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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 153, 4 January 1878, Page 2

His Worship the Mayor has had subscription lists, in aid of the widow and orphans of the late John Bunny, left at the different places of business and hotels in Akaroa, and has also forwarded other lists to the different bays. We hope a liberal response will be given to His Worship's appeal, and trust that the debt on the deceased's cottage and land may be thus paid off, ac well as material help being otherwise rendered to the family. Those who would like to aid in this object, but cannot spare.cash, can contribute gifts of cheese, or other produce, which will be sold and the proceeds placed to the credit of the fund.

We clip the following, which appears as an appendix to the Surveyor-general's annual report on the surveys of the colony, as it refers to the state of the surveys on the Peninsula. Thia report, with accompanying documents, was laid before the House of Assembly, and has been received by as from the government printer:— Extract from Letter of Chief Surveyor of Canterbury to Surveyor-General, dated 24th Jiilj', 1877. Surveys on Banks Peninsula:— "The inaccuracies of the former sectional surveys can hardly be exaggerated. The sections overlap one another many chains. In Wainui, opposite Akaroa, some points, by recent surveys, .are found to be thirty chains out of the position shown on the present tenchain map, and in another case, on the eastward side of the hills behind Akaroa, onesection is proved to be over fifty chains from the position shown in the survey. The roads in many cases are not where they are shown to be, and, in numberless cases> have not been made where they were originally laid out, but. are on private property. The arrears of survey on the Peninsula on the 30th June last were 873 sections, containing 00,540 acres ; but the rough, mountainous nature of the country, the heavy bush cutting, and the difficulty of establishing any of the old survey lines or pegs, which in many cases have been destroyed by bush fires, will render these arrears most tedious and costly surveys to complete. Any revision of the old survpys, and the issue of corrected titles must, from the very heavy arrears of surveys to be done in the Canterbury District, remain in abeyance for at least tv/o years. Individual cases of very great hardship are almost daily pointed out to me of people who have not been put in possession of their land, purchased in seme cases, five or seven yeurs -go ; but as they occur in twenty different bays or valleys, I.cannot sendesurveyors to all of them, but I having at least six surveyors the peninsula so soon as 1 can obtain suitable officers. In the present state of these surveys

it would be quite useless to attempt to get the woricdone by contract, as the loss of 'time and delay in establishing old boundaries would make the contractors ask a price higher than that for which the work could be done by staff officers."

The Wairewa Christy Minstrels gave an I entertainment in the school-room, Little "River, on Wednesday evening, the 26th 'ult. The room was quite full. The* programme consisted of a play termed the Spectre Bridegroom, songs and dances in character, and the farces, Uncle Tom, and the Black Doctor. The various characters were well represented. In the Spectre Bridegroom, the parts of Mr Nicodemus, Squire Aldwinkle, Captain Vauntington, Dickory, and Paul, were taken by Mr H. Reynolds, Mr L. Jacobson, Mr G. Westtropp, Mr J. Sands, and Mr F. Bracy, respectively. Mr Bracy's songs " Charlie Baker," and the " Big Sunflower," and also Mr Harris , song, " Just before the battle," were given in capital style. In the farce of " Uncle Tom," Messrs Sands and Reynolds were very amusing , . Mr Sands negro song and dance elicited an encore 'which was responded to by another song of the The farce of the " Black Doetbr " brought the performance to a close.

A match of cricket was played on the Lake Flat, near Wascoe's Hotel, on Thursday, the 27th ult., between eleven ftbys from Little River and an equal number from Gebbie's Vailey. Mr W. Joblin was in charge of the Little River team, and Mr J. Radford accompanied that from Gebbis's Valley. The match resulted in favour of the Little River boys by four runs, and four wickets to spare. This was an agreeable surprise to the winners, who fully anticipated a defeat, and their manifestations of triumph were exhibited in a truly boyish manner decisive and exultant.

The number of births registered in Akaroafor thequarter ended December 31st was 35, deaths 5, and marriages 9. During the year 1877 there was 145 births, 18 deaths, and 23 marriages registered. We have to thank the registrar for supplying us with these returns.

