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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 138, 13 November 1877, Page 2

Our attention has been' drawn to the immense growth of Hemlock (Conium Maculatum) which has sprung up close to .the public school grounds. Hemlock, as is well known, is a very poisonous plant, and is therefore a most dangerous adjunct to school premises. Already, one of the little children attending the school has been poisoned by eating this plant, anditis time, that some steps' were taken" to prevent further mischief, occurring. The Sanitary: Committee have, surely, some authority in this matter, and we trust they will see that, the Hemlock is destroyed at once. '"Atlas," in the World says : —"The tightness of a lady's dress the other day at a garden party won from me such surprise and admiration that an old dowager, whom I have known since I .was a child; eluded me gently. ' But it is most surprising,'l maintained ; ' how can she get hei dress on over—over her other things :■> ' It's not difficult,' replied my interlocutrix, 1 1 happened to be in the cloak-room with her just now ; she was having a stitch put in somewhere, and I found that her •' other things " consisted in a tight flannel jersey and a pair of tight wash-leather— you know,' aud there the confidence ended."

Messrs Bridge and Bushell have received a cheque for the sum of £15 from the Insurance Companies' Association, Christchurch, as a donation towards the expenses of a Hook and Ladder Brigade. This is a very handsome gift, and should give the movement a good start. We.hope that immediate steps will be taken to. form the brigade, and that the inhabitants will come forward willingly so as to get into working order; as: quickly as possible. This i.s a matter that the Borough Council should be foremost in assisting, and- to their interest arid support the' public look jn bringing thing's" to a definite and 'successful conclusion.. "No sane person cpn deny the utility of such an organisation here, and therefore it should be each one's endeavour to further the movement to- the best of his ability. Let/all party spirit and petty jealouies be laid'aside; and -let' the matter, which is of such .personal interest to all, betaken up 'with a.'will, then, and only then, will it be a success. 1 ; : ; :'We -have-Tte'-ackrioviledge ifecei.pt of a : copy of the " Marine" Act .'Amendment Bill,'" is intended to transfer the control over, and management of, jetties from the Governinent:'.tothe,loc&l governing : l'io'die«,' r, within whose jurisdiction sijch is of somewhat! loed interest, we purpose publishing it in our next issue.

Elsewhere we publish..a" letter,; signed " Resident, Le Bon's; ; Bay," containing a;i admirable'suggestion with regard to a fortnightly steam communication from that Bayvand Laveriek's, with Lyttelton and Christchurch./' To "effect this, ?'■'■ proposes that the p.s. Tongariro' shall cal 1;----into Le Bon's Bay once a fortnight'on her return trip.from this port. In addition to bring a further inducement for a.',direct weekly'service between Akaroa and Lyttelton—a thing in itself of no inconsiderable advantage to this part of the district, very important results may accrue to the Bays' inhabitants by the : opportunities afforded, while in a commercial view, the project should receive the support of the Lyttelton and Christchurch'merchants, as a begining towards the end we have previously remarked upon in this journal, of keeping the trade of the' Peninsula within the province. We shall be glad to bear that Captain Clarke has been able to act upon the suggestion.

An accidental occurrence of "a peculiar nature took place near the jetty on the morning of the 10th instant, just as the steamer "Taupo" was leaving for the north. Mr Fenton had ridden down to the jetty, and, for convenience, had tied his horse to the side of one of Mr Lardner's drays, which, with the horse in the shafts, stood close adjoining Messrs Wood Bros, and Cos., store.. Something or other startled Mr Fenton's horse, and caused it to pull back upon the rope by which it was fastened, and this it did with such power as to pull over and capsize both horse and dray. The rope was. promptly cut, the horse extricated from the shafts,and the dray righted, when it was found that, beyond an injury to one of tlie dray shafts, no damag ; e was done. !;

