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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 158, 22 January 1878, Page 2

For some time past lovers of cricket have been looking forward to the match between the Australian Eleven and a Canterbury Fifteen. This game A'as commenced ou Saturday last, before a large number of spectators, and resulted, so far as it has gone, in favour of the Canterbury men. Whether due to the effect of travelling, and consequent want of proper rest, insufficient knowledge of the pitch, or from whatever the cause may have been, the Australians seem to have got completely worsted, their total scoro in the first innings being only 46, against 105 made by Canterbury, with the loss of 10 wickets. Of this score Mr Baker, our local cricketer, made (ifteen by very pretty play, getting, with three others, intodouble figures. Mr Baker has long been known as one of the best cricketers in the province, but considering his want of practice, great credit is due to him for the fine innings he played on the present occasion, and against such good bowling. Of course, the match is not yet won, but Canterbury may bo proud of what her representative team has up to this time performed. It is a matter for real regret that the inclement weather of yesterday should have stopped the match, and we trust that to-day may prove more auspicious for a continuation of the game. The play of Canterbury so far, will, at any rate, show Dunedin that there was no cause to sneer at the idea of a lo of this Province playing the Australian Eleven.

The Rev. Father Hennebery commenced his Mission Services at the Catholic Church, Akaroa, on Sunday, the 20th iiiot., preaching both in the fore and afternoon of that day to large and attentive congregations. The Rev. gentleman's sermon in the afternoon was on the text of " what does it profit a in an if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul," and on these words he delivered a powerfully impressive discourse. Previous, however, to Father Hennebery's preaching, the Right Rev. Bishop Redwood, preached a sermon in French, for the benefit and edification of those, belonging to the congregation, who were not so thoroughly conversant with the English language as to be able to follow Father Hennebery in his remarks, and to understand perfectly the meanings so eloquently advanced by that preacherYesterday the Rev. Father held two services, and he will continue to do the same each day, until, and including, Thursday next; on the latter daj- Bishop Redwood will hold a confirmation service. Father Hennebery has stated that he trusts to see the catholics of this district, from far and near, at his mission services and invites their presence thereto.

A meeting has been held at Lincoln to consider a resolution passed by the Lakes Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust as to whether any objection would be taken to a certain route lor the contemplated line of railway to Little River. The Rev. A. P. O'Callaghan, a member of the Trust, was in the chair. Some discussion, in which Air James Bell, late of Tikao Bay, took a prominent part, then ensued resulting in the following resolution being proposed and carried, viz :—That this meotiugobjects to any high road being taken for a railway line, and also that there is a Tramway Reserve, which if used would be most advantageous for the purposes of the district. Robert Macfarlane, who was apprehended here for forgery and remancled to Christchurch, was brought up there on the 19th inst., and was further remanded until Friday next. A Dunedin friend, and correspondent of ours, who paid Akaroa a visit last week, and went irom hero to Lytic! ton, via Pigeon Bay on the morning of the Kith inst., whilst the nor'-wester was blowing so furiously, thus describes his journey : — •' I enjoyed my trip from Akaroa to Lyttelton, the scenery to Pigeon Bay was. to my mind, very grand. The sea was very rough and the little steam-boat was tossed about considerably, but without affecting me in the least. The only sensational incident throughout was the stick up owing to an immense black pine tree, about three feet in diameter in the trunk, with branches about one half the size, having been blown dow/i, and was lying across the road, which necessitilled a delay oil about an hour and it would have been much.more —probably we should have been unable ! to pass at ail—but for the fortunate circumstance of Mr Donald's survey 'party having come to that particular spot to j to meet the coach with a view to proceed t<; Pigeon Bay. They had been working ! for nearly an hour before our arrival and with our united strength ( a dozen all told) it took us nearly another hour to clear the road sufficient for the passage of the ■ coach.

As will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, Mr Andrews intends lecturing upon the present state of European affairs, and England's attitude in connection therewith.;" From the leoturer having made this a special study, we opine that those attending flic lecture will be '.treated to a,'fair and impartial exposition of the respective subjects to bo discoursed upon by Mr Andrews.

The Alleen Troupe gave their first entertainment at the Town Hall last night, but owing to the*inclemency of the weather, there was but a poor attendance, which is to be regretted as the performance, which is of the variety class, is well worth seeing. The horizontal bar evolutions by Messrs Lamont, Elder, Bernard, and De Bries were very neatly executed. Mr Marshall's singing of the " Slave

Chase " was remarkably good,*and a real treat. Mr Marshall has a fine powerful bass voice, which is well adapted to the rendering of Ilussell's songs. Master A. Elder's singing, dancing, and acting is wonderful for so young a child, and shows promise of great talent. The contortions of Eugene do Bries are simply marvellous, leading the spectators to the very natural conclusion that that gotitlenian's body cannot possibly have a whole bone in it. We regret that want of space prevents our giving a longer account, but we can say to those who "have not been to see the entertainment that if t\wy desire a pleasant evening's amusement, they had better do so.

The yacht Winonn, and the ketch Anna which started on Friday last, returned the next day as there was considerable sea running with a head wind. Mr Street leftfor Dunedin by the s.s. Taranaki, and both crafts will sail first opportunity.

