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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 139, 16 November 1877, Page 2

An anonymous friend has left at our office what he designates " A live specimen of the Colorado Beetle.'' There would probably be a fearful vengeance taken if Colorado saw this infamous fraud on its pet bug. The insect before us, and which has been thus pushed forward into uncalled for, and doubt/ens unwished for, publicity, is only a humble and inoffensive beetle of the genus Elephantrunculuts widelegit or straddle-bug. The peninsula

"spuddists" may still rest in peace, as regards this agricultural pest.

A boy about ten years of age. named Curtis, got a nasty kick from one of Mr Scott's horses on the morning of the loth inst. The lad saw Mr Scott, in Harlock's paddock, trying to catch Ins horses, and ran to head them, when one kicked out and caught the lad in the stomach, knocking him down apparently severely injured. Dr Guthrie was at once sent for, and on examination stated the lad was but little hurt. It was fortunate for the boy that he was close to the horse, otherwise the effect of such a kick might have had a fatal termination.

Mr Hooper, a few days since, caught a trout in the Giehan Valley mill dam, which he estimated would weigh about a pound. It does nOt seem as if the trout, which were some years since, placed in the Akaroa streams, have increased much in numbers, as it is but seldom that one is seen or caught. The fish caught by Mr Hooper was returned to the water.

The Akaroa Mutual Improvement Association, at their last meeting, held on the evening of the 13th inst., agreed to adjourn their meetings during the summer months, and to re-commence meeting again in the first week of March next. Owing, doubtless, to this being the busy season among our dairy farmers, the attendances of late at the association's meetings have been very small. A daughter of tbe late Colonel Peacocke, who was formerly a resident of Akaroa .(Miss Georgiana Peacocke), lias written and published in Auckland, a volume of pocnip. The title of the book is " Rays from the nnd the Auck- „,.■•«,-,...■,-.,..,..,!.- ...,,}j ,if its literary

A special aif.efing oi the Akaroa School Committee, was.held la*t Monday evening, in the schoolroom. Present—Mr W. Penlington (chairman), Messrs Annand, Daiglisb, Sims, Bruce, and Hemingway. The meeting ■■having been convened to consider whether it would be desirable or not for the committee to supplement tbe prizes to be given at the exhibition of Dec. 17th, it was decided, after considerable discussion—-'That should the committee give prizes for the show on the 17th Dec. next, it would neutralise their own examination and prize list." A memo was read from the master, suggesting that books used in the school should be given as "prizes; also, pointing out the desirability of making- some allowance to the master, to enable him to give small rewards occasionally, and stating that he had given about two pounds in prizes during his year of office. After some discussion, it was proposed by Mr Bruce, seconded by Mr Hemingway—" That the master be recouped for monies spent in rewards to the children." It was decided that the examination be hold and prizes given on Friday. Dec. 14, and that school duties be resumed on Monday, Jan. 14, 1878. Mr Dalglish and Mr Hemingway appointed a sub-committee to act with the master in choosing books for prizes, the meeting then adjourned.

Two men in the employ of Mr Thacker, Okain's Bay, were injured by accidents last week. One of them, Win. Vickary, was so severely hurt by being thrown out of a trolley, winch somehow or other, when loaded with workmen, ran off the rails, at to render it necessary for him to go to Christchurch for. advice. The other, John O'Day, whilst detaching a horse from a trolley load of timber, managed to get the chain foul of one of his legs, and, the horse

moving on, sustained. a- severe spraim with a few flesh wounds, fortunately, however, getting clear before any serious injury resulted.

In the Government Gazeite of the Bth inst, appears the following return of the number, tonnage, and crews of vessels entered inwards at the ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin for the quarter ended 30th 1 September 1577 :—At Auckland,- 47 vessels, 30,048 tons, 1230 men, as against 49 vessels, 23,192 tons, BGS men in the corresponding quarter 1876; at Wellington, 30 vessels, 17,764 tons, 543 men, against 30 vessels, 17.257 tons, 506 men, in 1876 ; at Lyttelton, 31 vessels, 13,147 tons. 423 men, against 30 vessels, 13,755 tons. 424 men, in 1876; and at Dunedin 24 16,729 tons, 423 men, against 29 vesels 14,156 tons, 368 men, in 1876. In the return of vessels cleared outwards is shown at Auckland, 66 vessels, 34,873 tons, 1430 men, against 53 vessels, 25,577 tons, 970 men, in 1876 ; at Wellington, 32 vessels. 19.506 tons, 577 men, against 26 vessels. 16,486 tons, 435 men, in 1876 ; At Lyttelton, 32 vessels, 11,969 tons, 360 men, against 34 vessels, 14,113 tons, 401 men, in 1876 ; and at Dunedin, 28 vessels* 14.363 tons, 406 men, against 25 vessels, 14,723 tons. 387 men, in 1876.

