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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 159, 25 January 1878, Page 2

Ihe Alleen Combination Troupe performed in Akaroa for the last time on the evening of the 23rd inst, to a thin but appreciative audience. Tho different items given during the evening were all of them capitally done, acrobatic performances without a hitch, and the singing smoothly and well. The Masters Elder are a host in themselves, while Mr Marshall's vocalization is a treat that is but seldom heard here. It is a great pity that the weather, during this company's visit, has been so mnch against them, as it must be very depressing to come such a distance and have to play to nearly empty benches. The troupe played last night at the Head of the Bay and will perform to-night at Pigeon Bay, where, we trust, they will met with a bumper house.

The relater of the subjoined anecdote is said to be the "inimitable Thatcher,'-' who,

a fow years since, was giving concerts in this colony. Mr Thatcher's powers of imagination seem to be as brilliant as they ever were. The Cincinatti Commercial says:—The negro minstrel, Thatcher, the other evening told a ludicrous story to a big audience, and put a catch phrase into the mouth of Indianapolitans that has kept them laughing ever since. Two sailors, who had a parrot with them, went into a

magician's show in an upper, room in some foreigu city. The three constituted the audience. After each feat of the magician's one of the sailors would remark, "That's pretty good ; wonder what they'll do next.'' —Finally one of the sailors asked permission to smoke, which the magician granted, forgetting that in the room beneath was stored an immense quantity of gunpowder. The Jack tars and the parrot continued to enjoy the show, one sailor adding the pleasure of his pipe, and the other remarking after each trick, " That's pretty good ; wonder what they'll do next." A spark from the smoker's pipe chanced to drop through a crack in the floor into the powder, and something suddenly occurred. Sailors and magician, parrot and all, " rose above party prejudice," and were all blown to kingdom come, in a million fragments, all except the poll-parrot. He landed, a heap of bruised flesh aud burnt feathers, in a potato patch, three miles away. He was utterly demoralized. It took some moments to collect himself, and when he had partially done so, he hopped limpingly upon a fence-rail and remarked :—" That's pretty good; wonder what they'll do next." We clip the following peculiar resume of the qualifications of a horse named " Joe," and we leave it to our readers to conjecture which would be most sold— the horse or its purchaser :—" This horse is clever, perfectly trained, snuffle bridlehunter, and fast up to nine stone across any country. Sold for no fault, well-bred and powerful, high couraged, but good tempered, and temperate with hounds, quiet and free from vice, well-known with her Majesty's, Prince of Wales', Mr Garth's, Surrey, Berks, Cambridge, Essex, Kent, Warwickshire, Mr Leigh's, Mr Stratton's, Quorn, Pytchley and several other packs of hounds, winner of many races, out of constant work, perfectly sound, grand action and thoroughly broken, goes well in single and double harness, has run leader and wheeler in a team, will work in a cart plough or harrow, never out of his place a capital jumper, never made a mistake in his life over banks, timber, water, stonewall, hill or vale country ; best lady's horse in England, been ridden charger, plenty of quality and manneis, splendid mouth, doesn't shy, never stumbles. Good walker and fast trotter, excellent park hack, never sick nor sorry since he was foaled, subject to any Veterinary's examinations ; he can trap Rabbits, manage foreign and fancy Poultry, rear Pheasants, do a little plain Gardening, milk and lookafter Cow and Pig, wait at table, teach in Sunday school and play the organ in the church as well, and TO BE S}LD "

At the meeting of the Peninsula Jockey Club, held on Thursday, 17th instant, at Garwood's House on the Hill Top, the following gentlemen were proposed as members of the Club :— Messrs S. Lee. Wascoe, Robinson, M'Farlane. Main. Haines, Sir M. Le Fleming, Allen, Buchanan, Olphert, Nutt, and M'Callum. Mr 3. Shadbolt was unanimously elected President of the Club in the room of the late H. Buchanan, Esq., and Mr S. Lee was ap pom ted Ste wa rd.

