The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 130, 16 October 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16.

Owing to a pressure of advertisements we are compelled to hold over our leader, and other interesting matter. With our next issue we purpose publishing a supplement. We gather from the accounts in the Christchurch papers that the meeting convened by the Mayor of that city, to con side r the advisability of forming an Indian Famine Relief Fund, though but poorly attended, was financially a thorough success, over £400 being collected in the room, Sir J. C. Wilson giving £100, and Mr G. Gould,£so The hearty manner in which the colonies have come forward to the aid of their suffering fellow creatures in India, and the noble response that has been made to the appeal of the Lord Mayor of London on their behalf will ever be a bright event in the annals of colonial history. Can we not also do some little toward assisting in this humane and charitable object ? " Every little helps," and even our "mite , ' may be of some value in aiding to relieve the distress which others have so liberally come forward to alleviate. His Worship the Mayor of Akaroa, by advertisement in another column, invites the inhabitants of the Peninsula to a public meeting, on Thursday next,.for the purpose of taking steps towards forming a committee to collect eubsciiptions, when, we feel assured, the Peninsula people will not be found wanting, according to their means, in that charity, which has so eminently characterised the action of other communities in this colony, for the same purpose.

An entertainment in connection with the local lodge of Good Templars, took place in Leßon's Bay school-house, on Friday evening, the 12th inst. An audience of some fifty or sixty, testified by their plaudits as to the success, of those who came forward to amuse and instruct. Among those taking part in the entertainment were several visiting brethren from Akaroa, one of whom, Brother Cork, was called to the chair. The evening's programme consisted of songs, by Mrs Miller, and Messrs Bird, Cork, Creevy, and Evans ; readings by Messrs Bird, Cork, Evans and Dawber; recitations by Mr Morgan.

To-morrow, Wednesday, promises to be a busy day in Pigeon Bay. The members of the Kangiora lodge of Odd Fellows, M.U., together with their friends from that and other localities, intend, weather permitting, to hold a pic-nic there. Arrangements have been made with CaptainMcLean, of the s.s. Akaroa, to convey the party to and from the scene of their festivities, and special trains have also been engaged. We heartily wish our Odd Fellow brethren a pleasant outing, and a safe return, to their homes, from what we trust they will find to be a healthful and happy day's enjoyment.

The result of the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Akaroa Town Hall, as shewn in our present issue, will be received with satisfaction by the public generally The building in question has for a long time past been a disgrace to the town, and an eye-sore to all lovers of order and neatness. We hail with pleasure the tidings that something is, at last, to be done to remedy this, and, although almost incredible, we are informed that a fresh coat of paint, perhaps two, will shortly adoin the exterior of this hitherto neglected, but most useful, building. Our readers may imagine we are working on their credulity, but it is also said, that all the broken panes of glass will be mended. While the committee are making these j>l easing alterations and repairs, we ivould suggest that the division between the Hall and the two end rooms, as well as the partition between these rooms might be removed. It would be found that this would give a great deal more space, and more sittings, a want which is felt very much now whenever an entertainment is numerously at. tended. The part now represented by the two rooms would make a large and commodious stage, and a small lean-to, built on to the north end, would provide dressing rooms for the performers. If something of this kind is not done, some other means of enlarged accommodation must shortly bo affected, as the building is,' .in , its present state, not sufficiently large for tli3 requirements of the place.

The Chinese gardeners, who have settled in our midst, and whose steady, patient* labour is a fitting example ■to our own race, have been made the victims of a dirty, mean, cowardly, and contemptible act, the perpetrator of which, if discovered, deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law, and to receive the scorn of all right thinking men. It appears that some time ago our Chinese were unfortunate enough to lose by slugs the whole of the ■first planting of cauliflowers in their lower garden. In order to remedy this, having purchased some 370 more plants, they placed these in their patch of ground on the Gr'errnay Bay hill, where the plants free from the inroads of the slugs progressed exceedingly well. One day last week, in paying a visit of inspection, it was discovered that every young cauliflower save one had been ruthlessly torn up, and that thus the whole of their labor, and their prospect of profit, had been destroyed. We cannot imagine a more dastardly, cruel and dishonest act, and it is, one that is reflecte.djjs a disgrace on our c ommunity. '. - - ,

The Committee of the Banks Peninsula Pastoial Association held a meeting at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, Saturday last. Present—Messrs B. Shadbolt (chairman pro tern), J. Aylmer, Dicken, Pritest, J. Libeau, S. Lee, W. McKay, G. McKay and J. Barwick, secretary. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, a letter was read from the late Hugh Buchanan, Esq., thanking the members of the Association for their kind wishes in regard to the restoration of his health, and enclosing donation and subi scription, for the present year. The Secretary informed the meeting that he had sent receipts for the donation and subscription' to young Mr Buchanan. Mr Barwick was also instructed to write, asking him to become a member of the Association. Messrs Mason, Struthers and Co. offered a prize of two guineas for the best Lincoln ram exhibited at the forthcoming show. The Chairman then said, that the next business the meeting had to do, was, the election of a President, in the place of Mr Buchanan. He was sure that he expressed the feelings of all, when he said that in losing Mr Buchanan, they suffered a great loss. Their late President had been a most assiduous and energetic worker for the association, always attentive to the duties of his position, and always to be found in his place at the meetings. It would be difficult to find another who would so ably fill the office. He then called upon the members to propose a president. Mr J. Aylmer proposed Mr James Hay, which was seconded by Mr Dicken. Mr J. Libeau proposed Mr Shadbolt, who declined. By the unanimous vote of the meeting, Mr James Hay was then elected Presidpnt of the Association. A series of rules were read over by the Secretary, and confirmed. A sub-com-mittee, consisting of Messrs Piper, fjLee, and Shadbolt being appointed to revise the programme for the forthcoming show, and to submit the same to the Committee at the nsxt meeting. A new rule was introduced, admitting strangers and members' sons under 21 years of age to the meetings, but without power to vote. One hundred member's cards, with rules attached, were ordered to be printed, and the next meeting appointed for the 27th instant. The subject of chartering the steamer to Pigeon Bay on the day of the show was discussed at some length, it being finally left to the sub-committee, previously mentioned, to report on at the next meeting. The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.

The Degree temple in connection with rwas-©p«iiedoaJTrlday evening last, there was a fair attendence of third Degree piembers. The.officers elected and installed were Bro. Harlock, D.T., Bro. Penlington, D.V.T., Bro. Robertshaw, D.S., Bro. W Kearney, D.F.S., Bro. G. Kearney, D.T., Bro. Cork, D.M., Sister Kearney, D.C., Bro. O'Brion, D.G., Bro. Turner, D. Sentinel, Sister Connel, D.U.H.S.. and Bro. Bruce, P.D.T., The various committees for conducting the business of the Temple were appointed. The Temple is- named "The Crusader."

An entertainment in aid of the funds of the Akaroa Public Librarj' is advertised for to-morrow (Wednesday) night. The 'programme to be presented is attractive with readings, songs, instrumental pieces, glees, etc., and we trust that there will be

a bumper house on the occasion. We cannot refrain from remarking, however, that there should be no necessity for appeals of this kind to the public by the Library Committee, and. if our fellow townspeople did their duty, and supported by their subscriptions this public institution, as 'they ought to do, there would be no need for extraneous aid. But as they are forced to appeal, we sincerely hope they will meet with a liberal response.