The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 246, 26 November 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26.

A meeting of the Lakes Trust will be held at Wascoe's Hotel on Thursday next. We understand that important business will be brought forward at the meeting, in eluding the consideration of a claim to £250 bonus preferred by the Engineer, Mr Hardy Johnston.

The Mayoral election takes place tomorrow. The poll will open at nine and close at six. In this election each burgess has one vote. The contest lies between Messrs Meech and Waeckerle, as Mr Watkins has retired, or, as a horsey friend remarks, been " scratched." We observe that Mr Meech invites the burgesses to meet him this evening at the Town Hall. In another column appears a letter from an elector, in which he maintains that neither of the candidates are fit for the office, mainly on account of their alleged want of means to support its dignity. We are afraid if this measure were to be applied that not only Akaroa, but many larger places would find themselves mayorless. It is not easy to find men willing not only to give time and trouble, but also to spend money for the sake of the honor of serving their fellow-citizens. "Elector's" statement that he does not consider either candidate suitable reminds us of a story of a farmer somewhere in Australia, who, on learning that he must strike out the names of those he did not wish to vote for, rode in ten miles to a voting place, and deliberately struck out all the names on his voting paper, exclaiming that they were none of them worth a blank.

A roadman's cottage belonging to the Little River Road Board was burned down on Thursday night last. The coitage in question was situated on the road between Haines' and Mr Coop's saw-mill, and was, we believe, unoccupied at the time. Mr Keenan, living in tile neighborhood, is reported also to have lost a considerable quantity of grass seed in the same fire. The fire is said to have originated from a bush fire in Messrs White and Co.'s paddock.

On Friday tast a serious accident occurred to Mrs Hay, of Pigeon Bay. It appears that she was in a trap being driven by her son, and accompanied by a daughter, on tho road between French Farm and Wainui, when a spring broke, and the whole party were precipitated on the road. The ) ounger occupants of the vehicle escaped with a more or less severe shaking, but Mrs Hay was not so fortunate, having sustained some severe injuries. She was conveyed to Mr Knight's residence, Tikao Bay, 1 where she now lies. We are happj* to learn that, though the injuries are severe, the lady is progressing as favorably as can be expected.

The continued dry weataer is making the prospects of our settlers very gloomy. On every side we hear the same coinplaints—no rain, no grass. Already, in many instances, settlers have been compelled to turn their stock into paddocks they had been keeping for grass. On Sunday we had a refreshing shower, but it did not last, and had no effect but that of laying the dust a little. If a good downfall af rain does not soon come, we shall hear of greater losses than were caused by the late severe winter.

In our last issuo we stated that the Head of the Bay Sports committee would hold a meeting on Tuesday evening. This was an error, as it will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that the meeting in question" is convened for Thursday evening next ajt j the Somerset.Hotel. ■■"*' ', ■'X ■■< |j

We observe that Mr J. Ojk Hawkes/calls for tenders fcjr the ptirchas&pf sixty' acVeS of land in Okain's Bay,, belpbgirfg to the Church Property Trustees.,\\Yer ! j» etuty terms are offered. ' *' \ v'/ \..