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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 164, 12 February 1878, Page 2

We hear it rumoured that Mr G. R. Joblin has been appointed Postmaster at Little River, in the room of Mr James Reynolds, and that a petition, signed by a number of the inhabitants, has been forwarded to Christchurch, protesting against Mr Joblin receiving the appointment.

We are pleased to observe that the erection of Jiew buildings and the improvement of others still continues within the borough. Mr Newton is erecting a large nine-roomed house at the upper end of Jollie street, which, when completed, will make a handsome addition to that part of Akaroa. The concrete foundations of the new Oddfeliows' Hall are in a forward state toward completion, sufficient having been done to show the size the future hall will be. Mr Vangioni's new grocery establishment also helps to give a business appearance to that portion of Lavaud street where it has been erected.

Our Christchurch contemporary, the Globe, knows how to call a spade a spade, as witness the following, from its issue of the Ist instant. The following paragraph appeared in the Lyttdton Times this morning"Journalistic.—We observe that our evening contemporary, the Star now appears in an enlarged form, which makes it one of the largest evening papers in the colony." Considering that the Globe was the first to exhibit the enterprise of its proprietor in placing before its readers an enlarged sheet, and that the Star only followed the lead thus set for it, the above is, to say the least of it, very cool. When making the enlargement the Globe announced the fact in a leading article, and gave its reasons. Did the Star do, so or content itself with playing second fiddle"? The Globe does not require to be bolstered up by any other journal—not even the high and mighty Lyttelton Times." It is quite refreshing to observe how beautifully some newspapers agree to disagree. We are afraid that the green-eyed monster jealousy has a lot to answer for in this instance. Wouldn't the Star like to swallow the " great Globe itself, yea, all which it inhabit V"

How cruelly satirical some of our contemporaries can be, and how shamefully they lacerate the sensitive feelings of even the most exalted. What will the Christchurch Cathedral Commission think of this from the Saturday Advertiser : —"Another harrow load of stones has been added to the Christchurch Cathedral during the year." The members of the Roman Catholic body have erected, not before it was required, a handsome sawn timber and picket fence on the Lavaud street frontage of their church and Presbytery grounds. This fence, when painted, will have a very neat appearance, and the Catholics are to be congratulated upon the interest they are now taking in their valuable property. We are glad to see that picket aud galvanized iron fences are gradually usurping the places formerly occupied by the dog's hind leg style of posts and rails.

We take the following from a Dunedin contemporary : — "We understand that George Robinson, the well-known halfcaste wrestler, has disposed of his land at the Otago Heads to the Chief Taiaroa, and has settled at Akaroa."

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Gebbie's Valley, Green Park, and Tai Tapu, convened by Messrs Perryman and Forbes, was to be held last night, at the schoolroom, Tai Tapu, to take into consideration the direction of the Akaroa line of railway, and as to how such inilway will affect the interests of the districts enumerated. An invitation to attend was given to the members of the Lakes Reclamation and Railway Trust.

We beg to draw the attention of our readers to Mr C. W. Bridge's sale of firstclass dairy and other stock, which is to take place at the Head of tho Bay, on Thursday, the 16th inst. Those in want of good stock cannot do better than attend this sale, as from the number of entries received by the auctioneer, there will be plenty of beasts to choose from.

