The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 251, 13 December 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13.

The election of a councillor to. fill the last of the extraordinary vacancies, which recently occurred in the Borough ! Council of Akaroa, took place on Tuesday last. There was a total;absence of any excitement, more interest seeming to be attached to the proceedings of the R.M. Court. A good majority of the votes, however, were polled, resulting in a victory for Mr J. Beechcr, who secured 46 votes, against Mr C. Armstrong's 29. At the declaration of the poll, Mr Beecher, in returning thanks for the proud position in which, by the votes of the burgesses, he fo"v»nd himself placed, said that he should endeavor to do his best for the ratepayers generally, as well as himself. He considered that it was persons who had a stake in the town who should be returned to tne Council, and not men who were likely to be here to-day and gone to-morrow. He might say that, with one exception, he was the largest ratepayer in the Borough, and thought that those who had the largest interest were the most fitting to represent the ratepayers, for by looking after their own interests they would likewise be attending to those of the rest of the town. He again begged to thank the burgesses for the very flattering position in which they had placed him on the poll. Mr Armstrong most cordially thanked his supporters and those who had voted for ■him, and stated that, though defeated, he was not disappointed, as he had only consented to stand althe urgent request of a few friends. He hoped Mr Beecher would carry out his promise to do his best for the town generally: If all the councillors did that, it mattered not who were returned to the Council. He concluded his remarks by moving a vote of thanks to the Return-ing-officer, and the proceedings terminated. A meeting of the Le Bon's Bay School Committee was held on the 7th inst. Mr George Crotty was appointed to serve on the Committee in the place of Mr Jorkensen. The Government Inspector's report was laid before the Committee, and considered highly satisfactory, sixty per cent, having passed in the standards in which they were presented. The per-centage would have been considerably larger if those who had been presented two standards higher were taken as having passed one. A present of three guineas was received from Mr Montgomery for prizes, and acknowledged suitably. The schoolmaster was instructed to send for whatever prizes were required. Arrangements were made for the school treat, which will be held on the 27th inst. The holidays commence on the 20th. Owners of ferocious dogs should either see that they are chained up or have thorn destroyed. In certain parts of the town, persons walking along the street are seldom safe from the attacks of these brutes, who rush out upon the uuwary pedestrians before they have a chance of protecting themselves. An instance of this nature occurred on Wednesday evening last, when a savage brute rushed out from some premises on the Beach road upon some ladies who were at the time walking quietly along the road, and made a furious attack on one of their number, tearing her dress, and otherwise ill-using her. The lady in question was so overcome with fright that she was compelled to return to her residence, where she remained during the rest of tho evening, and the business on which she was in the first place bent was left unaccomplished. We cannot but decry the practice of allowing dogs of all descriptions to wander at large, as an attack of the kind described on a nervous person might do an incalculable amount of injury to the party so attacked. We often hear of the possibilities con - tlngent on a war with Russia, but it is somewhat singular t<?see on the same page of a contemporary (The Saturday Advertiser) two such contradictory opinions as the following:—A correspondent pictures he Russians sending two ironclads (out of tten in the North Pacific) with ten " converted" steamers to these coasts. They land 5000 men at Barry's Bay, from which point they march on Christchurch, which town they deliver over to pillage and lust' and finally burn. Meanwhile another 5000 ' have been landed atJSumner. These cross over ito Lyttelton, destroying the harbor, tunnel, &c, telegragh to fleet " all right." Fleet comes in, coals up, and "clears," first " smashing to pieces " the Sappho and Nymphe. In the next column appears an extract from an English paper in which we are assured that " Russia has not more than four vessels fit for duty in the Pacific, and these are old tubs not capable of steaming above six or seven knots an hour. They are so slow that they cannot be considered as of the fleet." We observe that in Ashburton good bread is advertised at 5W the 41b loaf. We must plead guilty to the usual mas" culine ignorance as to the details of " bills, ,, which are unmitigated nuisances, to be got rid of somehow (if by no other means than by paying them), but we are credibly informed .that in Akaroa we are charged B|d for the same quantity. Work it out some of you youngsters and see how much per cent, this difference in price comes to. As jto the reason for the great disparity— well, there are some thinge " no fellah can can make out."