We have received a circular from "The Vagabond " of Australian fame, requesting' us to the fourth series .of/the " Vagabond Papers" is nearly ready".' Those who have read' his -former papers will doubtless give a cordial welcome to the new series, which, to judge by its promised contents, will in every way come up to its predecessors. v In a report, published in the Lyttelton Times, of the meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch, held on the Bth inst., we observe that '• telegrams had been received anent a call from Kuinara to the Rev. Mr Douglas." As the necessary documents from Kumara had not arrived, Mr Douglas declined making any statements in reference to the call. - We also observe that the Rev. Mr Douglas " wished the Presbytery to provide him with a Missionary to assist him in his work on the Peninsula, and asking advice as to difficulties connected with the Wainui services." A resolution was passed—"That Mr Douglas continue his services there as heretofore, and that Mr McGregor, as deputy from the Presbytery, do visit the district and enquire what would be most suitable to be done under the circumstances." The Presbytery meet again on the 19th inst., by which date the docn.nents from Kumara are expected to have arrived.

At the election of a Trustee, to serve on the Lakes Ellesmere and Forsj-th Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust, for the Ellesmere district, on Monday last, Mr D. Marshall was duly elected, the other candidate, Mr Coo, having neglected to

sisi.ii the nomination paper, thus rendering his nomination null and void.

When the s.s. Akaroa was preparing to leave Lyttelton the other morning, a young bull, the property of Mr Crow, which had been placed on board for shipment to Little Akaloa, took a sudden fancy for a swim, and jumped over the rail into the water, displacing a considerable quautity in its immersion, and causing every one to

imagine there was a whale fooling around. A boat was lowered, and the erratic bovine was soon towed back to land, and reshipped, when he seemed none the worse for his bath. He was very thoughtful during the rest of the voyage.

In a statement, which appears in the Government Gazette of Nov. Bth, showing the area and approximate Value of unsold land in each County in New Zealand, at 31st August, 1877, we read that iv the Akaroa County there wore 116,939 acres of pastoral land, valued at 25s per acre, making a total of £146,179; 20,000 acres of forest land, valued at 40s per acre, making a total of £40,000; and 30,000 acres of mountainous, or valueless land. It is worthy of remark, that tlie value of the pastoral lands in the Akaroa County is only equalled in one other County in the Colony, namely, the Whakatanc County, and the value of the -forest lands ranks highest with those of the Geraldine, Waimate, and Waikouaiti Counties.

A return of the value of Imports at the several ports of New Zealand during the quarter ended 30th September, 1877, as given in the Gazette of Nov. Bth, shows a sum of £348,613 for Lyttelton, against £322,084 in the corresponding quarter, 1876 ; £341,505 for Auckland, against £371,752; £328,169 for Wellington, against £358,982 ; and £615,620 for Dunedin, against £436,437. A similar return of Exports shows £315.057 for Lyttelton. against £215.002 ; £206.315 for Auckland, against £110.571 ; £63,485 for Wellington, t\::Auni £7:77 ; and £ii.32,t;!6 for Dunlin,

We have to acknowledge receipt of some copies of Sir George Gress speech, delivered in the House of Representatives, in reply lo the Hon Major Atkinson".*"motion of ;< No Confidence,"- on /..October 26th, 1877., The: speech; is published'in the form of; a paniphlet, under the title of; "The policy of tlie future, not; class' against class," and is intended for.free distribution. Copies, as far as the number permits, can he obtained at this office.

A meeting of committee of the forthcoming Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition was held ou the evening of tbe 14th instant. Certain additions and alterations were made to the prize schedule, which, as amended, was ordered to be. advertised in the Mail, and the Secretary was instructed to have five hundred copies of the schedule printed'to be distributed as handbills. It was arranged that Mr James Wood's special prize, of a singing canary with cage, be given to the best specimen of music copying. Mr Nicholls was requested to write to the different schoolmasters of the Peninsula, drawing their attention to the objects of the proposed exhibition, and requssting their aid and co-operation, which Mr Nicholls undertook to do. The following ladies and gntleman where suggested as judges:—Horticultural exhibits— Rev. W. Aylmer, Messrs Nalder, Greenaway, Penlington. Drawing, Writing, Mapping, &c—Messrs McGregor, Nalder, Westenra. Needlework, &c—Mrs Dawber, Mrs S. Watkins, Miss Shackell, Mrs Munro, Miss Kearney, Mrs Hooper. BreadMrs Sunckell, Mrs O'Brion, Mrs Hooper ; Music Copying—Mrs Wood, Miss Connell, Mr H.'Bridge. The Hon, Secretary informed the meeting that he had received several promises of prizes for special objects, and anticipated, as the object of the exhibition got better known, to receive many others from persons in other parts of the Peninsula and elsewhere. The meeting was adjourned for a fortnight, or earlier if required.

The usual quarterly installation of officers of the Akaroa Hope Lodge, 1.0.G V. took place on Wednesday evening last, : K. Harlq.ck acting as installing officer. The following members take office- for the current quarter. Bro. Win. Kearney, W.C.T. ; Bro. I<\ Robertshaw. W.V.T. ; Bro. G. Armstrong, W.S.; Bro. Alger, W.A.S. ; Bro. Newton, W.F.S. ; Bro." Jolly, W.T. ; Sister Billens, W.C. ; Bro. J. Bruce, P.W.C.T. ;;Bro. Hammond, W.O.G. ; Bro. Morgan, W.I.G. ; Bro. C. GutbeiJet, W.M.; Bro. Higgins, W.D.M.; Sister Newton, W.R.H.S.; Sister Connell, W.L.H.S. Bro. A. K. Hariock, was recommended as Lodge Deputy for the nest year.