The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 23.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 210, 23 July 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 23.

Great improvements are in progress in the Akaroa Domain. The Board are evidently determined not to let the grass grow under their feet, thetagh that is rather an unfortunate simile, as part of their endeavor is to promote the growth of grass together with other vegetable productions of an ornamental character. The only natural element ©f beaufcy in which the grounds have been deficient is water, and this want is now being supplied. To lead a stream into the gardens it was found would involve too heavy an outlay, and it was therefore determined to sink a well.- From this well the water is to be raised by means of a force-pump to fill a concrete tank. This tank will supply a fountain, playing in the centre of a circular basin twelve feet in diameterThe sight of this water, situated as it wil be in a shady nook, will be. moat refreshing on a sultry day, and there"will also be convenience provided for thirsty souls to refresh themselves by partaking oi; the fluid. The main path from the chief entrance round to the point beyond the summer-house is eleven feet in width, and is to be shingled its entire length. On the upper part of the ground a croquet lawn has been levelled, and sown down with lawn grass. But perhaps the chief imimprovement that is taking place is the planting of a very choice .assortment of

trees and shiubs. Over sixty varieties of choice pines and coniferaa have been procured and planted judiciously about the grounds. The Board have arranged to have the botanical and English names painted on metal slips, and attached to each specimen. The contractor for this work, however, we areynfermed, is not expectsd to find his own Latin.V Aplanta--tion has also been formed, in which there • are some thousands of young trees of every useful variety. Among tliem are pines of various kinds, oaks, ekus, beeches, sycamore, ash, and others. ' This'plantation is to form a nursery, from which different parts of the County may be supplied. It will; be remembered ,-that, in the County Council, the establishment of a nursery of this description was used as an argument in favor of the comparatively large grant that was made to the Akaroa Domain. The Board fully recognise their position in this matter, and, as will be seen, are anxious to carry out their trust. We think that every credit is due to them for what appears to be a most judicious expenditure of public money, and hope and believe that by next summer the Domain will be a delightful place of resort, a and great addition to the attractions of Akaroa.

In the Gazette of the 18th inst. there appears a notification re the proposed extension of the boundaries of the Borough of Akaroa. It is announced that, unless within two months of the publication of the notice a petition is presented to His Excellency the Governor, signed by not less than one-third of the burgesses of Akaroa, or not less than one-third of the resident householders in the district proposed to be added to the Borough, praying that such district may not be incorporated in the Borough, His Excellency will, by proclamation, incorporate into the said Borough the said district. The boundaries of the proposed extension may be seen at the Council Offices.

A cuaioue case was heard at the Eesident Magistrate's Court in Christchurch, on Thursday last. It appeared that a young man entered an auction room, while a musical box was being offered for sale. He bid 30s, and at that price it was knocked down to him. He tendered a £10 note and to his astonishment received £1 in exchange. On demanding an explanation, he was informed that the box was sold "at per tune," and that as it played siz tunes, the price was £9. He now sued to recover the difference. Counsel were employed on each side and it was contended on the one hand that the box was sold in the recognised manner, at so much per tune, and subject to conditions of sale, on the other hand that the money having been paid under a mistake of fact is recoverable. jTudgment Vas reserved. We remember hearing of a somewhat similar incident in London. An old omnibus driver, who thought he knew a thing or two, once strolled into an auction room on an " off" day, and seeing a massive silver centre-piece going for a mere nothing, he bid 10s 6d' for it,- at which price it was knocked down to him. Carefully hauling out an old wash leather bag, he proceeded to count out the purchase money, which consisted chiefly of small change. To his astonishment he was informed that the article had been sold "at per ounce,"and he was politely requested to cash up to the tune of £25 odd. He used to say that it was the only time in his life that he had been taken

We observe that the s.s. Akaroa is announced to make another of her special trips from Lyttelton to this port on Friday evening next. She will leave Lyttelton at 5 o'clock on Friday evening for Akaroa, returning from this place shortly after arrival.

We have received a letter calling upou seme gentleman in Akaroa to return a waterproof coat, alleged to have been lent him by the Little Akaloa mailman.' It is hardly a matter suited to the columns of a newspaper, still we give it this publicity in the hope that the unknown gentleman may not prove obdurate to the appeal.

A man named Parker was brought into the Hospital on Saturday evening, from Little Eiver, suffering from the results of a very serious accident. It appears that he got up on the Christchurch coach at the Hill-top, and after passing Wascoe's some miles, managed to fall out of the coach without attracting the attention of the driver. He picked himself up, howeven and, in making »vuybackraet a timber laden dray. In endeavoring , to get up on this vehicle, he fell, and the wheel passed' not fairly over him, but grazed his leg and side sufficiently to produce bruises of a very severe nature. The limbs are so swelled at present that it is difficult to discover the extent of the injury inflicted, but it is feared that they are of a serious nature. The other two patients in the Hospital, suffering from fractured limbs, namely, Cachemire and Rasmussen, are both doing welL