The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 7.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 275, 7 March 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 7.

Owing to the length of our report of Mr Montgomery's meeting, our leading article, report, of proceedings of the Little River Road Board, and other items of interest are unavoidably crowded out.

The funeral of the late Mrs Checkley took place last Tuesday in the Church of England Cemetery. The Oddfellows, of which order as is well known Mr Checkley ia one of the oldest members in the district, mustered in considerable force, the brethren being attired in funeral regalia. A detachment was told off to act as bearers. The procession left the late residence of the deceased lady shortly after three o'clock. Besides members of the order, the cortege included a number of relatives and friends, as well as a long line of the general public, who were in attendance to pay their last tribute of respect to tbe deceased, and show their sympathy with an esteemed friend in his bereavement.

Mr Justin Aylmer, in his capacity of Judge of the Assessment Court, attended at the Road Board office, Duvauchelle's3ay, on Wednesday last, for the purpose of hearing objections against the ralugtiOn. roll for the district. It appeared, however, chat no roll had been prepared, and the Road Board had aßked for an extension of time, which the Government had declined to grant. Under these circumstances, tlieCourt had no alternative but to orderlthe preparation of a fresh list, and; ; appoint a valuer for the purpose, as provided in the 28th section of the Rating Act. This was accordingly done, Mr A. I. M'Gregor being appointed valuer. The time when the new roll will be open for inspection is notified by advertisement in another column. The Court sat at Okain's Bay yesterday, but no objections had been lodged, and the roll, as presented, was signed by the Judge.

From the proceedings of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, reported in our last issue, it will be observed that a long discussion took place on the question whe-. ther the Board should recoup the contractors, Messrs Everall and Gunning, for the loss sustained by the dastardly act of some person or" persons about five weeks ago throwing their drays, harness, and tools over the embankment at Horseshoe bend. The sympathies of the Board were evidently quite in their favor, but the opinion of the Chairman was that any payment for such loss did not come with the scope of their functions under ? The Roads Ordinance, 1872." We may state that we entirely concur in Mr Williams' yiew of the case.

A meeting of the Le Bon's Bay School Committee was held on Saturday evening. The members present were Messrs Halb T. Oldridge, Foster, M'Culloch, Fredricksen, and J. Oldridge. A letter from the Board, acoepting Mr Smith's tender for painting the school buildings, &c, two coats, for £25, was read ; also, one stating that some new furniture had been ordered for the

school. - A circular with reference to-new books introduced into the school requiring the sanction of the Committer was also read. The schoolmaster was instructed by the Committee to sue for all moneys due for books.

A meeting of the Akaroa School Committee was held on Monday evening last at the school. Present — Messrs Meech (Chairman), Dalglish, Fenton, Missen, Tosswill, and Wiggins. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, correspondence from the Education Board was read to the following effect .-"—Circular stating that, as parents had been put to unnecessary expense by frequent changes of books, for the future any new books introduced by the masters must be sanctioned by tbe committees. Tabular statement of attendance and other particulars of schools under' the Board, and a series of letters re the proposed school for Maori children at the Kainga, from which it appeared that the school in question was not being erected by the Board of Education, but by the Native Department. Letters were also read from Miss Bruce, resigning her situation as pupil teacher, and from Mr Nicholls, complaining that the children cannot always obtain school books and requisites, and asking the committee to devise some means to remedy the evil; also, urging the neces. sity for more teaching power. In accepting Miss Bruce's resignation, the committee returned their thanks for the satisfactory manner" .in which she had fulfilled her duties. On the/ motion of Mr Tosswill, it was resolved to .instruct the Chairman to write to the Board, pointing out that Miss Brace had practically been an assistant mistress, and asking the Board to sanction the appointment of an assistant in her place. 5 John M'Gregor was appointed pupil teacher. Mr Tosswill stated that he had had a conversation with Mr Montgomery on the question of a High School, That gentleman had informed him that he thought such an application would be favorably received. He had also written what he intended to be a private letter to the Chairman of the Board, to which he had received an answer from the Secretary which he read. It was agreed that the Chairman be authorized .to obtain information as to the probable amount of support that could be expected from parents to such a school, and communicate with the Board on the subject. With regard to echool books, it was resolved that Mr Nicholls be asked for a list of those in use in the school, in order that the committee may take steps to ensure a supply of them being procurable. The meeting then adjourned.

The following is'the decision of the Court of Enquiry into the loss of the Taupo :—" After hearing the evidence, I am of opinion that the accident was caused by the careless navigation of the vessel, and I state my opinion that the accident was owing to negligent navigation on the part of the master of the ship, in the following particulars :—l. That he did not properly and closely watch the course of his ship from the red buoy to the Beacon. 2. That he did not heave the lead. 3. That he erred in judging the distance of his ship from shore, and consequently did not keep her in her pro per course. 4. That the slow speed at which the vessel was driven probably conduced to the accident. I am further' of opinion that. I should not be doing my duty to'the public if I again allowed an accident to shipping, which appears to have been caused by carelessness or incapacity, to pass without exercising that power which is given to a Magistrate's Court of Enquiry in such cases. I therefore order that the master's certificate be 'Suspended for three months from the date of the stranding, and that the master also pay the costs of this enquiry, amounting to £17. The certificates of the other offi-

cars'are returned." This decision appears to -us somewhat inconsistent. That a man who is found by his negligence to have cast away a fine steamer and imperilled numerous lives should merely be prevented for three months from commencing a similar career is simply absurd. Either the finding is unduly severe, or the penalty ridiculously light.

