The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 17.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 304, 17 June 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 17.

Owing to the unusual, but necessary, length of our report of tho proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court, our leading article, and various items of interest are unavoidably held over.

The Assessment Court for the Akaroa and Wainui Road District was held before the Judge, J. Ayliner, Esq., at the offices of the Board, Head of the Bay, yesterday. Messrs W. F. Williams (Chairman of the Board) and B. Shadbolt represented the Board, aud Mr A. I. M'Gregor, tho Board's valuer, appeared on bolialf of llie Board. The following appeals were heard :—Mr G. Armstrong, Flea Bay property, rated at £GBS; reduced to £434 15s. James Reed, sen., rated for dwelling house in error £9, struck out. F. Lelievre, Long Bay, and Pawa Bay property, rated at £328 ; recluced to £298. Eugene Lelievre, rated at £152 10s ; reduced to £120. B. Mora, rated at £136, £132. •■-"

" The case of Curregh v. Vangioni heard on Thursday c' ■ ■■ -ing last, resulted iv a judgment for deft-idant. We have a full report ot it in type, but are compelled to hold it over. As the case is of considerable importance to workmen and contractors, we shall publish it in our nest.

An accident occurred on Friday last, to a man named Charles Keefe, who iy at present working for Mr Kenny at "Wainui. It appears that tho unfortunare man was drying some dynamite in a shovel over a fire when the substanco exploded in his face, causing severe injuries. It was at first feared that the poor fellow would lose his eyesight, but we are glad to be able to state that this is not the case, as he is getting round under the care of Dr Gulhrie. He was removed to the Akaroa Hospital immediately after the occurrence of the accident, and will probably be a few weeks under medical treatment.

A social gathering of an interesting nature took place at Lincoln on Tuesday last. This was a dinner, which was got up by a few friends as a farewell to the Key. 11. Stocker, late incumbent of that district, also to Mr W. A. Murray, who is abont removing from that neighborhood, and who has proved himself a most useful member of society. The Key

A. P. O'Callaghah occupied the chair, ami Messrs W. G. Ivey and J. Gammack officiated as vice-chairmen. About thirty persons were present, and the repast took plane at Sluis' Hole!. In proposing- the health of .their guest, the Rev. Mr Stoukor, the Rev. Chairman bore high testimony to his zeal and activity. When he came to the district he had found it in a state of chaos, since then churches had sprung , up like mushrooms. The Rev Chairman ended by presenting Mr Stocker, on behalf of liis late parishioners with a purse containing £102. In returning thanks, Mr Stocker said ho must take the opportunity of acknowledging the great amount of help he had received from them all. Whenever there had been a work to be done, he had always found a man ready to doit. He believed no one had ever v better officers. Mr Gamuiack proposed the health of Mr W. A. Murray, to whom a presentation which was also made, consisting of a handsome clock, a cruet stand, and several other articles. The health of the Rev. Mr Dunkley, the new incumbent, was proposed by M' - J. Murray, and altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent, which was concluded by the singing of " Aiild Lang Syne", in the orthodox style.

Last Saturday Messrs A. Lelievre and W. Masefield discovered a whale ashore in Pawa Bay, near Gough's. The creature measured over 60 feel in length. On the discoverers coming into Akaroa and reporting their find, great interest was manifested in the circumstance. The value of the prize was variously estimated at from £200 to £300. Learned discussions were hold as to the varying interests of the finders, the owner of the adjacent land, the Queen, and the whaler, who, cruising somewhere near the South Pole, might have slain the cetacean. Various expeditions were organised to inspect the prize, which, by the most irrefragable evidence of the olfactory nerves, gave evidence that it was •' very much dead." Alas for the "best laid schemes," &c., however. On an expert being , taken over to view the remains, they were found to be in too advanced a state of decomposition to be of any use. We hope the finders, however, will be able to preserve the skeleton. Ati opinion has been received from the Attorney-General that the conviction of L. Perluuu in t!io !:Uo a :;.■;.-.nlL is l.c.A, uw.i we understand that in conat'quer.co no steps will be taken to wii'orco it.

From Wellington telegrams, we, condense the following items : —A very extensive fire took place in Wellington on Sunday evening, destroying the Imperial Opera House, the Wcsleyan Church, (ho. branch Bank of New Zealand, and a number of other .buildings,*. The total damage is estimated at £100,000.—£ir herbert has accepted tlies-lWakership $JE, the Legislative Council.- v Mr\)'Ryrke - will probably succeed hnn in tho chair of the Lower House, and a number oi "candidates are mentioned for 'the Chairmanship of* Committees at present held by Mr O'Rorke. —There are rumours of the probable retirement of. Mr ? Stoutv■■■fropi fthe Ministry, -qi\ i%e groujftd.' 6£ irlnvatel.business. "A meeting of the Akaroa "'arid Wainui Road Board, was held at the office onSaturday afternoon last, w'lien aicorisiderable amount of business Avas transacted. All the members were present, with the exception of Mr Chappell. An important resolution was passed in regard to the Wainui Pass road. All the tenders fo r the No 2 part of the Mount Bossu road were informal, and fresh tenders have been called for, as will be seen from our advertising columns. A full account ofthe proceedings will appear in oijr next -issue. The Board meets again on Saturday nest. Some of the Canterbury lawyers are in high glee, says t-lio liangiora Standard, and. their professional smiles do the beholder good to see. A rich man—a very rich man mind—no less than Mr, Michaei""Studholme of financial renown is going to law. Mr Studhohne never does things by halves whether it be in enlarging a run, stockingit, sweeping a freehold :irea, or'making it immediately productive. Some time ago, -there were vecy destructive bush, fires at Waimato where Mr Studholmo has one of the finest estates in the colonies. Some of his shepherds wore blamed for having originated the conflagration. Proofs are wanted, ami proofs must be had. So that no less than sixteen claimant's have turned up "desiring " damages. Sixteen writs have been served upon, Mr SLiulholnie, and 34 lawyers retained and preliminarily "feed," or at leant as far as numbers are concerned that gentry will be gifted with enough professional lore to amount to two men of the law on each side. Diii'orent juries will have to be sworn for cadi ca.se, so that at 12 " good and true men" for each suit we have the inodeat total of 192 free and enlightened citizens of the realm to assist in. ferretting out what tho law means, and where justice docs not j->in it-sue with it. No wonder that the wiggod and gowned profession should be in a flurry. , Loaves and, fishes are scarce just now among mem. bers of the Bar, and it is indeed another case almost of the surivavl of the fittest — not fattest. Mr T. I. Joynt, who, we understand, has been selected by the defendant to " iiKvhe things lively " for the 192 Jurymen in question, has succeded in getting the trial of the cases heard at Titnaru... \Vo .sympathise with some- of our Southern "friends. Over 200 witnesses it is paid, will grace tho proceedings, and the Court is procuring a brand/newrßible with a patented hard cover, L. ..-.' . : ..■ .