanted repairs thereon put in hand. On the 2Gth nit., an accident happened on this road to Miss Condon, which, fortunately, was not of a dangerous character, but might have been otherwise, had it not been that the young lady's brother'was in her company. We have heard of other mishaps, and therefore request the proper authorities to get the road put in order, and thus prevent what is bad from getting far worse.

In the Melbourne Advocate of September 6th, we read that at the quarterly meeting of the St. Francis's Catholic Total Abstinence Society, held in. that city a few days previously :—There was a full attendance of members, and in the absence of the spiritual director, the members were agreeably surprised by a visit from the Eev. Father Eoyer, lately of New Zealand, who, after giving the members an excellent exhortation, administered the pledge to thirteen candidates. During the evening a letter was read from Mr J. Cullen, of Akaroa, New Zealand, asking for a copy of the rules of the society, and other information relative to the starting of a branch of it in Akaroa. The request will be most gladly complied with. After spending a most enjoyable evening, the meeting closed with prayer.

We beg to draw the attention of our readers to a notification, in another column) by Mr Chattaway, who -will visit Akaroa about the 15th instant, ror the tuning of pianos, etc. Mr Ch.itfaway holds testimonials as to his ability from Rekel, Goddard, Liind, Simonsen, and De Murska.

A petition, signed by some hundred and fifty inhabitants of this , district, is being forwarded to the Chief Postmaster. Christchurch, praying that our present postmaster, Mr Jagger, may be retained in charge of the office here. The petition represents that Mr Jaggar lias gained the esteem and confidence of the public, who have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which his duties are conducted, and who consider that a change will in no way benefit the district but, on the contrary, be the cause of, at least, temporary inconvenience. We heartily concur with the wording and object of the memorial, ond trust it may be successful.

Wo would remind our young friends that the meeting for the purpose of reorganising the Akaroa Drum and Fife Band takes place to-night as advertised in another column. It is to be hoped that a good many will attend, and that those who do attend, will avail themselves to their utmost of the opportunity of acquiring an accomplishment, upon the possession of which they will have good reason to congratulate themselves in after years.

The Rev D. O. Hampton delivered a lecture on " Time," in the Leßon's Bay Schoolroom, on Thursday evening, Sept. 27, in aid of the School Prize Fund. The lecturer had evidently spared no pains in getting up his subject, which was a history o£ time calculating, and keeping, since time began, with a lucid explanation of Julian. Gregorian, and oihev Calendars, shewing the various errors in each, ami how they occurred. The lecture was divided into four heads :—" The day and its divisions ;" " The Week," •' The Month," and "The Year." Between each part, readings and songs were given, which formed a pleasing variety. At the close of the entertainment Mr Hampton thanked the school committee for the use of the room, and the ladies and gentlemen for their kind assistance in the musical portion of the evening's amusement. The entertainment was the most successful one that lias as yet taken place in the Bay, and a vote of thanks was proposed to Mr Hampton for his lecture, to which this success was mainly attributable. The proceeds of the evening amounted to £2 9s. Gd.