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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 188, 7 May 1878, Page 2

The Good Templars of Akaroa are again taking the initiative in the matter of public entertainments. As will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, they intend holding an open lodge meeting to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, when an interesting programme will be presented, consisting of readings, recitations, singing, &c, and we understand that it is their intention to continue these meetings monthly during the winter. If this example were followed by others in Akaroa, we should not be called upon continually to urge their providing some source of entertainment to help wile away the dreary winter months. As the admission to the entertainment, in question is free, we have no doubt that the Oddfellows' Hall will be crowded, and can only regret that there is no larger and more suitable building where they could hold these meetings. But'we hope, when the new Oddfellows' Hall is completed, to see these open lodge entertainments numerically greater successes than they have hitherto been.

At a meeting of tbe Ashburton County Council held on Friday last, a letter was read from some of the unsuccessful competitors for the water supply scheme, protesting against the award of the £100 prize, which it will be remembered was carried off by Mr C. E. Watkins of this town. It was resolved not to re-npen the question, and one of the members, Mr Wright, said, as regards the letter which had been just read from the unsuccessful competitors, that they evidently had not seen the plans accepted. The scheme was sufficiently large for a number of years, and the filtration of tbe water was thoroughly provided. The objections raised against the adopted scheme were groundless.

As will be seen elsewhere, Mr C. W. Bridge has consented, at the request of a huge number of the burgesses, to stand as a candidate for tbe seat in the Borough Council rendered vacant by the resignation of Cr Wagstaff. Up to the present we have heard of no opponent entering the field, which is somewhat surprising, considering the important questions at issue. We think that in these elections it is only fair to tbe ratepayers that a public expression o£ the candidate's or candidates' views should be given, so that the burgesses may be afforded an opportunity of approving, or otherwise, of the course he or they intend to take when elected. The question of the proposed borough lotin is not one, as we before pointed out, io be lightly regarded, nor, indeed, is that of the extension of the borough boundaries, and unless candidates for office are elected on some basis of understanding, such as the public action they intend to adopt, and as far as possible follow out, any line of conduct they may choose to pursue after election, cannot with justice be cavilled at by their supporters, who did not feel interest enough in public matters to gain an expression of opinion beforehand.

On Monday, the 20th ult., as Mr W. Sims was getting on board his cutter, which has for a long time been lying" unused at her mooring, some little distance from the wharf, no small surprise waa caused by the sudden ilight of a hen pheasant from off the deck. From appearances it was evident that the bird had been enjoying its unusual resting place for some length of time. We have in remembrance numbers of instances of the visits of land birds to ships both far away ot sea, and in harbor, but this is the first instance on record, we believe, of a pheasant taking to a " life on the ocean wave."

The Saturday Advertiser of the 27th April says : —'' Monday last may be classed as a red letter day in the annals of New Zealand Oddfellowship, for on that morning one of the handsomest halls in the Colony wiis dedicated to the principles of the Otider. Tbe fine building to which we refer is situatedin Rattray-street, Dunedin, and is the property of the Pioneer Lodge. Tho exterior of the structure presents an imposing appearance, and is certainly a great o-nament to that portion of the city. On the lower floor there is a fine assembly hall, 52ft. by 34Ct., with a- platform at the back, on each fcide of which are ante-rooms. It is lined alternately with red and white 2>'ne, and is roomy and comfortable, and has a cheerful aspect. The lodge-room, which is on Hie second floor, is 34ft Gin by 32t't Gin, and is lighted from a handsome cupola in the centre, octagonal in' form. Ii: is the finest lodge-room in the city. Messrs Mason, Wales, and Stevenson were the archil ects, Mr Thomson, of South Dunedin, the contractor, and the building has cost close ji pon £2500 to erect." The ex viiionies of dedicaiion appears to have been conducted in a most impressive manner, and were witnessed by a large concourse, including many leading citizens, and a large proportion of ladies. His 'Honor Judge Bathgate and the Hon. R. Stout wore the regalia of the order and delivered addresses. A spirit-Btirring poetical address of his own composition win also given hy Bro. Bracken. Altogether, both the building and the proceedi"gs generally reflect the greatest credit on Oddi'ellowMiip. We are happy to learu from the remarks ot Mr Stout that the Order baa not been afraid to grapp] e with the financial difficulty, and by raising its rates of contribution, is endeavoring honestly to place itself above suspicion as to future solvency.

