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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 222, 3 September 1878, Page 2

On Thursday next the burgesses of Akaroa will be called upon to nominate three members to serve on the Borough Council in the room of Crs Cullen, Penlington, and Bridge, who retire by rotation, but who are eligible for re-election. We would remind the electors that, in recording their votes, all party spirit should be laid aside, and that the interests of the; whole Borough, and not any particular section of it, should be the main consideration. Unfortunately, the practice of lay- ] ng too much importance- on the loealit}' wherein the candidate is a resident, hi a ability and usefulness in a public capacity being held as a secondary qualification, has crept into vogue, and is the result ol; that pernicious .system of advocating " end against end " which, while it benefits neither portion of the Borough, must retard the progress of the whole. We trust that' at the forthcoming election, the burgesses will exercise their free and uncontrolled judgment in the disposal of their votes, and that those who arc nominated may be so from their fitness to take the position, independent of party interests. The councillors who retire are eligible for re-election, and iL' the ratepayers are satislie-d that they have done, their duty during their time: in office, it is. of course, a proper ami pleasant way of showing their appreeiaiion of their efforts by returning them again. But should the idualmvu gained i'avor tint new blood is wanted in the Council, then we trust that the selection may bo made on the qualifications we have suggested.

The complimentary' dinner to the Lakes Ellesmere and Forsytli Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust takes place to-night, in the Town Hall, and, in default of any returns of the number of tickets sold, we hope that the district will be well represented, thus shewing that the gratuitous services of that body have met with the approbation and approval of those whose interests have been so well studied and worked for by the gentlemen who will be our guests this evening. There are, no doubt, some who are hanging back to the last moment, and others who would assert .private claims upon their time as an excuse for not being present at the dinner, but we would point out that this is an occasion on which it is almost the duty of every owner of property in the district to be present, as showing that the efforts of the Ttust have met with public sympathy and gratitude. There can be no doubt that the attendance at the banquet will be taken as a criterion of public favor or disfavor with the action of that body, and we trust that the district will, by being well represented, endorse that action, and encourage them to fresh exertions for our common weal. To those who have not as yet provided themselves with a ticket, our advice is—do so at once. In our" advertising columns a preliminary notice is given of an intended series of entertainments in aid of the funds of St. Peter's Church, the first of which has been appointed to take place on the 10th inst. We know from experience that a call for aid in any church matters meets here with ready sympathy and response from all denominations, and we trust that this occasion may form no exception to rule. The entertainment on the 10th, we are given to understand, will consist of vocal and instrumental, music, readings, &c, to conclude with a short farce, but, doubtless the full programme will be submitted to our readers before that date.

By advertisement elsewhere, Mr C. W > Bridge notifies a sale of dairy stock tomorrow, at the yards, Mouct Vernon, the property of George Armstrong, Esq. From the well-known character of Mr Armstrong's cattle, and the fact that the time of year when this class of stock will soon be in demand is close at hand, we predict a good sale. Judging by the reports of contemporaneous sales, cattle are fetching good prices, and there is no reason to doubt but that Peninsular stock will maintain the same values. The usual monthly mooting of the Banks Peninsula Building Society takes place on Thursday evening next at Messrs Garwood and Co.'s store. An unprecedented heavy sea was ex- ' perienced at Timaru, on Sunday last, the rollers being spoken of as the heaviest ever yet seen. The rise of the sea was very sudden, and unexpected, and seems to have been caused either by some tremendous storm at sea, or some submarine volcanic disturbance, of which probably we shall yet hear further particulars. The barque Melrose, and the ketches Glimpse, Palmerston, and Fanny, were driven ashore, two lives being lost, and one man fatally injured. The weather on 'and was calm and fine, and upwards of 2000 people were assembled on the shore watching the vessels as they came ashore, but powerless to render any assistance further than that tendered by the Rocket Brigade. The scene is reported to have been most heartrending, and terrible, and will long be remembered in the shipping annals of Timaru. The sale of the Little River township the property of Mr W. Coop realised even better prices than anticipated by the vendor. One hundred and six sections were sold, averaging £120 per acre, an hotel site selling for £315, the purchaser Mr Geo. Franks refusing a prolit on his bargain of £150 before the of the .sale. There was very keen competition for all the sections which sold readily. The s.s. Stella put in here yesterday, after experiencing very heavy wuath down South, with dynamite, &c, for the lighthouse works. The sea, however, was running- too high for landing purposes at Haylock's Bay, and the cargo was accordingly landed at Akaroa, to bo transhipped at the first available opportunity. The tide exhibited some strange vagaries in the harbour on Sunday. To a certain extent, no doubt, this was caused by the heavy weather which has been experienced outside, and to which the disasters to shipping at Timaru, recorded elsewhere, are attributable. We believo however, that some cause other than atmospheric must have been at work to cause the exceptional irregularities observable on Sunday. At about twelve noon tiie title was lower than it has been for a long time past. Again at three o'clock and up to nearly live, it was extraordinarily low, ■ while shortly after sis . the wutei had reached such a height as to invade the road round the beach. We should not be surprised to hear of some disturbance of the earth's surface which

may account for the phenomenon. That indefatigable journalist. Mr Joseph Ivess, proprietor of the Ashburlon Mail, and founder of this and other journals in the. colony, li;h started hk; ninth journalistic venture in llawkc's Bay, under the Jiamo of the Wuipawa Mall. We wish Mr Ivess and this latest accession to the ranks of journalism every success, and a long course of prosperity and usefulness.