Untitled

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 145, 7 December 1877, Page 2

We understand .that the entertainment in aid of the Regatta Funds is to be strictly " Christy Minstrel," the first portion consisting of the usual chair business and instrumental and vocal music,, the latter part of songs, negro farces, stump speeches, &c. Considerable trouble is being taken-to creditably present 'the various items, all the available local talent being engaged in their production, and we trust that a bumper house,may reward their efforts, and at the same time augment the funds, of the Regatta, which sadly need it..

By advertisement elsewhere Captain Clark, of the p.s. Tongariro, notifies his .intention of running from Akaroa to the various bays within the harbour on the morning of the Regatta, returning to Akaroa in time for the first race, and leaving Akaroa to re-land passengers at their respective localities the same evening. As the return fare is very reasonable, doubtless many will take advantage of this quick and pleasant trip to the scene of tho Regatta, and Horticultural and Iv-

' it is gratifying to ns, as journalists, to have to record the material progress of any portion of the large district comprised ..within the boundaries of the County of Akaroa, thinking, as we do, that the advancement of any one locality must indirectly tend to the prosperity of'the whole. We are led to make these remarks by having noticed the marked influx: of settlements, and settlers, into and about the Little River districts. We hear from many sources, that that majnificent piece of country, known as the Port Levy valley, is being rapidly opened out, the bush cleared, houses being built, and. grassed paddocks taking the place of native bush. On the opposite side, of what we may term the Little River basin, there are also many signs of advancement, and wotably so in the valley leading towards the Wainui range. The Maoris have also been improving the native reserve, and'adding to the number of their dwellings. Such healthy signs as these go far to prove that the many advantages which Little River possesses are 'being rapidly utilised to the benefit of the district and its industious inhabitants.

The monthly meeting of the Akaroa School Committee was held in the schoolroom, on Monday last. Present —All the members. The minutes of the two previous meetings having been read and oonfirmed, the chairman read a letter from the Board in reply to the committee's application for increased gymnastic apparatus, stating that until the Board receive the grants for the incoming year they cannot accede to the request. From the same, asking for the official record of the number of school site section, by whom and when the site was conveyed, and . the acreage of the same. The chairman was requested to furnish the necessary information. The master's suggestion respeotthe appointment of a pupil teacher was adopted, the boy to make application, also his suggestion of appointing examiners, Messrs Dalglish, Sims, and the chairman being authorised to make the necessary arrangements. Mr Whitcombes account of £6 3s Gd, for prizes, was ordered to be paid, the books being generally approved of. The master's account for school cleaning was ordered to be sent to the Board. The chairman was instructed to send Mr Allott's bill for repairs, &c, to the Board on the completion of the work. The meeting then adjourned.

The open Lodge meeting in connection with tbe Akaroa Hope Lodge, 1.0. G.T., took place on Wednesday evening last, and was decidedly a success, though somewhat inferior in quality to those that have preceded it. The hall was crowded, and the heat intense, showing only too plainly the necessitj' for a larger building in which to hold such meetings, and, by contrast, tbe great accommodation that the new Oddfellows' Hall will prove for purposes of thiskind. Bro A. K. Harlock's address was well rendered and received, as was also a reading by the same gentleman later on in the evening—a reading which was most appropriate to the occasion, showing great taste and discrimination in its choice. The gem of the evening was Bro L. Watkins' (of the Juvenile Lodge) song, "My mother's gentle word," which was sung with pathos and expression, and was deservedly encored. A duett, the well-known old favourite " 0, wert thou in the cauld, cauld blast," was charmingly rendered by Sister Connell and Bro L. Watkins, and, indeed, the playing of Sister Connell formed a great and pleasing feature in the evening's entertainment. Bro H. Billens gave anew Christy's ballad 4 " Far, far away," &c, in better style and with more life and energy than usual—an improvement that we hail with pleasure as he has a nice voice, and only needs more spirit in his singing. This gentleman's reading of " Mrs Brown on the army" was productive of much amusement. We have omitted to mention a song by Bro Robertshaw, the " Meeting of the waters," which was very nicely given, but a comic song by the same gentleman later on in the programme would have been better omitted. Bros G. Morgan and R., Newton respectively gave excellent recitations, which must have taxed, as they bore testimony to, their powers of memory. A. reading by Bro G. Black caused, as usual, agonies of merriment.; and a ratheri mournful, but sweet, little old Englishditty by Bro S. Fyfe was listened to with marked attention, and received on its con- ■ elusion, with vociferous applause. Alto-' gether, a very pleasant evening, with the exception of the terrible heat, was passed, all parties seeming to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The. meeting concluded with \ the singing of the National Anthem.