The Annual Pari-.ii Meeting was held at Okain's Bay, on April 23rd. The proceedopened .with prayer, and a hymn sung by the choir. The Rev. D. 0. Hampton then gave an interesting review of his work in the district during the past year. Mr Butt also addressed the meeting on educational matters, giving his ideas in a manner which showed that the speaker evidently had tiie subject at heart. The evening was enlivened by songs nicely rendered by the Misses Hutt and Mr H. Sefton, and also two songs sung by the school children, in a manner which reflects ciciiit on illo teaching of Mr Hutt. After ,'i "other hymn had been sung by the choir, the following gentlemen were elected as ihe Church Committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs Sefton, Harris, W. Moore .). Hutf, 11. Haley, R. Gilbert, the Rev. D. 0". Hampton being elected president, aiid, ihe meeting dispersed, having spent a pleasant even'ng. The Annual Meeting of members of the o!;ain ; s Bay Library was held on Friday evening, the 23th ult. The balancc-*bect for ihe past year was placed before the . meeting, shewing receipts to the amount of £24 18s 4d ; expenditure, £2012s Gd : leaving a balance of £4 5s 10(1. The following election of Committee and officers for ensuing year .r>ok place : —Committee, Messrs, James, Mason, Dewar, Harris, and Coffin (Chairman): Secretary and Treasurer, Mr C. Moore ; Librarian and Auditor, C. W. Harris. A vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing Comtn'aee and the meeting ;e' - u)inated. Pursuant to advertisement, a meeting was held at Brooks' Somerset Hotel, on Saturday evening last, to organise sports to be held at the Head of the Bay, on 24th May, the Queen's birthday. Mr Shadbolt was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was decided to have three races, a flat race, a hurdle race, and a hack race, weights in the two former races to be lOst and list respectively. Messrs Piper, Williams, Barwick and Giles were appointed stewards for the rural sports, and Messrs Duxbury, S. Johnson, J. Beecher, and J. Sunckell, jun., to act in the same capacity for the races. An attractive programme was drawn up, for the rural spoits, which will appear in due course in our advertising columns. We think that a very good day's sport may be anticipated. Subscriptions will bo received by any of the stewards.

We have been requested to make public the following disgusting and indecent behaviour on the part of some boys while bathing, boys, too, of an age to know better, in the hopethat such conduct may receive a check iv the future, and that some supervision may occasionally be ex ercised over the young pickles who* splash about in the day-time on the beach by. the Cemetery road. ; It appears that last Saturday two little girls were walking along this road, when they suddenly came in view of a lot of boys, big and little, in the act of bathing.. The children at once turned up one of the paths into the Domain, but no sooner was this seen by the boys than in purvi naluralibus, just as they were without one rag, they set off in full chase of the little girls, who fled, of course, further into the Domain, followed for a considerable distance by the yelling* naked young savages. There is something no revolting in thft idea that little girls should be subjected to such beastly conduct, that we do not hesitate to urge the punishment of the offenders, whose names we opine are to be easily obtained. A severe example made of some of them ) would go far to stopping anything of the kind occurring again, and it might be possible for people's daughters to take a walk without danger of fright and insult.

A correspondent writes:—"ln your para" graph aneut tbe ' blue cat,' you mention that there is something ridiculous in the idea of cat fanning. Now, I think there would be many worse specs than this, that-is if it was gone about in a businesslike manner. Our American (who are generally about the first in the field with any novel industry) have started cat farming on a grand scale, if there is any truth in a paragraph which I recently read. It appears that a speculative company have purchased an island in some part of the United States, where they intend to breed and rear black cats for the sake of their skins. The way they intend to manage the ' farm,' too, is somewhat novel. They reckon that two men, whose duty it would be to catch fish, &c, on which to feed the cats, could manage the farm for the first two years, and after that period, one man would be sufficient. His duty would consist of killing his nurslings, obtaining their skins, and cooking the carcases of the murdered cats for their more fortunate fellows. The promoters of this industry think that they will reap a rich harvest by their speculation, and if the skins of black cats are so valuable, how much more so should be the skins of blue cats! By-the-bye, don't you think that Rest quiet cat in peace would be as suitable an inscription for the five-pound cat, as the one you have suggested." (N.B. —We are not responsible for the foreign " goak " (?) at the end of the foregoing. A scintillation of temporary insanity such as this may only occur, and we fondly hope so, but once in a man's life, but still we would recommend our correspondent to keep his head cool.)

