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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 167, 22 February 1878, Page 2

A public meeting of the householders of Robinson's Bay, was held in the Schoolroom there on the evening of the 18th inst., for the purpose of electing a School Committee to act during the present year. Mr G. H. Saxton was voted to the chair. After reading the accounts of receipts and expenditure, by the outgoing committee, during the past financial year, the chairman requested those present to proceed with the election of a new committee, which resulted in Messrs J. Gundy, sen., T. S. Johnson, S. Curry, H. Kingston, 11. Sager, J. Gundy, jun., and W. Whitfield, being elected. The nsua! vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. Subsequently the new committee met and elected Mr W. Whitfield as their chairman, requesting that gentleman to write to the Board of Education notifying them of the election which had taken place, and re" questing them to grant a sum of money for the payment of incidental expenses connected with tho school's management. As showing the justice of the remarks made in our lust issue, respecting the loss suffered by fruit growers, and others here, through the erratic proceedings of the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr S. Watkins has informed us that he had

packed a number of cases of poaches, and other fruit, ready for shipment on the 19th inst., and he now anticipates that the major part of the more perishable articles will be completely spoiled before the next steamer leaves, while the other portion will.be considerably depreciated in value through lying so long in the cases. Mr Watkins has given Messrs Wood. Bros, and Co., the local agents for the Union Companj-, written notice that ho wilt hold that company responsible for any loss he may be put to through their altering the dates of their steamers departure. Unfortunately for Mr Watkins, and many others, there has been no opportwiity offering of shipping their fruit elsewhere. Mr Watkins estimates that his probable loss on this parcel will be from twelve to Fourteen pounds. Since the above was was written, the s.s. Maori has called at Akaroa. Some weeks since the Government advertised in the columns of this journal for tenders to furnish and finish the Hospital here. Some of our local tradesmen, in answer to the advertisement, sent in tenders for the services required, but, up to the present time, no one has heard another word of the matter. Tins is only one other instance of how the red tape and circumlocution department, who hare the ordering of these things, carry out their invariable motto of '' procrastination is the soul of business, and punctuality the thief of time."

A meeting of the Little River School Committee was held in the schoolroom on the 18th instant. Present: Messrs Jacobsen (chairman). Harris, Foulton, Tyson, and Jno. Reynolds. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman read communications received from the Board of Education, relating to repairs required to theschoolmaster's house, &c, and authorising the Committee to have the work done. It. was proposed by Mr Reynolds, seconded by Mr Harris, and carried, that the Chairman advertise for tenders for the abovementioned work at once. On the motion of Mr Harris, it was unanimously agreed to nominate Messrs Montgomery and Tosswell as members for the Board of Education. The meeting then adjourned until March 1, 1878.

The report of a meeting held at Little River is unavoidably held over until our next issue. The funeral of the late Mr Rowe is to take place to-day, and friends of the deceased are notified to meet at Daly's wharf, at 2 p.m., to follow the remains from thence to St. Peter's Church, and the Cemetery. The remains will be brougnt by water from Children's Bay to Daly's jetty.

From the Dunedin Saturday Advertiser we learn that: —" The Maerewhenua Run, which was sold at auction by Mr Buckland, of Auckland, to Mr Harding, of Napier, for £11,500, has again changed hands at an advance of £1500, the purchaser being Mr Sinclair, of the Sandwich Islands, formerly an old Canterbury settler." Many of our readers will remember the Mr Sinclair above mentioned as one of the Messrs of Pigeon Bay, who sold the property in that bay, owned by the late Geo. Holmes, Esq., to that gentleman. This colony seems to have attractions for its former residents, the return of Mr Sinclair being anything but a solitary instance of old settlers again coming among us. We beg to draw the attention of our readers to Messrs Beath and Go's, advertisement in another column, in which will be found notified and enumerated the articles saved from the late fire which that firm are now selling off in their temporary place of business at Christchurch.

Our representative, Mr Sims, who is at present in Pigeon Bay, informs us that every one there has been very busy for the last few clays getting their grass-seed ready for market Should the fine weather continue, they expect to get through with the heavy part of the work by the end of this week. The crop is good, although mice, paraquets, and pheasants have done considerable damage to it, owing to its having to lay for so long a time on the ground. The estimated yield in the district is from thirty to thirty-five thousand bushels.

The New Zealand Sun of February 14th, under the heading of " Correspondence, " has the following:—" A correspondent, writing from Akaroa under date the Bth inst, requests advice from us under very extraordinary circumstances. We cannot publish his letter in which he charges the Resident Magistrate with having entered his house, called him a variety of names more euphonious than polite, and finally remaining " on the field of battle," although requested to quit the premises. A.X.11. had better consult his solicitor, and move the " strong arm of the law " instead of his own. Although professedly, and to a certain extent a sporting paper, we can only advise our clients on matters of a purely andjtechnically sporting character — [St-orting Ed. Sun.]

It has been arranged to hold the Tai Tapu races .on Thursday, March 21st., unless this date should clash with that of any other race meeting in Canterbury. This matter is to be settled on Wednesday next, the 27th inst., when a meeting will be held at Judge's, Ellesmere Arm.?, for the purpose of electing officers and arranging the race programme. We hope to see Little River, and Akaroa owners of horses, entering for some of- the events to be contested at Tai Tapu, more especially as some of the residents of that district, in the persons of Mr Little, and Mr Nutt, are generally competitors for the prizes awarded both at Little River and the Akaroa and Wainui Races.

The 10th inst. was the last day on which plans for the supply of Christchurch with water were receivable, and we observe' from the Press that some twenty were sent in. Among the competing plans is one by Mr 0. 11 Watkins, a son of His Worship the Mayor of this borough. Mr Clark, the eminent hydraulic engineer, is to decide as to the best and most suitable plan for the purposes required. We have written so often about the jetty lamp, and its disgraceful state, without our expostulations having the least effect upon those whose duty it must be to see that this matter should be eared for, that we have almost determined to say our last about this wretched glimmering nuisance. This light is supposed to be a mark for vessels to steer by when making the wharf at night ; as its twinkle is scarcely perceptible from the beach, it is a marvel to us how the master of a vessel can be expected to use it in the way he is supposed to do. This is another instance of how the Government care for the requirements of this port. Months since we were promised a new and proper lamp from Wellington, these months have gone, and doubtless other months will follow suit before so paltry a thing as a proper light will be placed oh tho Government wharf. A telegraphic message from Auckland, tells us of the safe arrival of the schooner Saxon, last from this port, but that, on the passage up, Captain Mackenzie had the misfortune to have two of his ribs broken by the main boom having struck him The voyage just finished has been an unfortunate one'for both the master and his vessel.