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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 193, 24 May 1878, Page 2

The late fatal coach accident in Otn<ro an account of which appears in another column, should servo to call attention to the dangerous state of the main coach road out oi* Akaroa. The German Bay road is no doubt highly dangerous, especiall} , in the wet weather which has already set in and may now be expected to continue. It seems a great pity that the new road should be all but ready for use, and yet entirely useless. As usual in such cases, " nobody" is to blame, but we cannot altogether acquit the Road Board of, to say the least of it, a certain amount of supineness in the matter. We understand that a petition to that body on the subject has been drawn >ip and very numerously signed, and we do hope that no question of punctilio, nor even the chance of having to spend a few pounds will hinder them from performing what is so evidently a necessary work. The County Council has marked its sense of tho importance of the work by voting £?>OO • out of a total of £500 at its disposal to remove the compensation difficulty. With this sum provided them, and being also in funds, we cannot see any excuse for the Board neglecting an evident duty a*sy longer. Will it be necessary to capsize a coach with one or two members in it, .iri order to have the improvement completed forthwith ? By clause 24 of the "Slaughtering Cattle and Supervision of Abattoirs and Slaughter-houses Act," we observe that every applicant for a slaughtering license is required to give notice of his intention through the public Press for four weeks prior to his application.

We understand that a great many of the census papers for different parts of Ihe Peninsula have been returned to the subenumerators for correction. This is not to Tin wondered at, for the forms required \to be filled up were simply printed specimens of "confusion worse confounded." The-so-called errors in some of them are rather amusing ; for instance, opposite the niime of a little girl 5 years of age, the column devoted to marriages was left blank—the paper has been sent back for further information on the point, and in the case of a boy 9 years of age, it is demanded whether he is not assisting on tbe farm owned by the father. The correct ages of female occupants of dwellings have proved a terrible obstacle to truthful returns, while those, who have entered themselves as owners of stock on the strength of having an abnormal quantity of rats and mice in their houses, are equally faulty. Where two or more single ladies are gathered together under the same roof the question as to who is to be entered as head of the household has led in some cases to serious results. Battered and dishevelled, enumerators have been seen to issue from knotty points of this kind. Of one thing we are sure—an enumerator's billet is no sinecure. The case of the man Cashmere, who broke his leg while working at Mr Libeau's brickyard on Monday last, is one deserving of. public sympathy and aid. The unfortunate man was married but three weeks ago, and it can be readily understood that any little savings he may have had were expended in furnishing a home for his wife. He is now by this accident thrown out of work for some months to conic, but his household rent and expenses will be going on just the same. One or two charitably disposed persons have expressed their willingness to give their mite toward assisting him while laid up, and in accordance with their request we shall be glad to receive any contributions for that object.

Not so very long ago we were led to believe that matters were being pushed forward with a view to the speedy erection of new court-house buildings in this town. Since that, however, the ominous quietude and silence as to aught connected with this much required alteration in our local Palace (?), of Justice would lead us to think that things are not progressing toward that end quite so rapidly and successfully as we could wish. Rumor had it that the plans for the building were being prepared, and that when these were approved of by Government, the work would be proceeded with forthwith. Sufficient time has elapsed since this bye-blow of information, to almost allow the plans for an international exhibition building to be drawn out and completed, so that the mental deduction is, either our new courthouse is to be an elaborate work, which is improbable, or the Government have forgotten all about it, which is ; highly probable. Perhaps those vvhose more immediate business it is, will make another move. The following Press Agency telegram appears in our Christchurch contemporaries :'■ —"Oamaru, May2l. A fearful accident occurred to-day to the coach from Dunedin. It left Palinerston for Moeraki at the usual time, having , 15 passengers aboard, one of whom was a lady. All went well till in descending the Horse Ranges, when the traces of one of the horses came loose. Goddard, a careful driver, who has been on the road far nine years, was driving, and on the bos was a young man named Maitland. He tried to put his foot on the brake to assist Goddard, but slipped and fell down among the horses' feet. In falling he knocked Goddard's foot off the brake, and before the driver could get it on again, the coach got great way on, and one of the horses fell. The others took fright, bolted, , and dragged the coach find occupants over a steep embankment, in going down which the coach rolled over three times'. On being picked up Maitland was found to be fearfully injured, and is not expected to live till the morning. Mr Nichols, of Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., was killed outright ; Goddard, the driver, was very seriously injured, and five of the other passengers were hurt, but none of them dangerously. There is great excitement in town, and when the special train arirved with the dead and injured, the platform wa s crowded. It is noticeable in connection with this sad affair, that this is the last day on which the coach runs, as the new lino, will be opened to-morrow. The above brief particulars are ,as correct as can bo obtained, but the excitement is; great, and it ia difficult to obtain correct information."

The wars and rumors of wars with which our European intelligence teem threaten to have * T ery serious practical consequences for ourselves. We learn that the Government have deemed it necessary to postpone accepting any more tenders for Public Works, pending the receipt of more satisfactory intelligence concerning the floating of the new loan. Since coming to this decision, however, the following telegram has been received by them from the' Agent General: — "London, May •-l-tth—Bills accepted. Advances obtained to meet bills falling due. The prospects of peace are' improving - . Hope soon to negotiate loan. Larnach .arrived. —Vogel." Let us hope, that the hope here expressed may not prove fallanons, for a sudden stoppage of Public Works means disaster to a considerable section of the community, beside retarding the improvement and settlement of the country at large.

We have to remind our readers of the sports which tako place to day at the Head of the Bay. It is to be hoped they may turn out a thorough success, so as to encourage •and promjpte .conjtinuanoo for tbuffuture;, tha.t the right -td let sites *ior booths has/ been grante'd'to, th& Committee by the Road Board, but .to whom these have been lei we are unable to say, as they have not 'been advertised for tender in the usuat'way k \ \/ "'[

3y a Gazette extraordinary of May 13th, Parliament is further prorogued to the 15th of June. ; ■ • - - ■ .-■•■,.

Ari entertainment in aid of the funds of the Sumner Cricket Club came off on Friday evening in the Sumner. , There was a ,good programme provided, and the attendance was large and appreciative. The opening remarks of the chairman, Mr Worthy, were very humorous) and caused a great deal of merriment, especially amongst the fair sex,, iwhpse sympathies were at once commanded for tho success of the club, lie complimented the team on "thoir good play-in the past season, and was sure that with Mr Monck for their captain, who is not only a ericketci but an athlete, they would beas' victorious in .their matches in future. That at..the close of the entertainment three lusty cheers were given for the ladies and gentlemen who kindly volunteered their service and who did their utmost to delight the audience. Afterwards there was dance, at which all who remained seemed to enjoy themselves exceedingly.