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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 226, 17 September 1878, Page 2

We are informed that steps have been initiated by the defeated candidates at the late contest- in Akaroa, for municipal honors, to test the validity of the election on the ground of certain alleged informalities in the manner in which it was conducted.

At about a quarter to five o'clock on the morning of Friday, the 13th inst., a more than usually smart shock of earthquake was felt in this town, lasting considerably longer than has been previously experrienced here. Being at so early an hour, but few were aware that the shock had taken place, but all who felt it agree in the peculiarity of the vibrations felt, which seemed to be caused by, the passage of a succession of small waves followed!, %/■ one large one. No damage resulted to buildings, save some mortar being detached from Mr G. Black's chimney.

The practices for the entertainment, - which Aye would remind our readers takes placo this evening, in aid of the funds of St. Peter's Church, Akaroa, have been steadily maintained under the able management of Mr J. Wood. Having been favored with an entree to one of these rehearsals we can safely assert that the instrumental and glee music will be such as has not been previously heard here at the hands of amateurs, and that the various solos and other items deserve a like criti. cism. In short, the programme, which appears elsewhere, is a most attractive one. Taking into consideration the excellenc" 3 of the object, we anticipate a numerous attendance. •' ..

.p. The authorities in charge of the Akaroa Hospital are advertising for a nurse, as yet, unfortunately, without success. Mrs Dixon, the indefatigable matron, is herself laid up. and there is a female patient in the institution who is very ill, and requires constant attention. But for the kindness of a few ladies, who can ill spare the time, and perhaps are still less capable of enduring the fatigue entailed by attendance on the sick, these two poor women would have been almost entirely without the most necessary 7 attention. For any woman who is capable of undertaking the duties of nurse, to do so now for a lime, would be really performing an act of charity.

An unfortunate accident occurred on Friday last, to a child of Mr Cossar's, of the Head of the Bay. It appears that the child, an infant of about twelve months old, was left in a chair in front of the fire, when, by some means it fell forward on the fire, sustaining some severe burns about the face and legs. The little sufferer was removed to the Hospital, and placed under the care of Dr Guthrie. We are happy to learn that the case is progressing favorably.

The case of the Avon Road BoardV. the Colonial Treasurer was argued on Thursday and Friday last, before their Honors Mr Justice Johnston and ■Mr Justice Williams. As our readers are aware, this was an application for a mandamus to compel the Colonial Treasurer to pay over what is known as ''the impounded Land Fund "to local bodies in Canterbury, it being undeistood that this case should be considered a test. Mr Joynt, with him Mr Harper, appeared in support of making the rule absolute, the Hon. the Attorney-General, with whom was Mr Duncan, appearing to show cause. The Court refused the application with costs. The case was ably and exhaustively argued. The chief point relied on in answer to-the application was that the Treasurer has not absolute control of the revenue.-- He cannot act on the Public Account except by means of a warrant signed by the Governor, which warrant is, of course, only iisued on the advice of Ministers, of whom he (the Treasurer) is one. The judgment, in effect-, affirms the principle that the proper tribunal to call a Minister of the Crown to account for any alleged malfeasance in the duties of his office is—not the Supreme Court, but the General Assembly. Notice of appeal has been given.

The cemetery road in at present in an almost impassable state. There are-no less than three slips and a broken culvert on it. Should a death occur in our midst, the funeral procession could not proceed along this route. As this is a question for the Borough Council and Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, we trust these bodies will give the matter their immediate attention. "*'*' A little child named Frank Worsley, a son of Mr Worsley of Grehan Valley, had a narrow escape from death by poisoning on the afternoon of Saturday last. It appears that the boy was playing- about in the yard, when he discovered a bottle containing .a small quantity of liquid. As children will do, lie proceeded at once to investigate the contents, which subsequently proved to be carbolic acid, and ended by drinking them. Iv a short time afterwards he was observed to stagger and fall, but on an emetic being administered seemed much better. In the course of the evening he became much worse, and at last was so seriously ill that Dr Guthrie had to be sent for no less than three times during the night. The proper remedies, however, being administered, the child was perfectly well the next day, and still we are glad to say, remains so. This instance shows.how carefully all poisonous compounds should be kept out of the way of children, and that all bottles that have contained such should be well washed out and cleaned. On Friday last a lad named Alec Libeau was riding a horse belonging to his father when he by some moans fell off, the horse kicking him severely, and treading on his stomach, causing serious internal injury. For some time his life was despaired of. ' but we understand that there is now a change for the better. '

