The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 215, 9 August 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9.

Owing to pressure on our space caused by an influx of new advertisements, we are reluctantly compelled to hold over our leading article and other interesting matter already in type.

By a telegram in our shipping column it will be seen that the e.s. Taranaki, with the Canterbury portion of the San Francieco Mail, arrived at Lyttclton yesterday morning. The mail may, therefore, be expected to arrive here this evening.

In another column we print in full the Bill authorising the drainage of Lake Ellesmere, and the construction of the Akaroa Railway. The following telegram referring to its progress has been kindly placed at our disposal by the Chairman, Mr Latter :—'< Wellington, August 8. Bill read ft second time without opposition yesterday. Will be considered in committee this afternoon, and the third reading will probably take place to-night, possibly before eight o'clock.—W. Montgomery." It will thus be seen that no delay is taking place .in the passing of this, to the| Peninsula, most important measure.

The project of giving a complimentary dinner to the members of the Akaroa Railway and Lakes Drainage Trust seems to be in a fair way to a successful carrying out, and it is satisfactory to be able to state that it has been generally received with every promise of support and assistance. A committee meeting to arrange matters i 6 called by advertisement elsewhere, at which, we are informed, a great many influential members of the district have promised to be present. We trust that all who can attend will do so without faiL We think all praise ie due to Mr Roberta for his untiring and indefatigable exertions in the matter.

We have to remind our readers of the entertainment advertised to take place this evening at Barry's Bay. Every endeavour has been made to render the programme an attractive one, and, taking into consideration the charitable object for which the entertainment is being held, we trust there will be a bumper house.

Owing to the recent bad weather, and the fact that two of the Union Company's steamers, have met with accidents, the time-table will be materially altered for this month. The e.s. Hawea will not call therefore, as advertised, on Sunday next, and it is also uncertain whether the Taupo goes South on the 13th inst. as previously elated.

The Colonial Treasurer delivered his Financial Statement on Tuesday last. Our space will not allow us to notice the Statement at length in this issue, but some of its more salient points deserve to be recorded. A beginning has certainly been made towards effecting a change in the much talked of " incidence of taxation." It is proposed to remit the customs duties on flour, nnd several articles of food, and on other articles, the duty collected on which is inconsiderable, while great inconvenience ia experienced in their collection The tea and sugar duties are reduced from 6d to 4d, and from Id to respectively. The duty on Australian wine 16 reduced from 4s to 2s, while that on sparkling wines is increased to 6s Several articles are removed from the ad valorem list, and subjected to fixed rates. For new taxation we have a land tax, a tax of 3d in the £ on the incomes of joint stock companies, and a duty of per gallon oa colonial beer. In a future issue, we shall have some remarks to make on the fiscal policy hereby initiated.

On Thursday evening, the Ist inst, the Okain's Amateur Ethiopians gave an entertainment in the old schoolroom at Okain's Bay. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather, the room was crowded, those present giving every evidence of being well pleased with the amusement provided for them. The following programme was gone through:—Song " Massa with the muftash," Mr E. Osborne (tainbo); song, "The yellow rose of Texas," Mr Creevy ; song, " Kitty Wells," Mr Sefton ; song, " Take me home," Mr J. Moore ; 6ong, '" Nellie's gone for ever," Mr E. Gil. Bert; som*, " Juno Jenkins," Mr J. Wells (Bones) ; stump oration, Mr G. Black ; song in character, Mr Creevy ; song " Eing ring the banjo," Mr E. Osborne; song "My little bunch of roses," Mr Creevy ; song, "My Dinah she's black," Mr H. Sefton ; song, "Go away," Mr J. Moore ; song, "My old Kentucky Home," Mr E. Gilbert; duet, " Some folks do," Messrs J. Wells and Osborne. The songs were interspersed with music, conundrums, comicalities, &c, and the whole wound up with the laughable farce, " The Yankee Barber." The proceeds, amounting to £6 ss, are to be devoted towards Church purposes. Special thanks are due to Messrs G. Black and E. Wells, they having come from Akaroa to assist.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here yesterday morning about ten minutes to. eight o'clock. As will be seen bji our telegraphic advices elsewhere a similar shock was .'experienced a few minute-! earlier in Wellington, and two shocks

about an hour later in Greymouth. From this we gather that the direction rof the wave must have been from north to south. Members of the Banks Peninsula Building and Investment Society are reminded that a special meeting of that body is convened for this evening at the Society's offices at 7. 30 p.m.