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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 181, 12 April 1878, Page 2

We regret tajhave to record the somewhat sudden death of Mr Edwin Hooper, who for some time past has resided amongst us. Mr Hooper had been suffering for many years from some internal complaint, which assumed so serious an aspect at the latter end of last week, that it was thought better for him to proceed to Ohristchureh so as to be more immediately under the care of his medical attendant, Dγ Townend. This he did on Sunday last, and from there the sad intelligence of his death, which occurred yesterday morning, has reached us. The deceased gentleman was a very old colonist, having spent the last thirty-seven years in Australia and New Zealand. In Geelongj Mr Hooper was well known as a resident of long standing, and as an enterprising and successful man of business,, respected alike in his private and public life. In Auckland, Timaru, and other parts of the colony, and finally in Akaroa the memory of the deceased will long remain, and the tidings of his unlooked for death be received with sincere regret. Mr Hooper leaves a widow and a married daughter, Mrs J. Wood of this town, with whom we deeply sympathise in their affliction. The deceased gentleman was senior partner in the firm of Hooper and Co., the proprietors of the Akaroa Brewery. He was also a very old member of the Masonic order, having been one of the Wardens of the Ipswich Lodge, before leaving the old country, and was one of the promoters of the Lodge Akaroa, of which he remained a member up to the time of his death.

On Monday last a sudden change occurred in the weather, the intense heat of the preceding fortnight being replaced by a dull, cloudy and chilly day. Towards night a small quantity of rain fell, and it was evident that a decided change had set in. During the past month or six weeks the weather has been unusually dry, and the parched condition of the ground, the scorched up appearance of the young grass, augured badly for stock owners during the coming winter. Things have just as bad a look even now, despite the long looked for change, not enough rain having fallen to do more than moisten the surface of the ground. A regular, steady, well-set-in rain is sadly needed to counteract the damage already done by the continued drought, the severity of which may be easily judged by the lessening of the water in the principal creeks of the Town. Mr C. W. Bridge holds an auction sale to-morrow, at the temporary business premises of Messrs Clarke and Son, of the balance of their stock of drapery, &c, An opportunity will, no doubt, here be afforded of procuring articles at something below the usual trade figure, and consequently buyers may be expected to be present in good numbers. The sale is advertised to commence at 12 o'clock sharp. At the risk of appearing wearisome, we must ap;ain allude to the delay on the part of the Government in supplying the jetty with a new lamp, in place of the one destroyed in a gale some time back. We believe that Akaroa is blessed with that amphibious official, a harbor master, aud it is naturally to be expected that through his representations, the Government should be kept constantly reminded of such a serious want, as that of a proper light at the end of the Government wharf. When it is remembered, too, that this light is intended to serve as a guiding . mark for vessels entering the .harbor after dark shewing by the red light when Green's reef is not cleared, and by the white light when the vessel may proceed, or alter its course, in safety, the risk incurred with the present penny dip arrangement can be realised, and the importance of a suitable light being placed there will be readiiy understood. We trust the harbor-master will urge the matter forward without further delay. Should any accident happen through the want of proper lighting accommodation, as exists at present, we ■we fancy either the Government or the lessee of the wharf would be answerable for damages.

A meeting of the Le Bon's Bay School Committee took place on Saturday evening last, the members present being , Mr G-eo. Ball (Chairman), Messrs Thomas Oldrklge, Foster, uorkensen, and James Oldridge. A letter from P. Hemmingsen was read in answer to a notice sent desiring him to send his child to school, but as no reason was given why he should not send her, the clerk was instructed to inform him that if his child did not attend eohool forthwith the Act would be enforced. The Chairman informed the meeting that he had received £1 from the late Good Templar Lodge, due for rent. The schoolmistress got leave of absence for a week on account of ill health. It was moved that a cum of money be applied for for incidental expenses.

The adjourned meeting of the Borough Council took place last night, the chief items of importance being the receipt of some information from Mr Montgomery to the effect that the plans for the new Court-honse were being drawn up, and that tenders would be called for the work immediately on their coin pi stion, also the appointment of Mr Alfred Wiggins as auditor in the place of Mr Daly. A full report'will appear in our next issue.

