The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 218, 20 August 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20.

The Assembly has had a debate on the, system of advertising in certain newspapers only adopted by the Government. A great deal of irrelevant nonsense was talked about the difficulty of making a selection, the expense of advertising in too many papers, &c. Mr Wakefield very sensibly pointed out that it was not becoming in a Government to compel one set of papers to print their advertisements gratis, and that one lower tender on a large contract would save money enough to cover a great deal of advertising. The gem of the debate, however, was the following bold utterance of Mr Barton, who said:— ' ' "He hoped Government would not support the opposition Press. He wanted to see parties better defined, and those papers who supported Government to get Government advertisements. The Press ought to be made to feel who was in and who was out. When the lato Government came again into power, which was not very probable, let them support th« papers which supported them. He entirely upheld the action of Government in regard to advertisements. It was high time Government drew a bold line of demarcation between the two sections of the Press in the Colony. For unblushing advocacy of a system of corruption and intimidation of the Press, Aye think this stands unrivalled. The honorable member, however, seems to forget that such a policy, if persevered in, would soon render the support accorded to any Government by any section of the Press utterly valueless. The public are the great patrons of a newspaper as of any other commercial enterprise, and if they see that the opinions expressed in its columns are simply paid for at so much an inch, they will soon learn to estimate such utterances at their true value, and not only will the Government gain nothing by such advocacy, but the newspaper itself will lose prestige to an extent for which its Government patronage will by no means compensate. On Thursday evening the Akaroa Railway Bill passed its third reading in the Assembly. No material amendments were made in it in Committee ; in fact, we believe that such as were made were introduced by the promoter of the Bill, Mr Montgomery. From information we have received, we believe that the Bill may be expected to encounter some opposition in the "Lords," but we think a favorable result may at least be regarded as hopeful. To a certain extent this will depend upon the action taken by the people of the Peninsula themselves, If they show that they are thoroughly in earnest and united in the matter, and that the}' endorse the action of the Trust, it cannot but have some weight with such of our Heaven sent legislators as are amenable to reason. On Friday evening— " Mr Bowen asked how the amount voted last year for Domains in Canterbury had been expended ; also, whether the whole sum appropriated under the vote had been distributed for the improvement and maintenance of Domains. The Hon. R. Stout replied that the whole sum voted had been paid to the local governing bodies, and he laid on the table a return showing the distribution of the vote. In reply to further questions by Mr Bowen, he added that the Government had no information as to whether the money had been properly expended by the bodies to whom it was distributed, but if Mr Bowen would put the question in more definite shape he would answer it." In the debate on the Estimates during the same evening, some vehement discussion took place on certain proposed additions to the salaries of the Speaker and other permaneut officers of the House. Messrs Saunders and Swanson demanded that the Government should bring down a Bill fixing the salaries of these officers once and for all, and put a stop to such unseemly discussions for the future. We certainly think this would be the more dignified course to pursue. The salary of such a high officer as the Speaker ought certainly to be fixed by Stat at*-*, and he should not be submitted to the humiliation of having to listen to a debate yearly as to the amount he is to receive for his services. A discussion also took place on'the amount of honorarium for members, Mr Saunders moved that the amount be reduced from £21,575 to £16,181. The opinion was also expressed that this question should be settled by legislation. Sir George Grey concurred in this view, but thought it better that the matter should be relegated to a Parliament elected on the new electoral basis. Ultimately the original item was retained on a division by 4-1 to 19. We observe that Col. Whitmore is to introduce a Bill to amend the Friendly Societies Act of last Session, and the Registrar is to send in his report this week. It appears to be a prevalent opinion that when the Land Tax comes on for discussion, it is not unlikely that its operation may be greatly extended, and that something like a combined property and income tax will be imposed. That this is what things must come to is the opinion of all who watch the current of events, but it was not expected so soon.

As noticed in our lost issue, Mr C. W Bridge continued the sale of effects belonging to Wagstaff's Hotel, on Saturdaylast, there being again a large attendance of buyers, and no diminution in the bidding. On the whole, the sale may be said to have been a good one, the prices realised being fully up to expectation.

