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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 150, 24 December 1877, Page 2

. A meeting of the Lakes Drainage and Akaroa Railway Trust was held at Wascoe's Hotel, Lake Ellesmere, on Thursday last. All members were present, with the exception of Messrs. Bell and Dalglish. Mr Latter occupied the chair, and submitted a legal opinion from Messrs Hanmer and Harper in regard to the Trust's liability for the accounts contracted by the Engineer, Mr Latham. A number of the men attended and objected to being paid off in a summary manner as they stated they had arranged to work for the Trust with their Engineer at per month. Mr Latham, who was present, said such was not the case as he held he could discharge them all at any : tiine. Mr Latham handed the Trust his account for salary up to the date of his resignation, amounting to £194 3s 4d. The account was ordered to lie on the table. Rev. A. P. O'Callaghan moved— "Thatthis meeting, at it rising, do adjourn until Monday, 24th December, at the office of Messrs Hanmer and Harper, Christchurch, at 11 o'clock, for the purpose of consulting them in regard to' various questions before the Tust." The motion was seconded by Mr Marshall, and carried. A cheque was handed to Mr Donkin to pay off all the hands, with the exception of McAllister, the chainman. Mr Hardy Johnson interviewed the Trust, and stated that on receipt of the chairman's letter he had come up from Temuka to meet the Board. He said he was disengaged, and willing to undertake their work, either by contract or salary. It was arranged that Mr Johnson meet the Trust in Ohristchurch on Monday, so as to have the matter finally setteled. A question was ptit to Mr Donkin in regard to the employment of the horses and buggies from Mr Millett. Mr Donkin stated that he believed they were being charged to Mr Latham. The meeting then adjourned until Monday as agreed upon.. Occasionally we have had to chronicle the peculiar pranks of the so called but very seldom to mention the wilful destruction of property by them. We are sorry, however, to have to state that on the morning of the 18th inst., Mr Rodrigues found the booth which he had been using on the previous clay, in his business, had baen, during the night, knocked down, the upright and other timber smashed, whilst property which he had left within the. booth had also received damage. Surely there can be nothing funny or witty in thus injuring and destroying property.

The long continued dry weather was pleasingly interrupted by very heavy rain throughout the night of the 21st inst. On Saturday morning, the 22nd, though still cloudy, there was evidently a strong inclination on the part of the clerk of the weather to once more turn off the short, but refreshing water supply.

In the present burnt up state of the pasturage, smokers cannot be too careful as to the sparks from their pipes,..as well as being particular in ■ extinguishing, the match with which they may light the tobacco they consume through it. From so simple a cause often arise, disastrous results. An instance of this kind happened in Long Bay on the 17th inst., when, it is supposed from a lighted match having been.carelessly thrown down, a paddock of cocksfoot grass, .of about one hundred acres in extent, the property of Mr Narby, caught fire, and before it was extinguished, the major part of the crop was .destroyed* This is a very heavy loss to Mr Narby who anticipated a heavy yield of seed from the paddock in question. The • numerous

' will be found an advertisementßQtifyjng that the p.s. Tongariro will \e [\jg Afatroa- for the Head of the J3ayookn k tlie jiace and Show days, returning in-..tj10l evening. Doubtless this will induce mtxnyi to attend, who otherwise would jiot, fi&A been able- to.do so, especially, as ttie j ' fare is* yery reasonable. We froifrtbe" Races and the Show likely to be thorough successes.

Mr-Mackay, a member of the Victorian "Legisjafjurerhaebeen standing-godfather to •jßhd'r6-Aamingthedog'fish family.' During a discussion upon the passing of a ■ vote for payments to be, made....for the destruction of sharks in Port Phillip Bay, Mr Mackay remarked " that bY codsiderM, the money was simply wasted, they were paying for the destruction of ' Sweet Williams' who were perfectly harmless." This, announcement took the house by surprise, no one knew what first was referred to and Mr Mackay had to enlighten the members on this finny matter by informing them that dog fish were locally known as "Sweet Williams."

In our advertising columns will be found

the programme of the Pigeon Bay sports, to be helc , on Friday, the 28th inst., consisting of horse racing and athletic sports, which will take place in Mr Hay's paddocks kindly lent for the occasion. A very full and attractive programme is presented, and, no doubt, competition will be lively and keen. Akaroa is about to develop a new local industry in the shape of a soda water i lemonade, and cordial manufactory. Mr J. O'Brion has imported all the.requisite machinery for concocting these airydrinks ; which are said to .cheer but not inebriate, and, we believe, intends commencing the sale of these beverages on Boxing-day. Mr T. B. Ghadwick has also purchased a similar plant but of an improved kind, and, it is rumoured, will shortly open a rival establishment for the sale of gaseous drinks. We wish them both success.

A meeting of ratepayers and householders- was held in the school room Le Bon's Bay, on the 17th instant, for the purpose of electing two members of School Committee in place of Messrs Hemmingsen and Hartstone. Mr Fred. Aldridge was proposed by Mr Thomas Oldridge and seconded by Mr E. Fairbrass, Mr James Oldridge was proposed by Mr B > Yorkenson and seconded by Mr F. Aldridge. No other person being nominated these gentlemen were declared by the chairman, Mr Hall, to be elected.

At the shops of Messrs Arming and J. Sunckell, jun., the display of Christmas meat has been unusually good, whilst the way in which the various carcases were dressed was superior lo anything of the kind previously shewn in Akaroa. The beef exhibited at Mr'Sunckell's was remarkably prime, as w&s -also the lamb. The same remarks apply to Mr Arming's display, who in addition shewed a goodly assortment of fat poultry, and whose shop was most tastefully decorated with evergreens, &c.