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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 227, 20 September 1878, Page 2

A public meeting was held on Saturday last at the Road Board Offices, Head of the Bay to take into consideration the advisablencss of procuring additional representation for Berard Riding in the County Council. Mr Duxbury occupied the chair. It was pointed out that additional member could be awarded to the Riding without its being necessary to deprive any other Riding of one, as the Act provided tbat tlie Council should consist of not less than six, nor more than nine, members, exclusive of the Chairman. A resolution was unanimously agreed to that the Council should be asked to allot an additional member to the Riding.

With reference to a paragraph which appeared in our last issue, stating that an appeal was to be made against the late municipal election, we have received a letter from Mr Henning, stating that he does not intend prosecuting such an appeal. The letter will appear in our next. On Friday evening, an important divi • sion took place in the House of Representatives. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Woolcock moved as an amendment, '* That in the opinion of this House clause 6 of the Financial Arrangements Act 1876 Amendment Act 1877 should be repealed." , This would have the effect of depriving the counties of their present subsidies of 20 per cent, of the Land Fund. The debate was finished the same evening, and the amendment was rejected by the crushing majority of 52 to 11. The division cannot be considered a test of the strength of parties, as the lion and the lamb lay down together, the Government and the leaders of the Opposition going into the same lobby. During the debate Mr Ormond made one of his characteristic bitter speeches, in which he strongly denounced the Government proposals as the " Charter of Humbug," and described the Premier's stump speechs as "the biggest bunkum and rubbish ever talked to a New Zealand mob." In Committee of Supply a good deal of discussion ensued on the item "Charitable, £5000," which was only passed on the Government giving" an assurance that the whole question should be dealt with on the general principle. On the same evening the Hon. John Hall gave notice to move in tho Legislative Council the series of resolutions on Charitable Aid which were agreed to at the conference lately held in Christchurch. The entertainment in aid of the funds of St. Peter's Church, an account of which appears elsewhere, realised a net profit of £11. This result cannot but be highly gratifying to all who assisted in making the evening the success it was. It is intended to give another entertainment of a similar nature and for a like purpose in about three weeks time, when we hope the same support may be accorded. Now that warmer weather is setting in, fish are said to be returning to their accustomed haunts in these waters, and from certain signs known to the initiated a good fishing season is anticipated. On Wednesday morning last the somewhat nuusual sight of a shoal of moki, some too, of good size, disporting themselves at low tide among the kelp near the jetty, attracted considerable attention. The third anniversary of the opening of the Loyal Hand of Friendship Lodge, 1.0.0.F..M.U., at Okain's Bay, was celebrated by a ball, held in the old schoolroom, on the 13th instant. Several brethren from tlie Loyal " Good Intent," *' Heart of Friendship," and " Hand in Hand" lodges were present. Dancing was kept up with great spirit. On the following evening the Brethren met in tlie lodge-room. Several toasts, among which were those to the " Queen," the ■• Board of Directors," the " Manchester Unity," the " New Lodge," the •- Loyal Hand in Hand," Little Akaloa, were given and responded to, harmony being freely indulged in throughout. A branch of the L0.0.F. M.U. Order was established at Little Akaloa on Tuesday, the 10th "instant, by Prow G.M. Bro. Exley, and P.C.S. Bro. Claik. Tlie following lodges were also represented :—- Pigeon Bay, Okain's Bay, Akaroa, and the city of Christchurch. Fourteen candidates were initiated into the Order, and the following members took offices :—Bro. H. Bennett, Grand Master; Bro. Samuel Paget, Noble Grand, Bro. W. Ashton, Vice Grand; Bro. R. Rix, R.S. to N.G.; Bro. T. Mcintosh, L.S ; Bro. A. Mcintosh, R.S. to V.G.; Bro. Thomas Cotman, L.S.; Bro. R. Willis, E.S.; Bro. E. Turner, Warden ; and Bro. C. Marshall, Tyler. Some other necessary business was then transacted, and the lodge closed in due form. The following advertisement appears in in the Press of Wednesday last. The last qualification required appears to be unique. If it means that applicant is not to be overburdened with brains, an ill-natured friend of ours remarks that a rush of applications may be anticipated:—"Wanted, a man as Driver of a team in Christchurch, must be smart at work and a good horseman, moderate strong in the back and not too strong in the head ; the highest wages | from a man of the sort. Apply to. &c.