An interesting ceremony took place g' the Catholic Church, Akaroa, yesterday

morning, consisting in the administration of their First Communion to a number of children. Mass was celebiated by the Rev Father Donovan, who made a short and appropriate address to those present. After the-conclusion of the religious ceremony, an adjournment was made to the front of the Presbytery, where the following address was presented to Miss de Malmanche, who has been indefatigable in her endeavors to assist in every good work, especially tho training of the young. The address was tastefully written, and accompanied by a purse containing ten sovereigns. Miss Cuilen made the presentation, reading the address as follows :— '" Miss de Malmanche, —On this joyful and auspicious occasion, which presents us with a fresh instance of your untiring zeal and love for the children of Holy Mother Church, we are very happy at having to couple with its other pleasant associations a small memento of our high appreciation of your past and present pious exertions for the spiritual welfare of the youthful members of our congregation. We could not allow so appropriate an occasion to pass without this public expression of our grateful feelings, and we truly believe that tho presentation, which we are now making, will be as kindly received as it is offered; that you will regard the affectionate spirit which prompts our action, and will derive a just happiness from this expression of our gratitude, although your efforts have been made for a higher reward than any we could offer. It is, indeed, of all delightful sights, the most delightful to witness a generous sacrifice of self and time, and needful repose in the holiest causes of humanity—the cause of youth, oi" religion, of God—and it is not without its counterpart pleasure to find efforts so piously, made, gratefully appreciated. In presenting you with this purse and its modest contents we do so as a mark of our personal esteem, and as a small, but hearty, acknowledgment of services long and freely bestowed, and we affectionately trust that, both in this world and in the better land, those zealous efforts will meet from the Divine Being, for whose honor they have been primarily undertaken, a better and more proportionate reward. Wishing you, Miss de Malmanche, health, long years, and every happiness.—Catherine Julia Cullen, on behalf of the congregation. Akaroa, 12th December, 1878.' , Miss de |Malmanche was greatly affected. She endeavored to express her thanks euitably, but her emotion was too great to enable her to say much. She did, however, succeed with some difficulty in thanking her friends for their kind and entirely unexpected presentation. In the evening Vespers and. Benediction took place. After Vespers the Rev. Father Donovan delivered a most impressive discourse in which he urged upon the children the duty of perseverance in the paths of piety and virtue. Those who had received Holy Communion in the morning were presented with cards bearing their names, and the date of their reception of the Sacrament. After Benediction the children first, and the adults present afterwards, made a solemn renewal of their baptismal vows. Altogether the ceremony was most impressive.

We observe by advertisement elsewhere, that all defaulting ratepayers of the Borough who do not cash up by the 31st instant, are to be sued indiscriminately. Our boy, who is a perfect terror for " wanting to know, you know," says he has discovered that a certain councillor, who has been foremost in denouncing the iniquities of the said defaulters has himself forgotten two obligations which he is under .to the Borough, besides being the owner of a collarless " dawg." He says, moreover, that the gentleman in question has proposed that the collector shall summon every tenth man, first having carefully ascertained that by adopting this method his name will be missed. We hope there ia no foundation for the rumor.

