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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 134, 30 October 1877, Page 2

Mr A. K. Harlock forwarded to his Worship the Mayor at Christchurch, on Saturday last, the sum of £7 18s 9d, being the second contribution from Akaroa to the Indian Famine Relief Fund. Mr Garwood has also received the sum of £4 14s Gd from Okain's Bay, and £5 8s Gd from Le Bon's Bay towards the same object, which amounts, with others, will'be forwarded to Christchurch at an early date. The Rev. Mr Anderson informs us that the amount of the special offertories collected in Barry's and French Farm Bays, on Sunday last, for the same purpose, was £3 2s Id.

Mr Montgomery has tabled a notice of motion to the effect—" That, with a view of providing for the construction of the following branch railways, which are urgently required in the Provincial District of Canterbury, it is desirable that not less than 300,000 acres of wastes land should be reserved in that provincial district, to be selected, as far as possible, in localities either adjacent to or likely to be benefited by such railways." Among the list enumerated is a branch railway "from a point on the Christchurch and Southbridge line to Little River, 25 miles," We are informed that Mr Thacker's new hotel, in Okain's Bay, is in course of erection, and that 'the Government intend building a goods shed adjoining tlie jett} 7 . Mr W. Moore is, we hear, the contractor for the latter building, which will be a great accommodation to the. residents in the Bay. , '

At the/neeting of the Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association, held oh Saturday last, there was but a poor attendance, the business, transacted being in consequence very limited. In the absence of tho President and vice President, Mr B.'Shadbolt was voted to the chair. Last year's programme wasdiscussed and revised, and is to be submitted to the next meeting for approval. The Chairman gave' notice of a donation from Mr Montgomery of £5 to be allotted in such prizes as the committee may determine. A letter was received from Mr H. W. Buchanan, stating that he had great pleasure in allowing his name to be enrolled among the list of members. The meeting then proceeded to appoint the judges for the forthcoming show, which ' was fixed for Thursday Dec. 27th. The following gentlemen were proposed to be written to requesting that they would act Messrs Bradley, Wilkin, Ferguson, Matson, S. Garforth, Morris Jones, King, Stark, J. Gebbie, D. Gebbie, Sutherland, Johnson, J. H. Wood and Beecher. It was arranged that the Secretary write to Captain McLean, of the s.s Akaroa, asking his terms for chartering the steamer on the showday. The meeting then adjourned.

It is gratifying to us to have to record that the preliminary work of survey, &c, in connection with the Lakes Reclamation and Trust has been commenced by Mr Latham, the Engineer of the Trust Board. Mr Latham has established his camp at Tainutu, and during the past and previous week has been actively engaged in organizing the necessary preliminaries before beginning the more essential part of his work. We have no doubt that Mr Latham will be enabled, at the next meeting of the Board, which is appointed for the 6th pros., to lay before that body a report of a satisfactory character as to the work commenced and contemplated. We heartily congratulate the chairman and members of the Trust upon the success which has, so far, attended their deliberations and plans, and hope their labours will culminate in the permanent drainage of the lakes, together with the running of the iron horse thiswards.

What might have resulted in a fatal accident occurred last week at Little River, through the reprehensible practice of allowing horses to wander at large on the public thoroughfares. It appears that a Mrs Johnston was walking; along the Christchurch and Akaroa road, when three horses came round one of the sharp turns, the nearest one lashing out and kicking her on the head, thereby rendering her senselessifor some time. Strange to say, a child that she was carrying in her arms was uninjured. It was by a mere miracle that both were not killed. There seems to be a hesitation on tlie part of the public generally to complain against those whose cattle or horse 3 run wild on the roads, but in the interests of humanity— even for their own protection—they should determine to put a stop to it. We hope the above instance will be a warning to all concerned.

Our Christchurch correspondent informs us that Mr E. C. Denny has disposed of his Duvaucbelle Bay property, but does not state who is the purchaser.

