The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 270, 18 February 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

The anniversary celebration of the Oddfellows' Lodge at Little River took place, on Wednesday, the 12th inst. We have' received a full report of the proceedings, whica is unavoidably, crowded out of this issue, but shall appear in our next. The affair was a great success; . , .

The Bishop of Christchurch came, to Akaroa, via. Pigeon Bay, on Friday last. His Lordship appeared in wonderful health and vigor, and, it anything, all the better for his: recent trip to the old country.- A fair congregation* for a*week day-gathered on Friday evening to hear his Lordship's address to the candidates fot confirmation, and on Saturday evening the church was filled. After a full choral service, the Bishop administered the rite of confirmation to 29 candidates. • His Lordship's earnest addresses, both before and after the laying on of hands, were listened to with a degree of attention that proved how keenly alive the listeners were to the solemnity of the occasion, not to mention the respect due to the advanced age and. high office of the speaker.. The Bishop preached in St. Peter's Church on Sunday morning, and almost immediately afterwards was driven to the Head of the B«y, where he proceeded to administer confirmation to candidates from Waimri, Barry's Bay, &c. The Head of the Bay Church was well filled, and the service very impressive. . The parish Church in Akar,oa had been nicely decorated by some lady volunteers, and presented a pretty appearance when lit up on Saturday evening.Much credit and many thanks are ■ due to the organist, throogft whose energy; and perseverance the choir were enabled to render some portions of the services, such as a Choral Communion, to which comparatively.speaking,: unaccus]tdmed. The. Bi&Lop preached,at Barry's Bay in the evening, and .returned.to Christchurcij yesterday.

In another column the : Judge of the Assessment Court notifies the times and places fib fwill h'pia revisidii rolls of., the ;.yarioujp. Jtocal bodies on the Peninsula. We observe

that' Mr H. Bridge "has 1 been appointed ; .Clerk ,pp this CQurt, in place of Mr.'C.W/; Bridge , : , , ,

; "The following are'the' entries! for the Peninsula Jockey Club Rates,'which come i off on Friday next at Little 'River) together with the weights for the handicaps..: i —Sapling Stakes—Mr B. Shadbolt's Blue Ribbon,' Mr Duxbury's No Natnej Mr J_ Johnson's Flirtl Maiden Plate —Mr j. Sheeuan's Wanganui, Mr B. Swell. 'Handicap' Hurdleh<Bacerrr-Mr;;G t > Robinson's; Tarewa, ;late MerryMonaVfjhj lOst 7lb's; Mr Shark; list;7lbs; Mr G. Osborn's Johnny, : l()st 41bs.' .Peninsula Ilaudicapr— MjrGr.RQbinson'^afe>va 1 j 9st 81bs ; Mr G-. Osborn's Spider, 9st 31bs Mr W. Sheepshanks' Robin Hcod, 9st 51bs; Mr J; Sheenan's Shark, lOst; Mr W. [ Lemon's Miss Brizzler t Bst lOlbs. -Publican's Purse—*Mr J; Sbeenan's Wanganui, Mr J. Harris' Dick, Mr B" ShadboltV Swell.

Mr H. E. Alport will hold an extensive sale of furniture, &c, on Thursday next, the 20th inst., being the entire stock in the bankrupt estate of J. D. Davis, persona requiring anything which goes towards t fui l fjiehing'or.j3&tting up a -house will. have-, an opportunity of supplying .thein^jlVea , no doubt on, highly:favourable <ternjs|;aJ3 thesjock is varied and extensive,; fbfabsolute sale. Rather a serfous accident happened to Mr J. F. Roberts yesterday morning. He was inspecting the work at the new bridge near M#MeeQh , 3"when > he slipped 4 and/f ell n his hea s d cbmiDg in 'contact with'a stone which inflicted a wound. Mr Citron dressed the wound temporarily and Mr Roberts was. removed to his house in an unconscious state. Dr G-uthrie was immediately sent for and did what was necessary under the circumstances, and we were glad to learn that no serious consequences are anticipated.

Wβ are -happy, to be in a position to state fair start has been made with the preliminary work necessary for the construction of the Akaroa Railway. The assistant engineer commenced yesterday the necessary work for preparing specifications for the section from. Lincoln to Lake Forsyth. This work has also been commenced in the Public "Works Office. Mr Hardy Johnston has also received instructions to make trlafsurveysof the line from Little River onwards towards Akaroa, with a view of discovering a route which will have the effect of shortening the tunnel. . He is also, instructed to report on the most suitable site for the terminus in the Harbor of Akaroa. It will be remembered that at its last meeting the Trust adopted a memorial to the Government; asking them to take steps to keep the mouth of Lake Ellesmere open. We understand that

tenders are about to be called for that purpose. It will be seen that the Government have not lost sight of these two important works. No doubt the promptness with which they are being) proceeded with is due in a great measure to the representationtrmade in the proper quarter by our representative, Mr Montgomery, who, in this as well as other matters, is doubtless working well for the interests of hia constituents. ■• * ' ~.

The adjourned enquiry into the state of accounts between the Akaroa Borough Council and the Road Board took place yesterday at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Akaroa, before the Commissioner, Justin Ayliner, His Worship the Mayor, "with Crs Bridge, Penlington, and Meech were in attendance on behalf of the Borough, and the Chairman of the Road-Board , and Mr B. Suadbolt represented the Road Board. The claim made by the Council was to one-third of £1396 Os 9il, which they contended was the sum at the credit of the Board at ijhe date of severance. Mr Williams disputed this claim on two grounds—first, that there was included in it a sum of £500, part of a special grant of £1000 made by the then Provincial Government to the Road Board, and secondly .that the Board had spent more than the Council allowed for, the total differences reducing the balance to £705 17s 9d. In this 'balance waS included a sum of £60 for buildings which the Council in a fit of generosity had otnitted~!rom their claim. Besides this

Mr Williams maintained that the proportion claimed by the Borough, instead of being a third, Was less than a fourth. The claim made by the Borough amounted to £465, and the same as admitted by the Board came to £158 10s. From this, the Board contended, should be deducted a sum of about £70 expended on a bridge within the Borough. A mass of evidence, chiefly documentary, having been produced, the Commissioner reserved his decision.

. A meeting of the Church of England i Cemetery. Board was held lasf evening. The Board 'consists of the Curate and Churchwardens. All the old registers and documents were carefully gone over, and it was resolved to send circulars requesting the necessary payment for cemetery plots from such persons as retain the same without having paid fqr.them. Other business iof a technical nature . was transacted, and , not a little done, which it is hoped may " tend to place the matters more immediately under the control of the Board on a satisfactory footing."' 6lli>i: "i . " >' '" s ' ■■( \