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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 129, 12 October 1877, Page 2

We understand that the convener of the Home Mission Committee, the Rev. D. Bruce of Auckland, has been communicated with regarding providing an assistant to the Key. Mr Douglas ; and that when arrangements are completed, regular morning and evening services will be held in Akaroa, also more frequent services in other parts of the Peninsula, such as Little Kiver, Leßon's Bay, Wainui, &c, as may be agreed upon. The necessity for such assistance has been felt from the first, and with aid from the Home Mission Fund, and the arrival or expected arrival of several highly recommended young men, this Want is likely soon to be supplied.

A meeting of persons interested in the reforming- of the Akaroa Horticultural Society, was held at Brace's Hotel, on the evening of the Bi:h instant, Mr J. D. Garwood presiding. Resolutions were passed affirming the desirability of again starting the society, and also electing the Rev. W. Aylmer, president; Mr J. D. Garwood, vice-president: Mr S. Watkins, secretary, and Messrs Perm, Feltham, Harris, Jolly, Wagstaff, and W. Penlington, members of committee, with power to add to their number. Tho amount of annual subscription for membership was fixed at five shillings. It was arranged that the first show of the season be held in the Town Hall, on the afternoon and evening of December lGih. Messrs Perm and Harris were appointed to canvass for members, and also to solicit donations for special prizes, some of which were promised by persons in the meeting. The secretary was instruct ed 10 convene a committee meeting, to arrange prize schedule, at an early date. The roeeiing then terminated. A very narrow escape from what might have been a serious fire, occurred at Akaroa, a few days since, through the reprehensible practice of placing ashes from the fire place in ;> wooden bos. It seems that, sometime during the,day, ashes from a camp-oven cover had been deposited in a box, which bos was then put on some boards, not far from <i stack oi: wood. Later in the clay ihe box and wood, on which it stood,' were found to be inflames; fortunately this was discovered in time so that the fire was extinguished before doing any damage. We have been informed that at the last meeting of the Akaroa Hope Lodge of Good Templars, it was mentioned that a Brother Fratees, belonging to the Head of Cay Lodge, had recently, through fi.ro, lost his clothing and effects. A subscription was at once commenced, and the sum of £4 collected for the distressed brother. We have great pleasure in recording this spontaneously generous act on the part of the brotherhood, and compliment them upon their promptitude and kindly feeling. We would remind the members of the Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association Coin- ' mit.tee, that the nest meeting takes place I at the Somerset Hotel, to-morrow (Saturday), at 1.30 p.m. The business is of an important nature, the election of a president in ihe place of -Ihe late Hugh Buchanan, Esq., being the principal item. We trust Lhnt there will be a full attendance, and that the committee will elect a worthy successor to their much respected and regretted president, and that the show this year may in every respect equal i£ not surpass those of former years. Many persons pride themselves on their astuteness in political matters. They predict, or, rather, attempt to do so, the line of action to be pursued by the Ministry and the Opposition, and foretell the fate of a bill with the utmost complacency and confidence. This is a wonderful power. More wonderful, however, in its assumption than in the correctness of its presaging. But our Pigeon Bay friends, that is to say, one or two. of them, have developed a superior talent in this line. With an aweinspiring clairvoyance, and a prophetic eye to a dissolution of Parliament, they have, we are informed, already posted up some placards containing instructions to electors to '■ Vote for Montgomery." There is a spirit in this that we like, and our representative cannot fail to be highly gratified at the zeal of his constituents. Although there is nothing like being in time, there may be a mistake in being premature. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Akaroa Town Hall company, was held in that building on Wednesday evening the 10th inst, Mr W. Penlington in the chair, the attendance being more numerous than is usual at these meetings. The chairman laid the balance sheet and statement of accounts due, before the meeting, from which it appeared that with the balance in hank, outstanding amounts, and an amount in the chairman's hands, that some £55 stood to tho credit of the companj'. On the proposition of Mr Garwood, it was carried, that the accounts be passed as correct, if found so after being audited bj Mr Hughes, and that the same be advertised, for the information of. absent shareholder.?, in the AkakoaM.ail. It wasalso proposed by Mr Daly, seconded by Mr Cullen, and carried, that:the-incoming committee invite tenders for painting the exterior of the building, for necessary repairs to same, and authorising them to appoint a custodian to have charge and supervision over the building, giounds, etc. The folloAving gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing term :—President, Mr J. Aylmer ; secretary and treasurer, Mr James Daly ; committee, Rev W. Aylmer, Messrs Garwood, and Penlington, who were instructed to have advertisingboards placed on the fence, and to, at once, have' other necessary minor matters, in connection with the property, remedied. Mr G. Black has received a letter from the Hoo. Secretary of the Lyttelton Regatta, informing him that the Committee decline altering the conditions as to tonnage of competing yachts in their forthcoming regatta. We understand that Mr Black, with commendable pluck, and the true spirit of sport, intends altering his yacht the " Venture," so as to meet those conditions. The case of Wascoe v. Scarbrough and another,- which was to have been heard at the present sitting of the Supreme Court, in Christchurch,, has been postponed until the 29th instant, owing to tho illness of a material witness.