Our boating men will, no doubt, be interested in hearing that-Mr Robinson of Pigeon Bay, the present owner of the yacht Jimmy Flylin.'intends cutting her amidships and lengthening her, which will add greatly to her stability, and euable.her to cany a wide 'spread of canvas. She will also be raised upon, arid-have stanchions and a-buivvark, which will give her a handsome sea ..going appearance. The' centre! board wijl, be removed, and a' deep keel with a large,pro portion .of.metal, substituted. .The, Jimmy Fly.nn is now in the handsjjof her .buiider, Mr Morgan, who hopes to have her ready in time for tbe Akaroa Regatta, and we have a strong suspicion that she will surprise some of the knowing ones. , ;Soine idea of the extent of her canvas may be formed when we state thatdier old mainsail is barely large enough/for" a topsail.' We wish her owner every success in his enterprise. ... , A meeting of those, interested in cricket took place at Wagstafr's : Hotel, on Saturday evening last, Mi;.C. W. Bridge being voted to the chair, the chairman stated that the meeting.hajd been called to endeavour to: start tli|e game ; on a better footing, which it was proposed to do by the amalgamation of the two clubs—the' " Peninsula" and (the " Akaroa " —the latter being composed of the junior members of our community. It was explained in a clear and concise manner, that the amalgamation of the two clubs would not interfere in the least with the ordinary and customary play or practice of the younger members. kAs far as that went they would be in exactly the same position, as they Avere at present. All that was wanted was their assistance and support in joining to make, oneAreally efficient club. It was urged that .'there was not a sufficient number of players in the district to .properly keep up two separate clubs—while the younger playeri would-be benefitted by associating theihselves in the game with more experinced cricketers^—and that if the two clubs joined there would never be any difficulty experienced in getting together sufficient, at any time for a game or practice. ' ijlr 11. Wagstaff, junior, and Mr W. Hughes, members of the ' Akaroa Cricket Club, were present, and, after hearing the matter, thoroughly ■ discussed, promised to'use their influence to further the proposed union—it being understood that the! Peninsula Club take over all material belonging to'their club and that the subscriptions already paid by its members be taken as part payment of trie subscription to the Peninsula Club, the difference in the subscription being half-a-crpwn. It was. -further arranged that there be practice every evening, weather permitting, at 5 oclock, in -Mr Harlock's paddock, each player to be allowed . not less than ten minutes batting, also that an opening match be "played at German Bay on Saturday, the 24thinstant, play to commence -at' 'noorjy in.isjwhich all players are invited to take part^ At Messrs Matsqn! and Co.'s sale of pedigree stock, held' ori'the Agricultural Society's groundsrOliristchureli, on the 10th instant, Messrs. Hay Brothers' red and whitei bull* "Orlando" was, after a great deal of.competitionfknocked down, to Mr Dawson, of ,Man.:nyatu,.for the sum of 250 guineas. The " Canterbury Land Reservation Bill "' has passed the second reading in ithe;House of Representatives,, andj in spite of the strong party spirit agitating the House, Mr Montgomery is sanguine of its finally passing and becoming law.

Information has been received that in the Cable between Port Drrwin and Java tnerewas a* total break in November ( Bth. • ■*|i n g 'Erfliib'tT the Penang?und Singapore section. The Rangoon section is also interrupted.

Messrs, Garwood and Co. lately imported a bell for the new Maori Church; at the Kainga, Akaroa,,and it is.now in the possesion of the Maoris; who intend placing it in position at the earliest opportunity We are glad .'to see that the'•; Maoris are shewing considerable interest and taste in finishing off their Church building, and, we understand, that a small belfry is to be erecte J, wherein the bell will be hung, and from whence it will summon the inhabitants to Devine worship.

We have been requested by tbe Secretary of the Regatta Committee to acknowledge the following donations from Dunedin firms toward the Regatta funds:— Messrs Bing, Harris, and Co., two guineas; Messrs. Sargood, Son. and Ewen, three guineas, and one guinea from Messrs. Butterworth Brothers.

The following amounts have been collected in the district in aid of the Indian Famine Reiief Fund, and have been duly forwarded to Christchurch by His Worship the Mayor. The aggregate sum compares favourably with that collected in other districts:—Offertory, St. Peter's, £12 4s ; Presbyterian Church collection, £8 2d ; per Rev. W. Douglas, £4 14s; E. C. Latter, £5 12s 6d ; T. S. Baker (two payments), £8 lis ; C. McDonald, £4 ; B. Shadbolt, £3 12s; T.Brooks, £1 3s 6d; J. Hutt, £6 14s bd ; Robinson's Bay, £1 15s ; Le Bon's Bay, £5 8s 6d ; R. Davvber, £5 lis; E. Hooper, £3 10s; Garwood and Co., £3 3s; J. Daly, £10 lis; H. Citron, £3 ls; W. Anderson, 12s 6d ; A. K. Harlock, £7 2s 3d; Bank of New Zealand, £9 12s -, the Treasurer, £21 18s ; Total, £126 15s lid.

We have to welcome another accession to the ranks of journalism in the shape of The Wairarapa Register, published at Masterton, the first number of which is before us. We notice that the newijournal incorporates the Wairarapa News and the News Letter. In typography and literary matter, the appearance of the Register is very creditable, its columns shewing that as a means of publicity the inhabitants of the Masterton district are alWe to the importance of We hope our contemporary will thrive, and hold a good position among the journals of the colony.