A meeting of tbe committee formed for the purpose of getting up a Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition in December next, was held at Bruce's Hotel on Friday evening last. His Worship the Mayor occupied..the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The names of the following gentlemen were added to the committee : — Revs. P. C. Anderson, Douglas and Hampton, Messrs. J. Aylmer, Dalglish, Nalder, Piper, Shadbolt, S. Lee, A. C. Knight, James Hay, A. D. Allan, W. Coop, Jacobsen, Dawbor, Latter, C. McDonald, Whitfield, W. Barnett, J. Daly, and G. Black. It was resolved "That those exhibits to which prizes were awarded at'the last exhibition, but for which no prizes were given, shall be allowed to compete at the coming exhibition." The following subcommittees were appointed to superintend the different departments. of the exhibition:—Horticultural—Messrs Jollie, Harris, and Feltham. Industrial ■— Messrs S. Watkins, Nicholls, and Wiggins. Pastoral—Messrs Garwood, Daly, and Black. An opinion was generally expressed that it was desirable to get the schedule of proposed prizes out and in circulation as soon as possible. The Secretary was authorized to procure a supply of postal-cards and necessary stationery. The meeting then adjourned. A meeting of what we suppose we may now call the Dinner Committee was held j on Saturday morning at Bruce's Hotel, his Worship the Mayor in the chair. The lion, secretary, Mr J. F.. Roberts, read letters he had received from Messrs James Bell, W. Coop, and Thacker, promising their support and co-operation. Also, one from Mr G. W. Nalder, enclosing donation of £3 3s. Only one tender had been received for tho dinner. This was considered too high, and was declined. The price of the tickets was fixed at £1 ls. It was arranged that the dinner should take place on Tuesday, Sept. 3. A subcommittee, consisting r>£ Messrs H. G. Watkins, Roberts, and Wiggins was appointed to make all necessary arrangements. From the assurances of support already received by the lion, secretary, we believe that it may be expected that the attendance will amount to from eighty to a hundred at the least. We hope that all who have not yet done so will communicate at once with the secretary, and have their names added to his list, or, better still, as the tickets will shortly be out, at once procure one. We have no hesitation in saying that anyone whose interests are identified with the Peninsula ought, as a matter of duty, to take some part in this movement, and thus pay some portion of the debt of gratitude we owe to those gentlemen who have devoted themselves hitherto to the work of furthering our interests, and whose labors and responsibilities are only just really about to commence. The entertainment at Le Bon's Bay, in aid of the funds of the Library, came off as advertised, on Friday evening last, and was, pecuniarily and otherwise, a thorough success. The attendance was unusually large, and after the programme had been rendered, dancing was commenced and kept up with spirit to the small hours of the morning. The following is the programme :—Song, Mr Hall; reading, Mr J. Smith ; song, Mrs Foster; recitation, Mr Berland ; song, Mrs Fairbrass ; reading, Mr J. Smith : song, Mr Victor ; song Mrs Millar ; song, Mr Murray ; recitation' Mr Berland ; song, Mr F. Aldridge; reading, Mr Hall ; local song, Mr M-Millan. The following account of that most wonderful little invention, the microphone has been given us by a gentleman who was fortunate enough to be present at a trial of this instrument from the Christchurch end of the wire, with telephones at this end :—On joining up, the first experiment was the holding of a watch some eighteen inches from the sounding board of the microphone, the ticking being heard here, only softened by distance, like that that of an eight-day clock. When two watches were placed together, the different beating was plainly distinguishable, as also was tbe case when five were brought into play, the sound then being as if one was standing in a watchmaker's shop with all the clocks around one going. The moving of a piece of paper across the sounding-board sounded like heavy, stertorous breathing, while the friction of the folded corner resembled the pouring of shot down a gun-barrel. These, of course, wero all experiments actually touching, or very near to, the microphone ; but, as some atmospheric change made the conduction moro perfect, the sound of the experi. meuters in the Christchurch office conversing with one another became audible varying in distinctness with the degree of propinquity to the instrument. The steps of those crossing the room wero heard growing fainter and fainter as the distance increased, and the sound made by one gen. 11 email walking up and down a flight of stairs near the room was heard so plainly that the number of steps taken was correctly counted. Two more instances given us are sufficient to havo afforded some slight idea of this wonderful scientific dis. covery, which it i.s only to be regretted that some means are not available for the general public to hear ; these were the passing of a camel's hair brush lightly over the sounding-board, which action was J represented at this end by the sound of a j long-drawn nigh ; and the scratching of a j quill-pen, which was heard with even j greater intensity. We trust on some j future occasion, to be able to give some further account of these interesting ex- j periments. '