At a meeting of the Akaroa Regatta Committee, held at WagstafFs Hotel, on Tuesday evening last, the programme of this year's regatta, as advertised in another i column, was drawn up. Owing to the probable diminution in the funds likely to accrue, some events have been "omitted, but, should the subscriptions, as we trust they may, come forward liberally, the programme will be increased. It has been suggested to us, and the idea seems feasible, that the Christchurch, Kaiapoi, and Lyttelton rowing clubs might, arrange among themselves for a challenge cup or trophy to be rowed for here on the day of the regatta, and, as we understand it, for our committee to supplement the same by a prize or pecuniary aid. This plan would be an inducement to many more visitors, and would tetid to make our regatta very popular, and a decided success. We hope the suggestion may receive the consideration it deserves. From the Registrar, J. Aylmer, Esq., we learn thaVthe number of registered births in this district, for the quarter ending September 30th was 43 ; deaths 5 and marriages 2. From the Lyttclton Times of the ,11th inst.. we learn that, in the Carl yon case, His Lordship the Primate has admonished the accused on certain oil the charges, but on the principal one (the second) has suspended him from his duties for the -tunu of one month, and until such further time as he should retract and acknowledge the errors into which he had fallen, At Messrs R. Walton and Co.'s sale of the equity of redemption of properties in the estate of E. W. Morey the German Bay property and fishery was knocked down to W. P. Cowlibhaw, Esq., for £250, and the Akaroa properties for iiOO, to Mr Attwood, of Woolston. A meeting of the Lakes Reclamation and Akaroa Eaihvay Trust was held at the Beach Arms, Lake Ellosmere, on the 9th inst.—Present:—Messrs Latter, (chaiiman), Dalgleish, Joblin, Gebbie, Bell, Parkinson and O'Callaghan. Letters from Mr Montgomery, relating to the Trust Fund, were laid before, the meeting, from which it appeared that that gentleman was making strenuous efforts to obtain an amount to be replaced to the credit of the Trust. The chairman then introduced Mr Latham, the engineer appointed by the Trust, who proceeded to make various suggestions with? regard to the proposed works, and replied fully to the questions put by the members. The Engineer stated that he would require the services of an assistant engineer ; and. also, gave certain details of the"*oulnt required. The Engineer having withdrawn, the members of the Trust, nfter some discission, authorised Mr Latham to engage an assistant engineer, together with sucl labor as he deemed necessary to proceed with the work, such engagements to bn by the month, and, also, to obtain the necessary outfit. The proceedings terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr E. C.Latter, for the excellent and business-like manner in which the affairs of the Trust had been conducted by him, the members feeling sure that, in vesting him with increased powers, they were doing the best for the j interest of the Trust. The meeting was then adjourned to October 23 1877, at the same hour and place.

Some short time ago, we had occasion to draw attention to the necessity that exists foe another lamp being placed between the one at the Mail office corner, and that opposite Mr Penlington's. Nothing, however, has been done, and complaints are numerous concerning this really public want. Here, now, is a matter upon which the Borough Council can throw a little light, at very little trouble or expense, and yet, they won't take advantage of the opportunity! We trust that this is the last time we shall have cause to revert to the subject. Our attention has been drawn to a nuisance, arising from the powerful odour pervading the shore end of the jetty, during the heat of the day, caused by the drying of fish underneath the wharf. No doubt the hint, that Hup is becoming disagreeable to others, will suffice.