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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 220, 27 August 1878, Page 2

Owingto.au unusual press of matter the " Sundowner's" contribution and other items of interest are unavoidably held OA'er to our next issue. Wo have much pleasure.in stating for the information of our readers .that the nett proceeds of ihe entertainment-recently given in Barry's Bay in aid of Mr Walter Prime amounted to twenty-seven poundsThis sum is to be expended in defraying the medical and Hospital expenses incurred during his long and tedious illness. It will be gratifying alike to those AA'ho took part in,, and tq those who merely Avent to look on at the entertainment to know that they have thus materially contributed toward helping a fellow creature, in distress. . The County Council meet at the usual hour at the Hill Top on Thursday nexti when very important Intfiincss Avill come forward for discussion, notably the re-din-tribution of representa_on of tho various ridings in the County, and consequent alteration of boundaries ; also the stoppage of the old Head of the Bay road, particulars of which have appeared in our advertising columns.

\ Elsewhere will [be found a notification from tho Hon Secretary to the Dinner Committee to tho effect that the dinner to the Lakes Triist will take place on the 3rd prox. at 7 p.m. in the Town advertisement also slates whore tickets can.be obtained, and wo sincerely|trust, that the district general will avail themselves of the information and thus give every support to a most laudable -object. Por the credit of the district we hope the tickets will soon be taken up. - * . As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere Messrs Acland, Campbell and Co., hold a clearing sale at the Tai Tapu to-day of Mr S. Nutts live and dead stock, the farm having been previously sold by the same firm. The items offered are in many cases of considerable value, consisting of the usual farm stock, and implements, Household furniture, etc., A large attendance of intending purchasers may be expected, and it is anticipated that a good sale will result.

The Purau track is at present both un. safe and impassable, and we warn our readers not toj-attempt to traverse it, until more settled' weather has set in. Two gentlemen from this place endeavonred to get through by that route ou Saturday last, but were compelled to turn back, or run the risk of a night's lodging amid the snow somewhere about Mount Sinclair, that is, if their necks had not been broken before nightfall. They report that the snow in the bush and under Mount Sinclair was fully two feet deep the fern and all rocks and boulders on the ground being completely covered. The Purau track is, no doubt, the shortest and quickest route to Lyttelton in good weather, but in its present state we would advise a better road being chosen. From the description we received, a signboard in a conspicuons place at the commencement of the track bearing the inscription " Facilis est descensus Averni" would be very appropriate, as the probable end of the unwary traveller, and short cut out of the enow.

A meeting of the ratepayers in ' the Okain's District was held in the Library, Okain'6 Bay, on Saturday, the 24th instant, to consider the action proposed to be taken by the County Council in reducing the number of Councillors in the districtOn the motion of Mr Thacker Mr J. B. Barker was appointed chairman, and in a very able statement explained to the meeting what was really intended to be done by the Council in regard to the alteration of the representation of the county, or at least this portion of it, and requested an opinion from the meeting as to an alteration in the boundaries of the present ridings in the event of the Council taking one member ' from the district. The general feeling of tho meeting was that the representation as at present was very unequally divided as between some of the ridings!, and that somo alteration was really necessary if the Count}- Council was to linger on much longer, while some thought it was an attempt on the part of the Council to upset tho Road Boards. Another ratepayer present thought that if the Council wished to do away with the Road Boards they would most likely adopt a simpler plan to effect that object, as after the forthcoming election all the Road Board funds would be handed over to the Council for distribution amongst the various Boards (with the exception of the rates), and after payment of county members, county officials, county roads, and all the other expenses attending small Parliaments, which are always more in proportion to their finances than largo ones, there would be so little left to distribute that the Boards would die out of sheer inanition. The Chairman explained that the question before the meeting was simply a County Council matter, and. did not in the least interfere with the Road Boards or their duties, and that the Boards would just remain as they were, at least for some time yet. It Avas then proposed by Mr Thacker and seconded by Mr Welh, that in tho event of any alteration being made in the representation of the district by the County Council, ihe boundary lino between the ridings be the centre of the road through Okain's Bay, and that the ridings be called Raupo and Okain's.ridings. Amendment — Proposed by Mr Callaghan and seconded by Mr Smith, "That the boundary line be ihe main ridge on the oast tide of Okain's, and that Okain's be annexed to Raupo Riding, the remainder east of that to be Le Bon's Riding." On the amendment being put, it was only supported by'the mover and seconder. The original motion Avas then put and carried .unanimously. This concluded the business of tiie meeting, which Avas conducted in a very good humored way, but there seemed to bo a most lamentable, amount of ignorance existing as to what the County Council could do, and Avhat they could not do, and some declared they could not see what they did at all for tho honorariums. After ' the usual vote of thanks to th e Chairman, the meeting terminated.