It is proposed to form a Pharmaceutical Society for New Zealand. A circular has been handed us, issued from Wellington and signed .tayJ&r. C. D. Barraud, from which we ejfflßet the following, showing the objects of the Society :— <; What is now projected is to form a Society of all who have been or are now engaged (including assistants and apprentices) in keeping open shop for the preparation and dispensing of medicines ; the entrance fee to be £1 Is, and annual subscription 21s. Afterwards, when the Pharmaceutical Society has been recognized by the Legislature, all who aspire to the title and privileges of " Pharmaceutical Chemist" must submit their credentials to the Society's examiners. Ultimately, classes for special education, such as Materia Medica, Chemistry, Therapeutics, Botany, &c, could be grafted into the existing Universities." On Saturday night last, some of the larrikin element which expends its superfluous energy in nocturnal jokes, so called, about this town, as a finish up to their performances, thought fit to break the glass ! of two of the Borough lamps. We fail to see where there is any fun in such conduct, which really amounts to deliberate injury to the contractor having the lamps under his charge. It would be better, in fact, if parents and guardians looked more closely after the youths who seem to have at present carte blanche to stay out as late at they please, a course which cannot but be productive of harm. The Akaroa and Wainui Road Board held their first meeting in the new office, Head of the Bay, on Saturday, last. A report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. By a late Gazette we notice that the__ Local Elections Act is proclaimed as having been brought into force in the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board District, j The following pathetic appeal to the Road Board shews that there is among us at least one energetic pleader for the advancement of the district. We cannot altogether understand how some of the writer's views can be supported, but, as we once before urged the carrying out of this work, which cannot fail to benefit the district, by way of reviving the subject we publish this characteristic letter:— "Akaroa Heads, July 30, 1878. Gentlemen of Akaroa and Waiuui Road Board, —■ 1 beg to sail your attention to the earnest necessity of continuing the Maori Kike road on to the North-east Heads of Akaroa; By so doing it will open out an extensive bush, which will supply Akaroa and Christchurch for years with firewood, posts and rails, shingles, jetty piles, and lead to a country which can supply all Akaroa with vegetables, instead of sending to Christchurch. I think it would be of a great benefit to every one, considering when I met Mr J. S. the other day with a long face I naturally asked what is the matter. Oh, no firewood, and out of coals, was his reply. There are two drays ready to go to the lighthouse, I must tell you, and no road to get them over. . I remain your obedient servant, Chas. Haylock."

Mr G. E. Barton's last " difficulty" with elastic Judge Richmond, is thus *' deodorized " in a Dunedin paper :—Tho following colloquy should have been forwarded by the Press Agency, but the beggars forgot it, His Honor Mr Justice R-chm-nd. —" The case will now be adjourned until Thursday." Mr B-rt-n—" I have only to remark that such a ruling is the most dogheaded, pig-headed thing I ever heard in a Court of Justice in my born days." His H-n-r, "Now Mr B-rt-n—now Mr B-rt-n." Mr B rt-n—" You're a , I never was so insulted in my life, never, I swear if this old woman is hung for it, I'll see you (naughty word) before I ever conduct a case in this (naughty word) Coart, (naughty word) if I do." His H-n-r—" Oh, Mr B-rt-n, now really I shall have to take some notice of this if this goes on." Mr B-rt-n — '.' I withdraw nothing, and admit nothing ; if ever you catch me submitting to your half-hung decisions, your misanthropic, anthropomorphic, your lop-sided, your unevangelical sentiments again, there." His H-n-r—" Oh, but really this kind of thing must not go on any further." Mr B-rt-n —"I shall never again appear to conduct a case before your Honor, s'help me bob."