The prizes awarded to the children attending the Duvauchelle's Bay School were distributed to the various successful competitors by W. Montgomeiy, Esq., M.H.R., when on his way back' to Christchurch, after addressing bis constituents in this place. Mr Montgomery, after a short address to the children, proceeded to deliver the prizes, in accordance with the subjoined list of prize-takers in the various classes :—Standard 5 — Henry Piper, 1 ; J. Pawson, 2. Standard 4—R. Pettigrew, 1 ; No rah Vogan, 2. Standard 3— E. Cossar, 1 ; Jane Libeau. 2. Standard 2— Eliza M'lntosh, 1 ; Laura Shadbolt, 2. Standard 1 — Esther Libeau, 1 ; Janet Beggs. 2. Knitting—Christina Pettigrew, 1 ; Laura Shadbolt, 2 ; Sarah M'lntosh, 3. Sewing—Rosina Pawson, 1 ; Eva Pawson' 2 ; Harriet Shadbolt, 3. Mr Montgomery expressed himself highly pleased with the sewing and knitting, which were very creditable when the ages of the children were taken into consideration. At the conclusion of the prize giving, three hearty cheers were given by the boys for Mr Montgomery, who had asked for, and obtained, a holiday for the school.

The notorious murderer Sullivan is again in England according to the Dunedin Star. This journal professes to have received a letter from a passenger who went to England from Melbourne, in the ship Loch Ryan, and in that ship, it is stated, Sullivan was a second class passenger, his identity not being discovered until the vessel was a month on her voyage. If the English police make times as lively for Mr Sullivan as they previously did, the chances are we shall shortly hear of that gentleman being again on his way back to these colonies.

Father Hcunebery did not commence hitmission at Chribtchureh before such a movement was necessary, as we read that 950 males, and 103 females, were arrested for drunkenness, at Christchurch, during the past year. These figures tell a lamentable story.

On Tuesday last, a cow, lately the pro- j perty of Mr J. Beecher, developed a sudden j and irresistable desire, while being driven" past the Literary Institute, to investigate the latest reference work on M cattle, their treatment, &c," probably with a view to remonstrating with her driver, as to the pace with which she was being hurried through civilization. She accordingly made one rush, and succeeded in taking charge o£ the little room, belonging to the above mentioned institution, which is set apart for works of reference. It so happened, that when this occurred, his Worship the Mayor, and Mr Andrews, whose lecturing abilities are so well and deservedly known, were having a quiet perusal of the papers in the reading room of the Library. Startled by a noise at the entrance, both looked up and to their horror saw a large bluish looking cow charging into the doorway. A blue hook in a reading room is a common sight, but a blue cow being somewhat unusual, and the human mind being unable to see into the future, to get up the chimney was the thought that first suggested itself to both of them. A glance, however, shewed this to be out of the question. A happy thought then struck his Worship, which was to close the reading room door, and be accordingly did so, placing himself bolt upright against it. The lecturer, considering that this was not a sufficient barricade, planted his head in his Worship's waistcoat and with the leverage of one foot against the table awaited further trouble. The cow, in the meantime, had entered the little room, sniffed round, and, before she had time to find the work she wanted, was hunted out again, fortunately without doing any damage to speak of. After considerable time had elapsed, the lecturer withdrew his bead from bis Worship's waistcoat, and found that worthy gentlman in an advanced stage of suffocation ; however, mutual explanations succeeded, a few cautious peeps were made through the key hole, and it being discovered that all cause for alarm had ceased, the two departed, justly thankful for one of the narrowest escapes on record.

Considerable anxiety was experienced on Tuesday afternoon last at the appearance of a dismasted vessel coming up the harbour. On ourreporter going on board, it proved to be the fore-and-aft schooner Saxon, from Dunedin, bound to Auckland with a cargo of flour. Captain McKonzie reports leaving Dunedin on Sunday morning, experienced fine weather until off Oamaru, when he picked up a strong S.E. breeze, which gradually freshened with nasty squalls and rain, the making good weather under reefed canvas, until about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, when a heavy squall carried away his foremast, bringing with it his maintopmast. Luckily, between the squalls ihe Captain managed to make out the entrance to Akaroa harbour. Had it happened at night the want of the lighthoure would have caused this fine vessel, either to have gone on the ninety-mile beach, orto have drifted past the Peninsula until picked up by some passing steamer with a large claim for salvage. The Captain hopes to be able to fish the broken mast, and to resume his voyage in a few days. The Right Rev. Bishop Redwood administered t'ht' rite of confirmation yesterday to seventeen candidates, feelingly and kindly exhorting them as to the nature aud obligation of the solemn vows which they were undertaking. His Lordship preached an eloquently impressive discourse- on the unity of tho Catholic Church, and was listened to with great attention by a large and devout congrega;ion. The estates of 31 deceased persons, of the total estimated value of £5335, were placed under tha charge of the Public Trustee, during last month. The value of the estates ranged from one pound to as high aa £2500.

