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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 297, 23 May 1879, Page 2

By common consent, it appears to have been arranged to keep Monday next as a holiday in place of Saturday, the 24th, in Akaroa. Lovers of the game of football are requested to assemble, for a scratch match at 10 a.m. It is intended to get the game over before the sports commence. The nomination of two persons to be auditors of the Borough for the ensuing year takes place to-morrow at the Borough Council offices not later than noon. As the minds of all and sundry are considerably exercised on the question of qualification and disqualification in Municipal offices, we may mention that according to the Municipal Corporations Act tkere does not appear to «be any rateable qualification whatever necessary for the office. The disqualifications are (1) bankruptcy, (2) treason, felony, &c, (3) lunacy t and (4) the much-discussed disqualification of having pecuniary transactions with the Council.. With these exceptions " any person," not being a councillor, may be an auditor. There is no doubt the office is a very important one, as it is only by means of the auditors that the ratepayers have the opportunity of learning how the affairs of the Borough stand.

The following} letter from Mr Montgomery has been kindly placed at our disposal by his Worship the Mayor. It wil* be seen that there appears to be every probability of the survey of tho railway line being continued to Akaroa:— " Christchurch, 20th May, 1879. Sir,—l have the honor to enclose herewith a letter I received from Mr Blair, Engineer-in-Chief, in reply to my letter to him enclosing the resolution passed at a public meeting held in Akaroa relative to the survey of the line of railway. You will see by Mr Blair's letter that the papers have been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works for his decision. I believe the Engineer is in favor of the survey being made, and I think it highly probable the necessary instructions will be given. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, W. Montgomkry. His Worship the Moyor of Akaroa." In a letter on the same subject to a gentleman resident in Akaroa, Mr Montgomery says :— "Mr Macandrew, I understand, will be in Canterbury shortly, when I shall endeavor to get him to give instructions to have the survey commenced, if he does not do so in the meantime." We observe by advertisement, which appears elsewhere, that it has been decided to hold a conversazione for the welcoming the Rev. H. Stocker. The Gathering will take place at the new Oddfellows' Hall, on the evening of the 3rd of June next. Further particulars will be duly notified. The following aro the weights for the Publican's Purse, to be run for at the Head of the Bay, on Saturday, next •— Mr Olphert's Tarewa, lOst ; Mr Hammond's Bismarck, 7st,lolbs ; Mr E. de Mahnanche's Titokowaru, Bst lOlbs ; Mr J. M'Farlane's Lone Hand, 7st lOlbs; Mr B. Shadbolt's Eclat, Bst 121bs; Mr B. Shadbolt's Blue Ribbon, 6st lOlbs. Acceptances will close at 11 a.m. on the day of the race, Saturday the 24th inst.

A correspondent writing to the Lyttelton Times, suggests, that as Fire Insurance Companies are.expected to contribute, and do contribute to the means for prevention cf fire, so those kindred associations, Life Assurance Companies, ought to assist in taking measures, having for their object the diminution of the death rate. As a commencement, the- writer suggests that they should contribute half the cost of fencing some dangerous portions of the Banks of the Avon, Christchurch, and, also, "employ a doctor whose sole duty shall be to inspect the various gutters in the town, and endeavor to devise some means by which they shall be kept clean, as according to one of onr leading doctors, many diseases in this city are promulgated from the gutters." The suggestion has, so far as we are aware, at least the merit of novelty. Theoretically there is nothing to be said against it, though we fancy there would be considerable practical difficulties in the way of carrying it out. To have any appreciable effect on the rate of mortality,! it would be necessary for very extensive and very expensive measures to be taken, and it would be difficult to convince assurance companies of the financial advisableness of incurring such an expenditure. Again, it is unfortunately too true, that as yet the great majority remain uninsured, and perhaps those very classes who are most exposed to danger by reason of occupation and circumstances. When life assurance becomes looked upon as it ought to be, as the manifest duty of every honorable man, it is probable that some steps may be taken in the direction indicated by the Times' correspondent.

A meeting of the Little River Library Committee was held in the Library on the evening of May 19. All the members were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that he had received from the Board of Education a cheque for the sum of £6 6s Bd, being amount of Government subsidy; also that he had placed the same into the hands of the Treasurer. It was proposed by Mr Alfred Joblin that the Library-room be opened to subscribers for reading purposes on Sunday evenings from six o'clock to nine, to continue during June, July, and August. Seconded by Mr Greenland and carried. It was moved by Mr Ralph that the Chairtnan be empowered to expend any sum not exceeding five pounds, in endeavoring to cure the smoky chimney, and to have shutters fixed to the ventilators. Seconded by Mr N. H. Joblin, and carried. Proposed by Mr Ralph, seconded by Mr A. Joblin, and carried, that the Chairman be requested to enquire the cost of printing 100 copies of catalogue, and be authorised to procure the same if the cost does not exceed £2 10s. Mr A. Joblin proposed that the Chairman bs empowered to procure receipt books for the use of the Librarian. Seconded by Mr John Reynolds, and carried. Mr A. Joblin moved that an endeavor be made to increase the Library funds, by getting up entertainments during the winter months, and that Messrs Greenland, Reynolds Ralph, and the mover form a committee for that pur pose. The motion was seconded by Mr Greenland, and carried. Mr W. G. Joblin was appointed Librarian for the ensuing qnarter. Two small accounts were examined and passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned until June 16. To-morrow is the Queen's Birthday, and the day will be celebrated by races and sports being held at the Head of the Bay. For those, however, who cannot make it convenient to attend these sports, and notably for the young folk, a few of our residents have determined to have some sports in Akaroa on Monday. There will be a model yacht race, a dingey race for boys, and various shore sports on the beach. Mr G. J. Black has been indefatigable in hunting up subscriptions for the purpose, in which we believe he has been fairly succeseful, and will, no doubt, see the whole affair carried out successfully. Supposing the weather to remain favorable, we anticipate some very good amusement, especially for the juveniles. The nomination of candidates to fill the vacancy in the Borough Council caused by the resignation of Mr Billens, takes place on Monday next. Elsewhere will be found a numerously and influentially signed requisition to Mr Wiggins, to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for the vacancy. It appears that Mr Wiggins declines to stand, on the ground that he has at least grave doubts as to the reading of the disqualification clauses of the " Municipal Corporations Act." Under these circumstances, it behoves the ratepayers to secure the services of some eligible candidate without delay. Our Maori fellow snbjects have been holding a korero, or Native Parliamen, lately at Kaiapoi, about certain matters affecting their interests. The following compliment (or puff ?) appears in the Press of Wednesday, with reference to the reporting of the rival Christchurch papere : —" To the Editor of the Press Salutations, oh Friend, —Your report of the Native Land Courts are good. This is my word to you and the pakeha. They are clear. Your account of our meeting pleases us. There have been writers here whom we mistook for those from you. They have deceived us and made wrong statements. They make game of our assembly, which is cruel. We are weak. They would not dare do so with the Europeans, as they would stop the paper, They cannot even spell our names or those of our residences. They spell Tenakoe with a " q," which shows them to be ignorant. We thank your writer, because we know him of old. Did not goodness remain with the man we are speaking of V Our word to you is, Welcome to our assemblies. This is all. Your loving friend, Rangi Whatitiri." It is very sad to read of any one so benighted as to " spell tenakoe with a q." What is journalism coming to? It appears that among our dusky brethren are also to be found orators who have grave faults to find with " those confounded newspapers.''