We hear it rumoured that the matters in dispute between the Lakes Reclamation and Railway Trust, and their late Engineer, Mr Latham, have been amicably settled through Messrs Hanmer and Harper, the solicitors to the Trust body.

The election of two members to serve on the' Lakes Reclamation and Railway Trust, for the undermentioned districts has resulted in the re-election of Messrs Gr. B. Joblin and Jas. Dalglish, for the borough of Akaroa, and Messrs J. Gebbic and T. S. Parkinson, for Little River.

The soul stirring music produced by stones placed inside of empty kerosinetina is not conducive to balmy slumbers, and the lullabys played on these sleep killers do not tend to sweeten the tempers of those who are disturbed by their demoniac din. This j r early infliction is bad enough, for people to have to put up with, but on new year's morning, the larrikin element, whodelightin producing a pandemonium of sounds to herald the new year, improvised something fresh wherewith not only to annoy householders but also to cause injury to their properties. The annoyance and damage we speak of was the painting of doors, and fences, with red paint which, being mixedj with oil, is difficult of removal. This is about the most wilfully insane performance that could be conceived ; there is nothing funny or jocular in the act; it is simply damaging others' premises for the sake of so-called, but mis-named sport. We only hope that the police may be able to bring the artist, or artists, in red, before the R. M.

As will be seen by advertisment elsewhere the : treat to the children attending St. Peter's School, which was to have taken place yesterday, has had to be postponed owing to the unfavourableness of the weather. An adjournment of a little extra eating, drinking, and sports, is always a great deprivation to children but, with a fine day to-day yesterday's misforune will doubtles soon be forgotten in the enjoyment of the good things provided.

j A meeting of the Vestry of St. Peter's church, was held at the Parsonage, Akaroa, on Wednesday evening. Present—Rev. P. C. Anderson, in the chair, Messrs Wagstaff, churchwarden, and Curry, Harlock, and M'Gregor, vestrymen The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the correspondence considered, amongst which was a letter from the Church Property Trustees, in reply to a letter from the Vestry stating that they had not been able to find that any right-of-way existed through the Hospital Reserve, No.-97, to the church property section, No. 55, indeed that no such right existed. It was reported that the rent of the cottage belonging to the church at the the Bay had been paid. A discussion cook place in regard to fencing the church grounds at the Head of the Bay, and it was suggested that the Church Committee there be asked to move in the matter as soon as they can see their way to getting funds for the work. Certain books ] as required by the Synod regulations was ordered to bo procured for the churches in the parish of Akaroa, and the Rev. Chairman undertook to make up the terriers of the parish church. The Vestry, after considering various questions of finance, afterwards adjourned.

The Rangiora Standard of the 29th ult., informs its readers that the local fire brigade indulged '• :n ' wet practice, fo r about half an hour, at the well near the Bank of New Zealand." We know of many thut are l'om! of indulging- in •' wet practice," but we never knew them go to a well for that purpose.

The stealing of rope and other smalj articles from the jetty is becoming far too frequent. ,In addition to other things which are missing, trie boat falWbelonging to the davits, used by MrC.W. Bridge, has been taken. Mr Bridge had only recently had the rope rove, so that the peculators picked out a nearly new article. Until some one is either caught in the act, or the property traced to them, it will be difficult to put a stop to this unsatisfactory state of affairs.

An overpoweringly offensive odour assails the nostrils when passing that part of the beach opposite Leprou'sforge. The stench apparently proceeds from the decomposed vegetable and other matter washed up by the sea. As the outlay would be but small, we think that the Borough Council might have this refuse removed to some other place where it would not be the nuisance it now is.

At the nomination of tnejiibers, yesterday, at Duvauchelle's Bay, for the Lakes Reclamation and Railway Trust, Messrs E. C. Latter, B. Shadbolt, and $nhu Bell were nominated. The poll is fixed for Monday, the 7th instant, the polling place being the Duvauchelle's Bay sshool room.