We are credibly informed that the Government have notified to Mr Montgomery, their intention of handing over to the different road boards interested, , the amounts voted by the late Provincial Council, for special road works on the Peninsula. The sums so allotted _re —for Long Bay road £350 ; Mount Bossu ridge to Lake Forsyth, £900; Wainui jetty to Mount Bossu ridge £1.549 14s ; Le Bon's summit, £100 ; Pigeon Bay and Port Levy road, £1,000. This is rather tardy justice, and justice that has required a great amount of correspondence before beinggranted. Mr Montgomery has been indefatigable in pushing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion, and he certainly deserves the thanks of his constituents for; his presistency therein. :" 1 We have been requested to draw the attention of our local volunteers to the advertisements elsewhere relating to. the return of their arms and accoutrements; *

Elsewhere will be found an obituary notice of the death of Mrs John Varyer, one of tho original Canterbury pilgrims. Mrs Varyer, in company with her husband, came out in the pioneer ship the "Charlotte Jane," and was the only lady of the party who left England to establish our contemporary the Lyttelton Times. Of that original party there is now but one left in Canterbury, and that one is Mr George Taylor, of Lyttelton. Old Canterbury settlers will remember Mr Varyer's connection with the infancy of printing here. After residing in this province for some years, Mrs aad Mr Varyer returned to England, where, we believe. Mr V. still follows his profession as a printer.

Sergt. Major Kerr arrived by coach yesterdaj*, for the purpose of superintending the getting ready of the guns, targets, small arm 6, and accoutrements belonging to the local Artillery Corps, with a. view to their shipment to Wellington by' the e.s. Stella, which is expected to call in here at an early date for that purpose.

The special meeting of the Borough Council convened for last Friday evening was further adjourned to Wednesday, the 31st instant, there not being sufficient Councillors present to form a quorum. (

Our some-time fellow townsman Dr. Thomas S. Bulmer, has commenced the practice of his profession at Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne. We hope the genial doctor will meet with professional success in his new location.

Mr W. Meech has been appointed agent in Akaroa for the Victoria Fire and Marine Insurance Company.

Mr J. Hi Wood's pigeons were turned adrift at Ashburton at 7 a.m* last Saturday morning, ..and, were discovered to have arrived sake in their cote at Akaroa by 8.35 a.m. Mr Wood did not witness their arrival, so that the time occupied in their flight can only be conjectured, but he supposes t|ey took at least an hour an a half over thejjourney, which would be at a rate of fortyhijles au hour.

The deservedly popular, and .well supported, movement in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund has naturally enough absorbed the attention of us all during the last month, aud in laudable anxiety to assist in the alleviation of sufferings of such vast extent and magnitude as the details of the fearful scourge, now prevailing in certain portions of our Indian possessions, have Only too vividly depicted, local demands on our pecuniary assistance have possibly been altogether lost sight of, or have been comparatively so insignificant, that any importance previously attaching to them has failed to bear its usual influence. But we would remind our readers that though this call which has been made upon them was imperative in its necessity, and a bounden duty for them to respond to, still, having done their duty in that respect, there remains also the charity which should begin at home, and the observance jof the old maxim to be just while one is | generous. The regatta day will soon be upon us, and public subscriptions are due in aid of its successful termination. The committee have issued the programme, and have in so doing to a certain extent pledged themselves and their fellow townspeople to the production of a certain sum of money on a given date, and they rely, we trust_not unsubstantially, on the assistance of the district in meeting their liabilities. We feel sure that the inhabitants of Akaroa and the more immediate Bays, if not of the whole Peninsula, will recognise their duty to help in this matter, and will give to the best of their ability towards tbe funds of our annual Regatta. We understand that an entertainment will shortly take place for the same purpose.

In widening the Cemetery road, the contractor has left one of the approaches to the Domain almost inaccessible. We do not pretend to say whoso dutj* it is to remedy this, but something should be done at once, as it is both dangerous for children and excessively inconvenient and annoying to adults, who may desire to either enter, or leave, the ground by the path in question.

Mr Barwick, the Hon Secretary of the Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association, has received from Mr John Marshall, through Miss C. Marshall, of Pigeon Bay, a donation of two guineas, to be given as a special prize at the association's forthcoming, show, for an exhibit to be decided upon by the Committee.