We observe that Messrs R. F. James, E. W. Harris, G. N. Sefton, W. Moore, and J. Nutt, have been appointed Trustees of the Okain's Bay Cemetery.

Mr G. J. Lee, has been appointed as Revising Officer for the electoral district of Akaroa.

We rjotice by our Christchurch contemporaries that a subscription list has been opened to defray the expenses of the Primate's visit to England for the purpose of attending the Lambeth Conference. The following) gentlemen have been appointed to receive subscriptions, Messrs T. M. Hassal, W, D. Carruthers, J. W. Hamilton, H. W. Packer and F. De C. Malet.

There are only two in-patients in the Hospital at present, one of whom is Mr Dicken, of French Farm, whose case, we are glad to learn is progressing favorably. The other is a man named Peter Johnson of Okain's Bay. His case is somewhat peculiar. A few weeks ago he met with an accident to his knee from falling off a trolly, which necessitated his removal to the Hospital. Last Wednesday week he was discharged as cured, and on the following Monday he resumed his ordinary employment. Strange to say, on the very first day of, his going to work, am exactly similar accident befell him, inasmuch as tie fell off the same trolly and injured his leg again in the same part. Let us hope that when he is cured this time, he may be more fortunate for the future. We understand that Dr Guthrie has every reason to be satisfied with the result of his treatment by carbolic acid in the case of Hochensen, already alluded to in our columns. Although the case was a bad one from the beginning, owing to the disease having spread so far into the hand, yet the wound has healed without any inflammation and very rapidly.

We have received the first number of the Temperance Herald a new journal, published in Dunedin, and devoted, aa its name implies, to the cause of Temperance. This new accession to the ranks of journalism purports to be the official organ of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand South, Sons of Temperance, and Reehabites, and is full of valuable statistics, and other matters relating to the cause which it upholds, and represents. The paper is exceedingly well got up, the letter-press good/and the reading matter superior to which generally characterises this class of literature. We wish the Temperance Herald every success, and trust that the good which it proposes to effect may be in proportion to the earnestness and zeal which has promoted its publication.

We have bad many forcible proofs of the fatal mistake originally made in building the Government wharf • out in the direction, and from the shore point, at which it now extends. But the experience of Wednesday morning last, time 2 a.m., with the temperature approaching zero, will not soon be forgotten by those whose lot it was to be waiting for friends by the Taupo. Unfortunately, Captain Andrews gave the wharf too wide a berth, thereby missing, the. somewhat deeper channel closer in, and thus, within twenty feet of the shore, the steamer was hard and fast aground for moro than two hour*, neither going astern, going ahead, nor the power of the steam winches availing to bring her alongside the jetty. The passengers—mostly women and children—were landed in boats, shivering with the cold night air, and heartily sick of their untimely detention. It is by such instances as this that the errors of the past are brought into notice, and by them a lesson should, be taught that should prevent similar mistakes in the future. It is too late now, of course, to cry over spilt milk, to alter the whole of the .wharf, but it is full time that some further addition should be made to the jetty, so that even at the lowest tides, the very largest of our coasting steamers could come alongside with perfect ease. Such inconvenience as a large number of the public of the place were put to last Wednesday morning is a disgrace to this age of public works and progress. -The extension of the wharf it. a matter of considerable public intereßt, and we trust that some representation of its importance and necessity will be made to the pVoper authorities.

An Assessment Court for the Little Biver Eoad District, was held at Wascoe's Hotel, on Tuesday last, before Juetin Aylmer, Esq., Judge The only case before the court was that of A. C. Knight, of Island Bay, in which it was sought to determine what extent of his was liable for rates to the Little River and Akaroa Road Boards, respectively. Mr A. I. McGregor attended on behalf of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, and Mr J. Wilson represented that of Little River. One section of Mr Knight's was ctruck out of Little River, and decided to be in Akaroa. With regard to those sectione thvesgh which the boundary runs, it was decided that 260 acres for which Mr Knight had been rated by the Akaroa Board should be transferred to Little River. The assessment was reduced from 3s to 2b B£d per acre.