At the meeting convened by His Worship the Mayor, Mr 11. G. Watkins, for the purpose of forming a committee to collect subscriptions for the support of the widow and family of the late John Bunny, which was held on Saturday evening last at Mr WagstalT's Hotel, it was stated that the actual sum received was £12 2s, the amount promised being £21/, 3s of which £8 10s had been paid for burial expenses. The chairman (Mr Watkins) stated that the subscription lists bad not yet been called in and suggested that they should be recalled as soon as possible. Mr Houghton said that he had collected the sum of £11 Iss, £10 of which had been paid to him. and for which he accordingly banded over a cheque to the chairman. The accounts as rendered by Mr Watkins were passed as correct, and a committee, consisting of Messrs Aiming, C. W. Bridge, Wright, Billons, Meech, and the chairman appointed to collect further subscriptions. We trust that the public will liberally respond to the call.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Otago district, 1.0.0.F.,M.U., held at Oamaru on the 25th ult., Prov. G. M. Leslie, stated " that the Order now numbered 520,000 members; its revenue in 1876 was £098,000, and its expenditure £445,000 ) while its capital was over £4,107,000. The Order in New Zealand numbered fully 6500 members, and during the year 1876 had paid over £4000 in sick pay, and close on £1100 for funeral benefits, while at the same time the 105 lodges of the colony had a capital of over £60,000. The Otago district contained 23 lodges with 1600 members, aud during the year they had expended full} 7 £1600 in sick and funeral benefits, while their funds amounted to £21,000, or rather more than a third of the capital of the Order in the colony."

The Rev. Mr Menzies, of Lawrence, Otago, preached on the forenoon and afternoon of Sunday last, to large and attentive congregations, in the Congregational Mission Hall, Jollie Street, Akaroa. Both of the rev. gentleman's discourses were eloquently and forcibly given, the imagery and language used being telling and enthralling. The occasional visits of preachers such as Mr Menzies will no doubt tend to increase the number of worshippers who attend the congregational services held in Akaroa. We desire to draw attention to the fact that the time for tenders being sent in with reference to the purchase of the property belonging to Mr E. C. St. John closes tomorrow. So fine a property as this should not be long in the market without finding a purchaser. The'following reply has been received from the Chief Postmaster of Christchurch by Mr Montgomery in answer to an application made by that gentleman for increased postal communication from Akaroa to Wainui.—" Chief Post Office Christchurch, 9th February, 1878. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that, in reply to my letter of the 30th ultimo, in reference to the mail services to Wainui, the Postmaster-General expresses regret that the postal appropriation is insufficient to admit of any increase in the expense of Mail communication between 'Wainui and Akaroa. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant. Sydney Dick, Chief Postmaster. — Wra. Montgomery Esq., M. H. R., Christchurch."

In one of the trade reports of the London Times it is stated "that the with Australia and New Zealand,- in Birmingham and Sheffield, is not a tenth of what it was three years ago."

We notice that telephonic communication has been tried between Lyttelton and Christchurch, and that further experiments with this latest wonder of science have been made even as far as Dunedin, a distance by wire of 250 miles, and Cromwell, 350 miles, with the most satisfactory resultsThrough want of space, we are compelled to hold over a more full report of this marvellous discovery.

A meeting of the chairmen of the counties of North Canterbury was held in Christchurch on Saturday last, for the purpose of taking into consideration th e distribution amongst the counties of the sum of £15,000, which had been voted to be appropriated —10,000 for domains, and 5000 for cemeteries, less one-third of each amount, which goes to the counties of South Canterbury. Mr E. C. Latter represented Akaroa at the meeting. Of the amount for domains, £3000 was appropriated to Christchurch, £73G 13s 4d to Selwyn, £1000 each to Ashburton and Ashley, and £900 to Akaroa. For Cemeteries—Christchurch, £1500, Selwyn, £408 6s Bd, Ashburton, Ashley, and Akaroa, each £475.

Mr W. Kenny, one of the gentlemen who were recently fined £5 in the R. M. Court for furious riding, has preferred taking the alternative instead of paying the fine imposed, and accordingly left Akaroa in company with Constable Ruffles for a short sojourn within the walls of Phillip's Castle, Lyttelton. As the other delinquents have not taken the same journey, we conclude their respective fines have been paid.

A young man named Hunt, a resident of Little River, has been received into the Immigration Barracks, the Hospital being still in an unfinished state, suffering from congestion of the lungs and general debility. The Government appear to be very dilatory in their acceptation of the tenders, called for by them, for the completion of the Hospital building.

The schooner Cleopatra, bound from Lyttelton to Timaru, with a cargo of cement, has been lying windbound at Lucas' Bay some distance down the harbour, for the last three days, waiting for favorable wind to take her to that port.