One of the best horses in Mr Lee's coach team died in Mr Beecher's stables on Saturday night, from combined inflammation of the bowels and lungs. It appears that the poor animal was evidently ill when starting from tho Head of the Bay, but not in snch a degree as to cause any apprehensions as to its fitness to take its place in the team. Everything went well until the turn on this side of German Bay hill, known as Murderer's Gully, where the horse suddenly fell ' down, causing the coach for some little time to be in great danger of going over the side of the culvert, which conveys the water off at this part of the road—or rather should do so. Mr Westchamberlaine was unable to leave the box-seat as he dared not slack the break, and the only passenger in the coach was a lady, so that matters looked serious. However, as it so happened, two men, not regular passengers, had surreptitiously ascended behind the coach for the purpose of getting a better view of the scenery as they came along, and their assistance came in most opportunely in disengaging the fallen horse, and bringing it on to Akaroa, the coach proceeding on its way with only two horses. Tho men succeeded in bringing the horse safely to Mr Beecher's, where it received every attention, but died during the night, its struggles being, we are informed, something fearful to witness, the horse was a valuable animal, and we sympathise with Mr Lee in his loss.

We observe by a telegram from the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times that our Government have determined to carry out the recommendation of the special committee of officers appointed by the British Government to report on the best means of defending the British Colonies. In accordance Avith these recommendations ministers have resolved to telegraph at once for 22 heavy guns, viz., 11 seven-ton guns, and 11 64 pounders, of the pattern used by her Majesty's ships of war. It is considered that these guns, properly mounted in batteries will be sufficient to render the four-principal ports of the colony—viz., Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers—easily defensible against any class of vessels likely to be despatched by a foreign power to these seas. The total cost of this armament, including transport, and construction of batteries, is estimated at £44,000. It is intended to man the batteries with a body of local artillery men, to be trained for the purpose. Whatever the result of the present complications in Europe may be, we hope this scheme, or some equally suitable one may be carried out. It is surely better to be prepared against any emergency, especially when it appears that it can be effected at so reasonable a cost.

In another colnmn is an advertisement intimating that the children attending the Sunday Schools in Akaroa, are to enjoy the treat of seeing a fine assortment of views in the Public Schoolroom this evening. One or two friends of the little ones availed themselves of Mr 0. L. Wiggins' temporary presence amongst his old friends here by requesting him to shew the views in question, All Sunday School children will be admitted free of charge, but a nominal charge has to .be made for adults. Should any proceeds remain after all expenses are paid they will be shared equally between the various Sunday Schools. The apparatus to beused is a new American patent known as the " Scioptieon," which is a great improvement on the ordinary Magic Lantern, however large it may be. We are requested to state that in consequence of the Sunday School gathering this evening, the Vestry meeting in connection with St. Peter's Church is, adjourned to Thursday, 9th May, at 7 p.m.

The Government Steamer Stella arrived off the Heads yesterday, and landed a further quantity of requisites for the works in progress toward the erection of the lighthouse, including eight hundred feet of timber.

A meeting of the Akaroa School Committee was held last evening at the Schoolhouse. All the members were presentIn the matter of a new site for a master's house, it was decided to recommend to the Board of Education the acceptance of Mr C. L. Wiggins' offer of a site, close to the school for £200. The compulsory clauses of the Act, and the question of religious instruction elicited a certain amount of discussion. On the application of Mr Billens, the use of the school-room was granted for this evening for a Magic Lantern exhibition to the Sunday School childrem and the meeting adjourned.