A Cable message yesterday reported that the King of Siam is about to Christianize his dominions. It may be interesting therefore to know something about him. An exchange, says he has 600 commissioned wives, and 2400 by brevet, all of them living in one vast palace at' Bangkok. Most men would rather relinquish ■ all power and royal authority than be quite so much married ; but, we presume, tjiapolygamous sovereign has got accustomed to his superabundant connu'biality. v He is said to be an amiable and enlightened Prince, and to be sufficiently advanced not to grieve over the recent death of the white elephant a sacred ! beast among the Buddhists. He probably thinks his 3000 wives elephant enough for him, without concerning himself about the actual quadruped. He must be amiable surely, to get on smoothly, as he is said to do, with 3000 women, all of whom are reputed to esteem and like him. We wonder how he manages. It would be very interesting to know how one man could live comfortably with 3000 women, when so many men find it very hard to live comfortably with one woman.— Evening Star. There were only two cases at the Resident Magistrate's Court here on Friday last, both of which had to be adjourned owing to the absence of the Resident Magistrate on other business connected with the recent inquest at Pigeon Bay, and the fact that only one available J.P. could be found in the district. We have before* pointed out the necessity for the appointment of more local Justices of the Peace. Major Butler, writing in Macmillan's Magazine, mentions a circumstance which may not be without interest to our readers. He says, in connection with the English loss of life during the Peninsular War, that it amounted to 9254 men, and that this total is less than the Russian loss was before Plevna. The municipal election in Christchurch would seem to have been marked, to judge from the reports in the Lyttelton Timet and Press, by an absence of order and common decency of conduct which can only be characterised as simply a disgrace to that city. The excitement was intense, and the interest taken in the proceedings may be imagined, when no less than upwards of 1800 votes were recorded. From the Lyttelton Times we clip the following account of the scenes which occurred toward the declaration of the poll and which are well termed as " beggaring description :'' His Worship the Mayor happening to come up, the crowd fancied that the poll was about to be declared, arad rushed into the enclosure. But this little episode was insignificant, compared with the furore created by the appearance of Mr William Wilson. There were cheers, groans, hisses, and yells, delightfully mingled, and above all the dreadful din was to be heard the word "cabbage." The hero of the moment undertook—as he confidentially told another candidate—to make the crowd good-humoured, and keep them so. '* A word or two from me," he said, " will suffice." And the gentleman characteristically commenced by claiming that he was the finest cabbage in Canterbury. A bag of flour that just than broke beautifully over him, made him appear rather like a gigantic cauliflower

At this stage matters had an ugly look. The groaning and yelling was started with renewed vigor, and frequent rushes were made. By the kindly aid of a few gentlemen who were blessed with strong arms, the reporters were enabled to escape, and soon after nine o'clock the Babel of sounds told that the Returning Officer had made his appearance. As was subsequently gathered, he announcedl the result of the polling to be as follows, declaring the following mentioned candidates to be duly elected : — James Gapes, 1292 ; William Wilson, 932 ; Aaron Ayers, 667 ; The closing scene was an utter disgrace to this city, and by all right-minded persons it must be deeply regretted that the arrangements in connection with municipal elections should admit of the possibility of such a display. It was with. difficulty that the returning officer was enabled to state results, and even then . he could not possibly have been heard save by those within two or three yards of him. He wisely efteoted a speedy retreat. Mr Gapes was then called, or rather yelled for, and after a little struggling that gentleman managed to mount the railings by the verandah. "Holding to the I corner-post by one arm, he raised his hat and the moment he did so a bag of flour struck him full in the face. He dropped down, half-blinded, but in a few moments the pluckly old man was again in position, und perhaps the evident pain he was suffering, arid the sight of his grey hair combined, saved him from further insult. - He was understood to say that he hoped his audience would excuse the few moments' delay, his eyes having been filled with flour. Ho was very thankful indeed for the position which had been accorded him on the poll. Hero something followed about throwing flour, &c, which Mr Gapes said, was perhaps to be excused on occasions of this kind. It would not be becoming on his part to detain them at that late hour, even if he had intended touching upon any of the more important topics. Again thanking the Burgesses, Mr Gapes withdrew. Mr Win. Wilson's head and shoulders then appeared above the crowd, and just as he had uttered the words " from the bottom of my heart and soul," he was caught up by a number of men who, with a rush, crashed through the palings, and bore their prize across the road, to be deposited within the haven of the Clarendon Hotel"

Owing to the return of Mr W. Wilson to a seat in the Christchurch City Council, no less than four of the existing Councillors have resigned, viz.:—Crs Radcliffe,Ruddenklau, Jameson and Pratt." The Press, in a leader on the subject in its Saturnday's issue, says :—" So universal an expression of public sentiment can have but one meaning," and concludes thus;— " We regret very much that Mr W, Wilson should have been advised lo bring matters to this issue. Whatever people may have thought of certain unhappy matters of public notoriety, there has been clearly exhibited towards himself a willingness to let bygones be bygones, so long at all events as he did not unnecessarily put himself in the way of adverse comment. With this extent of condonation Mr Wilson does not appear lo .have been satisfied. He seems to have thought that it was necessary, and would be sufficient for his complete rehabilitation in the eyes of his fellow citizens, if he could once again seat himself in the civic chamber, and perhaps once again present himself to the citizens of Christchurch as their Mayor. A greater mistake he could not possibly have made. Mere success at a city election goes for nothing. It proves nothing whatever, and it is looked.upon as proving nothing as to the character of the successful candidate. For while it may always be expected that the bulk of the members of the City Council will be men of good standing and esteem, there is at the same time always room for persons of whom this cannot be said With

regret, we say, .the course pursued by Mr Wilson. But the part taken by his friends is much more blaineable. They will plead, perhaps, the excuse of a generous interest on behalf of one who, no doubt had been severely punished. If their own interests only were concerned, we admit the plea. But it is no excuse for what they have actually done. They had no right to make counters of the public interests of the city of Christchurch. They had no business, for the mere gratification of their personal sympathies, to throw out of gear the whole machinery by which its public affairs are directed. They were not entitled to put gentlemen, willing to serve the public, and who had won the public esteem in the service, in a position in which their sense of self-respect demanded that they should retire, and in which the public opinion approves of their retirement. The mischief such trifles do is incalculable. The City Council was in need of all the support which the return of the best names in Christchurch would have afforded. It has instead received a blow which it will be no easy matter to get over."