On Sunday evening last, whilst the ketch Janet was lying anchored to the Government moorings in Okain's Bay, which have been laid down some twelve months, the moorings carried away, tho buoy by some means getting adrift from the anchors. There was a heavy sea running at the time with little or no wind. The Janet narrowly escaped severe, damage by drifting on to the jetty A/ but luckily the danger was averted. Prompt measures should be at once taken to recover the lost anchors and chain.

By an obituary-notice in this issue it will be seen that Mr Archibald Montgomery, son of Mr Henry Montgomery, and nephew of our Representative, was among the unfortunate ■ passengers who were lost in the Avalanche on their return journey to New Zealand.

The fire which has been raging for the last few days in George's Bush, is reported to have burnt down 61 chains of fencing belonging to Mr E. Lelievre, besides other damage. Large bush fires are prevalent nil over the Peninsula, .but as yet the above is the only reported damage' resulting fr„rn thorn :

A meeting of the Le Bon's Bay School Committee was held last Saturday evening. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Hetnmingsen's resignation wa- a placed on the table, and, as far as could be made out, his reason for resigning was on account of the; business being carried.on in an illegal manner. -Mr H-mmingsen is a Dane, which perhaps accounts for the difficulty experienced in

deciphering his letter. Mr James Barnett's contract for gates, &c, was passed for payment. The Chairman was instructed to pay Messrs Whitcombe, Temperton and Co.'s account for the prizes out of the funds on hand for tbat purpose. The advices for salaries for October not having come to hand through some oversight, the Chairman paid those of the master and mistress for November, and communicated with the Board on the subject of the non-advice of the former month. The Committee did not altogether approve of there being a dance after the school treat, and considered it better to defer it for another occasion.

We have much pleasure in recording the return to the Colony of another old colonist, and one who was especially connected with the Peninsula for many years. We allude to Mr'RAßhodes, who, together with Mrs Rhodes and family, is now in Christchurch, having arrived via the Bluff by the last steamer. It will be remembered that Mr Rhodes went home to the old country for the benefit of his health, and at the time of his departure was our Representative in the general Assembly. We congratulate Mr Rhodes qh his safe return, and complete restoration fo health, a sentiment that we feel assured will be unanimous on the Peninsula.

A shark about five feet in length, armed with two formidable looking rows of teeth, was .caught from the Government wharf on Tite morning of the 4th inst. The monster was at once killed by its captor, and thrown into the sea again to feed the fish which its kind feed upon. We notice this capture with the hope that it may have the effect of inducing bathers to keep a good look-out, and not venture too far from the shore. The old adage has it that " there are plenty more where this came from." Mr Harlock, of the Akaroa Academy, has left at our office a specimen, both plain and colored, of pupil's certificates for proficiency in their studies. These certificates are certainly excellent specimens of the typographical art, and are creditable alike to the designer and printer. There is one thing however, in regard to these certificates, which does notmeet with our unqualified approval, and that is that they are the production of a Melbourne firm. We would have been far more pleased to have praised the handiwork of a New Zealand firm.

The Le Bon's Bay School breaks up for the Christmas holidays on Friday, the 14th instant. Mr Montgomery, as we stated before, kindly sent £3 3s, to be expended on prizes. The proceeds of Mr Hampton's lecture also amounted to£2 Bs, and that together with some other sums have been judiciously spent on books by the committee. The prizes will be given at the school treat. A large number of contributions of various kinds have been given towards it, and the affair promises to be a great success. A full account will be given when it takes.place.

We have before ns the first issue of the Temuka Leader, a fresh accession to the ranks of journalism, which has been started by Mr Ivess, the former proprietor of this journal. The paper i 3 full of interesting local and other matter, with, of course, the custonfiary introductory leader. We wish Mr Ivess every success in his venture, his association with the journal being in itself a guarantee of its ranking high among country newspapers. Elsewhere we publish an account of a public dinner given by the inhabitants of Tumuka to Mr Ivess, on the occasion of the advent of the new local journal.