During the Rev. Father Hennebery's mission in Akaroa, he has administered the total abstinence pledge to over eighty persons, this number including both children and adults. What with the Good Templars previously, and now with Father Hennebery's converts, Akaroa promises to become a watering place in another sense.

In Yesterday's Press we observe that James Reynolds, storekeeper, of Little River, notifies that ho is unable to meet his engagements with his creditors, and that the first meeting of such creditors is appointed to be held at the Supreme Court-house, Christchurch, on Friday, the Ist day of February next, at half-past twelve.

The cricket match between Eleven of Australia and Fifteen of Canterbury terminated yesteraay in favor of the latter by six wickets and two runs. In their first innings the Australians made 46, in their second 143, against Canterbury's 135 in the first innings, thus leaving 55 to be made by the fifteen to score a win. The reports of the game in the Christchurch daily papers, describe the play as remarkable good throughout, and the ground good in spite of the rain that had fallen. The match was attended by a large concourse of spectators, from 7000 to 8000, who evinced the liveliest interest in the of the game. We congratulate the players, and the Province that possesses them; for the victory over the picked eleven of Australia may well be reckoned as something to be proud of. We wonder how the Dunedinitecsfeel now?

The Government Gazette of the 12th inst., convenes the next meeting of the Genera' Assembly for Friday, the 29th day of March next.

The lecture, advertised to be delivered last night.by Mr Andrews, did not come off, owing to interruptions from tbose presenl. The interruptions consisted, not only of cat-calls, whistling, &c, but also took the more substantial form of eggs (fresh), flour, crackers, and missiles of other descriptions. Telegrams from Lord Derby, Earl Beaconsfield, Baker Pasha, the Dardanelles, and Rouinania were banded in to the would-be lecturer, the reading of these and other communications causing considerable amusement. Mr B. Hughes was voted to the chair, but was unable to keep order. The proceedings were abruptly closed by a vote of censure on the Akaroa Mail* for not sending a reporter, and the ignominons exit of the lecturer, followed by a volley of flour, eggs, crackers, &c. If the " Political aspect of Europe " is anything similar to the scene that took place within the Town Hall of Akaroa last evening, it must be stormy indeed!

It is high time that the bye-laws of the Borough were in force. What are the Council about that they allow twelve months to pass without their bye-laws being in operation ? The manner in which cattle of doubtful docility are driven through the streets of Akaroa during the busiest hours of the day is not only dangerous but positively disgraceful to any town calling itself a Borough, we trust that every effort will be made by His worship the Mayor and the Councillors to effect a speedy bringing into law of these regulations so necessary for the proper conduct of affairs in the Borough.

The absolute necessity for a lighthouse at the Heads was practically shewn the other day in the difficulty experienced by the schooner Saxon, when disabled, even during the day time in weathering the South Head. Had it been night, without the light to guide him, the Captain says he could not have done, it, and that he would probably have gone ashore on the ninety mile beach. It is to be hoped that instances of thiskind will tend to urge the Government to increased exertions so as to obtain as speedy a completion of the work as possible.

The total deposits in the Post Office Savings Banks of Canterbury for the past year was £256,023, the withdrawals during the same period being £155,701, leaving a balance to the credit of depositors of £100,322. This speaks well for the industrial classes of this provincial district. In the Government Gazette of the 17th inst., His Excellency the Governor's approval is given te the Waste Lands Board of the Provincial District of Canterbury meeting for the dispatch of business, on Mondays and Thursdays in each week, at the hour of noon.