. A meeting was held atOlphert's Fdrsytb Arms Hotel, Little River, on the evening of the 17th inst., to decide upon the advisability of having a steeplechase meeting in the district. The meeting was fairly attended by residents of Little River, and its neighbourhood, Mr J. F. Stanbury being the chairman. It was resolved to hold steeplechases at Little River, and after considerable discussion it was decided that such do take place on Friday, the Bth day of March next.

We hear it repotted on what we consider reliable authority that Sweet, tin; well known Canierluiry cricketer, and collector for our contemporary the Press, has levanted, ai'Uir a considerable amount, of monies which he had received on account of hid employers. We are told that Sweet's bondsmen will have to make good the amount ,of his defalcationsSince writing the above, we hear that Sweet has been capiured in Sydney.

A somewhat amusing incident occurred at a certain hotel in Cbristchurch during the past week. It appears that at an early hour of the morning, the lodgers were roused by one of their number rushing down the passage, knocking .at their doors and calling for help, as murder was being

committed ; and, on enquiry, it turned out that the cry " was actually; going on in the stajjdes at the rear of the hoiell^^ awakening, no douftt, one of the lodgers, a gentleman who trcfeides not a hundred miles from the Peninsula, was discovered with his body half out of the window yelling " fire ! fire ! " at the top of his voice, and it was only by one of the other lodgers plentifully besprinkling , him with the contents of the water jug that he could be made to believe that the engines had arrived and that all further cause for alarm was at an end. The real origin of the cry heard and the consequent disturbance was an unfortunate man suffering from delirium tremens in a building at the back of the house.

Although the amount of customs revenue collected throughout the colony for the year 1877 shows a decrease on the total of what was received for the previous year, yet, at Lyttelton, the duties obtained for 1877 are considerably in advance of what was collected there in 1876. The nett total of the past year was .£200,856 19s lid and for the preceding year it was £189.21)9 9s 7d, showing an increase during the year just past of £11,557 10s 4d. Figures such as these speak we'd for the prosperity and advancement of Canterbury.

On the moniing of Saturday last, intelligence was brought into Akaroa to the effect that a little girl had been lost at the Head of the Bay. The circumstances of the case are these :—lt appears that a little girl about eight years old, daughter of. Mr Clements of this place, had been during the temporary absence of her parents, left with Mrs Castles at the Head of the Bay. In the afternoon of Friday ( the 18th inst., Mrs had occasion to leave the house for a very short period and on her return the child was found to bo mi.s.sing. Search was at once made but without success, and considerable alarm was felt as it was [tared the iittle Unrig might have fallen from the wharf, and been drowned. The police were communicated with and every effort made toward the discovery of the 7iiissiug child. On the afternoon of Sunday, the 20th inst., she was found proceeding on her way to Wairtui. The child had once before been to French Farm, and it is presumed she must have wandered oft' to this place and lost her way, finally, however, reaching it. Here she obtained a night's lodging, and in the morning went on towards Wainui, where her n.oiher was staying, and she was μ-cio-- iv tins direction when discovered, as pievionsly stated. We are glad to have to record so pleasant a termination to what must have given serious cause for anxiety to Mrs Castles. We would adv'se the child's parents to' read her a lesson on peripatetic philosophy. A rumour is in circulation-to the offvet that it is the intention of the K.itioial j Bank of New Zealand to open a br.mchof their business in Akaroa. We do not vouch for the correctness of this report, but merely state it as we have heard it.

One of our local celehrities who is well known for hi.s eccentricities .and practical jokes, has, at last, received a peremptory invitation to call and see the B.M. on urgent business which will not hear delay or being put oil. The gentleman in question was " playing , circus," on Satuday evening last, and succeeded so well in astonishing others that Constable Ruffle thought it necessary to astonish him with a partly written and partly printed document requiring his prompt attention and attendance, as above, this day.

The Alleen Troup notify elsewhere their intention to play, at the Head of the Bay on Thursday next, and at Pigeon Bay on the evening following.

We extract the following from the San Francisco Sunday Chronicle. . —The Mr Peebles who is here quoted was lecturing in this colony on spiritualism, some two or three years since, and during his tour paid a passing visit to Akaroa. "J. M. Peebles, not long since a Methodist clergyman but more recently a popular lecturer, writes from Ceylon to the Religin-Philosophical Journal: " Buddhism is increasing in Ceylon. A while since the Buddhist priests met the Methodist missionaries in an open public debate, lasting two days. The Buddhists gained a decided victory. I have a complete report of this discussion, which I shall publish on reaching America. " This statement, taken in connection with 'that recently made that Buddhist missionaries are about to be sent to this country, suggests, says a religious contemporary, " a conflict o£ religions, in which the Buddhists will have the weight of superior numbers, its votaries numbering nearly one-third of the human race." There appears to be no sign of any falling off in the land sales of this provincial district, or of the revenue derived from such sales. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board held in Christchurch, on the 17th inst, there was sold 2409 acres 1 rood of waste lands, which realized £4878 10s. It is annoying to know that of this amount only twenty per cent belongs to this provincial district, instead of. as it should be, and was, the nett total.