Messrs Bridge and Co. will a sale of cattle at the Head of the Bay yards at noon to-day. Particulars appear in our advertising columns.

Mr Aylmer held a short sitting of the Assessment Court on Tuesday last, immediately after* the rising of the R.M. Court. He gave his decision on the case in which he had reserved his decision on the previous day, which was an application by Mr Nicholls to have his name omitted from the valuation roll on the ground that the house he occupied in Balguerie street was exempt as a "schoolmaster's residence." The Court upheld the objection, and the roll was amended accordingly.

.. A fire occurred on the nischt of Monday last, by which the homestead of Mr Masefield, at Gough's Bay, was-completely destroyed, and Mr W. Masefield had a narrow escape with his life. It appears that Mr Valentine Masefield, with one of his children, was occupying one of the bedrooms, and his brother William was sleeping in another room. The former first became aware that the place was on fire, and at once hastened to place the child in safety, at the same time giving the alarm to his brother. The latter being half suffocated by smoke, found his retreat by the door out off, and could not find the window. Mr V. Masefield, however, rushed to the

window from the outside, and managed to break it away and drag his brother through none too soon. The latter was very severely burned about the face, hands, and feet, and altogether had a very narrow escape. The progress of the flames was so rapid that neither of the inmates had time to save so much as a single article of clothing, and in ten minutes from the first sign of fire the whole place was a heap of ashes. The origin of the fire can only be conjectured, but it is supposed to have originated by means of some sparks from the bush catching one corner of the

house.

We clip the following from the telegraphic news of Saturday last, which indicates what sort of hands we have at the wheel of the ship of State. The Smith referred to is the great Amelius Morland Smith, after the greater G.S. Cooper second in command, and whose ijpse dixit has Bettled many a colonial matter of importance while he was trying to live on £200 a year and could not manage it. Smith does not play cards or billiards, but has lost a lot of money in horse-racing. Poor Smith I Such is a sample of official morality, when, in answer to questions the debtor said he had bought a house for £800 and settled it on his wife. He gave a mortgage for the whole amount to the vendor, and no money passed. None of the principal had been paid off.' He merely paid the interest, and did not see anything strange in the transaction. £1200 had since been offered for the property, but the trustees refused to accept less than £1400. He had a section in Molesworth street, which he purchased for £200 on a bill. He considered the land to be worth £300 now> and the difference made the £100 which were stated to be his assets No cash passed in this transaction. The furniture in his house, valued at £300, and three policies in the Government office on his life for £500 each were settled on hiswife. Another for £500 was made over to Mr Pym, of Dunedin, as security for money lent. Another, a fifth, was held by Messrs Cattell andM'Credie as security for £350 which he owed that firm. He was entitled to certain property, amounting to about £1200 under his father's will, but it was left so that he could not receive it until his mother's death, or if he did anything to incur her displeasure. Had been trying to live on £200 a year, but could not manage it. Had compounded with his creditors before. In Dec, 1877, he " understood " that a composition of 10s in the £ was paid, but only the pressing creditors were paid. Had lost a lot of money in horse-racing, but not in gambling at cards or billiards." After numerous other questions the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight, in order to see what arrangement could be made for a composition with the creditors.

Mr Edward Jermingham Wakefield died on Monday last at the Home, Ashburton. Mr Wakefield was one of the oldest settlers, and had taken a leading part in public matters in the early days of the

colony

We are glad to observe that Cr Billens took occasion on Wednesday evening to bring under the notice of the Mayor the necessity for taking some steps towards organizing a systematic collection for the sufferers by the Kaintangata disaster. We hope to see something done in the matter and that promptly. There is no lack of benevolence among us as a community, but perhaps there is just a little want of promptitude and energy in taking initiatory steps. It cannot be, however, that Peninsula residents will stand aside while a good work is going on, and allow the widow and orphans to cry for relief in vain. We would suggest that his Worship the Mayor take immediate action to form a committee to work the thing properly. Probably a concert or entertainment could be successfully organized. Meanwhile we shall be happy to take charge of any donations for the purpose that the benevolent may forward to this office.

At the last meeting of the Christchurch City Council his Worship the Mayor read a telegram which had been received from the Hon. the Attorney-General, notifying that in accordance with the desire of the Council the purpose of the market-place reserve had been altered, and the change would be officially announced in the next Gazette. The reserve can now be used for the erection of municipal buildings.

The Lyttelton Times says:—A muff cricket match is being arranged for an early date, between the members of the Muff Cricket. Association, and the City Councillors, in aid of the Kaitangata Relief Fund. His Worship the Mayor intimated that the players would be in character, and that one of the impersonations.might very well be decided at once, since- Councillor Wilson must certainly appear as Sir "John Falstaff.

At the Timaru District Court, held, on Monday last, before His Honor Judge Ward, Thomas Bentley Chadwick, a chemist, recently resident at Pleasant Point, was indicted on a charge of attempting to commit suicide. He had been admitted to bail, and failing to surrender, his recognizances were ordered to be estreated. Subsequently ; a telegram was received from accused stating that he made a mistake as to the date on which the Court sat, believing it was March 10. !

What naturalists would call a fine specimen of the shovel-nose shark was secured by the brothers Stuart," ihe fishermen, at the Heads, on Friday last. The animal in question was about Bft 4ong, and had a magnificent row of teeth, which a sympathising bystander described as his first teeth, showing he was only a youngster. The two men in the boat gave a good account of their stewardship by landing such a ferocious tenant of the sea, which took them two hours to kill, or, as they put it, drown. We forget his Latin name, but those who are fond of a dip in the briny will do well to be on the look-out for these " todes of the deep."