Some athletic sports were held at Mr T. S. Baker's, at French Farm, on Wednesday last, on the occasion of the school breaking up. The following is a list of the events, and the names of the winning competitors. Putting weight, E. Knight, 28ft ; throwing cricket ball, E. Knight, 76yds ; throwing cricket ball, boys under 15, G. Reeves, 48yds ; 100 yds race, open to all, E. Knight' 100 yds race, boys under 15, G. Reeves . 100 yds race, boys under 12, H. Reeves ; 1 mile race open to all, handicap, H. Ford 1, E. Knight 2 ; 440 yds race open to all* E. Knight; 440 yds race, boys under 15, handicap, G. Reeves 1, Gorton 2 ; high jump, jopen to all, E. Knight, 4ft 6in ; high jump, boys under 15, G. Reeves' 3ft Bin ; long jump, open to all, handicap, 11. Knight 1, 15ft 3in ; E. Knight 2; long jump, boys under 15, G. Reeves, lift 6in ; steeplechase, open to all, handicap, G. W. Stack 1, G. Clougstoun 2 ; consolation handicap,, R. Browne 1, A. Latter 2Extra prizes— Mr A. S. Baker's (box of paints). J. Wright 1, H. Ackland 2 ; Mr M. H. Smith's (whip), H. Ackland 1, A. Latter 2. After the sports had concluded tha prizes were kindly distributed by Mrs Knight, with a few appropriate words to each winner, who was cheered as he stepped forward to receive it. Three cheers for the ladies and Mr Baker were then given jn a very hearty manner, which closed a mo9t pleasant afternoon to all. ? "■

A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held at Bruce's Hotel on Wednesday evening, Mr H. G. Watkins in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The secretary reported the present balance in hand to be £85 11s 10d, which, with subscriptions promised, would bring the fund's up to £100 i Arrangements were madeVfor an active canvass, of the neighborhood. It was agreed that if any purchasers of sites chose to allow any persons to erect booths on their grounds, the latter must pay half a guinea to the Regatta fund. The Chairman and Secretary were authorized to endeavor to secure the services of a bandIt was stated that the Committee of the Industrial Exhibition had promised to contribute £2 10s towards this object, conditionally on the band playing for an hour at the exhibition. His Worship the Mayor was appointed commodore, Mr Walter Watkins assistant secretary, some names were added to the committee, and the meeting adjourned. We are glad to find that the regatta promises to be a thorough success. Since the above/was in type we are glad to learn that" arrangements have been made for the services of a band, and that one will come down in the Hawea. Their presence will add greatly to the attractions of what promises to be a very enjoyable day. The Peninsula Jockey Club convene a meeting, to be held at Haines' Hotel, Hill Top, on Wednesday, 28th inst., the same day as that on which the County Council meet, to arrange for the Annual Race Meeting at Lake Ellesmere. We observe that Mr T. B. Chadwick, besides supplying cherry pectoral and liver mixture, has turned his attention to purveying for thirsty souls, and has opened a room adjoining his medical establishment, where all kinds of temperance beverages mny be obtained. We wish to call lie attention of alj desirous of competing at the forthcoming regatta to a notice which appears elsewhere to the effect that al! entries of vessels in harbor must be made on Saturday evening, between 8 and 11 p.m., a. Bruce's Hotel. The following nominations for the various handicaps in the forthcoming races at the Head of the Bay were received by the secretary.on Wednesday evening last. Weights will be declared in our next issue: District Hurdle Race—Mr G. Robertson's Kaiapoi,MrJ.Sunckell'slsis, MrT. Welsh's Charlie. Wainui Plate—Mr G. Roberston's Kaiapoi and Merry Monarch,'Mr B. Shadbolt's Lone Hand, Mr J. SunckelPs Isis Tradesmen's Handicap—Mr W. Ashton's Pompey, Mr G. Robe:reton's Kaiapoi and Merry Monarch, Mr J. Sunckell's Isis, Mr E. de Maliiianche's Titokuwaru. Trotting Race—Mr G. Robertson's Rowdy Jack, Mr W. Birdling, Jun's., Mistletoe, Mr J. Sunckell's Bones, Mr B. Shadbolt's Lady Bird, Mr J. Johnson's Prince. A somewhat severe sou-westerly squall' accompanied by rain came on last evening between seven and eight o'clock. Up till a late hour last night the rain was still falling, though we are afraid its continuance would be an event almost too good to be true. The squall was not merely local, as we understand that the telegraphic line between here and Christchurch was blown down close to the latter place. It appears that on the fault being discovered, Mr Meddings, the electrician, announced that it would be found at, or close to, Addington. A man was accordingly at once despatched, and the break discovered exactly where it had been pointed out to be, and at once repaired.