The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 27.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 307, 27 June 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 27.

At the preliminary meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association on Tuesday evening, the following officers were elected-.—President, Rev. 11. Stoeker; Vice-president, Mr M'Gregor ; Treasurer, Mr Garwood. A good number of names were entered upon the member roll. Mr MGregor gave notice that he would move at the next meeting, July 1—" That ladies be invited to become members of the association." It was arranged that the Rev H. Stoeker should, at the next meeting, read a paper on "Amusements," to be followed by a discussion upon the subject; and that at the following meetiug, July 8, Messrs M'Gregor and Sims should open a debate upon the " Licensing Act." Arrangements were al bo made for having the room well supplied with lights and fire. The coming session of the association promises to be a very interesting one, so that all who have a desire for intellectual enjoyment should join at once. It has been decided to hold the meetings every Tuesday evening for some months. A meeting of the members of the congregation of St Peter's Church was held on Tuesday evening, at which Mr Westenra was elected a vestryman in place of Mr Stowc, who has left the distrct. A meeting of the vestry took place subsequently, but the business tranascted was unimportant. We observe that the Ashburton Borough Counoil are taking the necessary steps for borrowing £15,000 for the purposes of drainage and water supply. This is in addition to a sum of £5000 granted them by the County Council for the latter purpose. The debentures are to have a currency of ten years, and interest is to be payable on them at 6J- per cent. We shall watch with interest the success or otherwise of this loan, which if raised, will, we believe, be the first raised under the Municipal Corporations Act. It is possible that at present the project may be premature, but we feel sure that Akaroa must, sooner or later, adopt some similar course, though probably not on so large a scale. We have received the first numbers of two new journals, the Northern Luminary and the Bruce Standard. The former is a demy folio sheet, and is published weekly at Kawakawa, in the Bay of Islands. The title strikes us as being somewhat ambitious, but we hope our contemporary may prove true to name, and that considerable enlightenment may be produced by its shining in an apparently benighted region. The Bruce Standard, though under a new name and proprietary, has arisen, we believe, from the ashes of a defunct -journal. It is a double demy, published bi-weekly, and its typography and general get-up is excellent. We wish our contemporaries every success. It is by the multiplication of local organs in various localities that the population at large will be educated into taking that interest in public affairs which is so essential to the prosperity of a new country. Under the heading " Drawbacks of Temperance" the Press publishes the following:—"There are always two sides to a question, and the advocates of Good Templarism will probably be astonished on learning the awful consequences attendant on the adoption of their principles. The defendant in a petty debt case heard yesterday morning in the Resident Magistrate's Court, having expressed a strong desire to inform the Bench how he came to occupy his unpleasant position, he obtained premission to speak. He then in an agitated manner said that three months ago he joined the teetotal cause, and had been unable to obtain a day's work since. His Worship, amidst shouts of la'ighter from tho habitues of the Court, said it was the first time he had ever heard such an argument from the mouth of a debtor." Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the contractors for the footpaths in Upper Jollie street have, in the course of their work, made an opening which is decidedly dangerous on a dark night, and that they have failed on various occasions to light it. Perhaps the contractors are not aware that under the Borough By-laws they have rendered themselves liable to a penalty for this neglect, besides laying themselves open to civil proceedings in case any person were injured by an accident which was caused thereby.

Mr Stout has carried out his intention of retiring altogether from political life, and published the following letter :—" To the electors of Dunedin. Gentlemen, —I regret that business engagements will preclude me from regularly attending the ensuing session of Parliament. The measures that will be brought forward are so important, that I consider a representative will not be doing his duty to his constituents if he has to absent himself from attendance in his place in the Honse. I have, therefore, forwarded my resignation as one of the members for Dunedin. In severing the connection that has existed between us, I have to thank you for the uniform kindness and consideration you have always extended to me ; and I may he pardoned if I express a hope that as Dunedin electors we will always remain true to those liberal principles that we have hitherto supported.

The County Council invito applications from various public bodies for supplies of forest trees. This is the last day on which applications can be received, which should bo addressed to tho Chairman, County Council office. A case of some importance to masters and servants was decided a few days ago in the R.M. Court, Ashburton. A farm servant had engaged with his employer on the basis of a month's notice on either side. The two fell out and the man left, as the master alleged, without giving notice. The latter thereupon detained the wages due to his servant. On the case coming before the resident Magistrate, 'the latter decided that the master had no right .to detain wages for ,an alleged breach of agreement. The point, or a similar one, has been decided over and over again, bat a considerable amount of ignorance prevails on it as yet, some persons imagining thatif they have aclaim against another, and any property belonging to the other comes into their hands, they can at once seize it, i thereby constituting themselves plaintiff) I judge, jury, and bailiff all in one. Tbe meeting of the Borough Council which took place on Wednesday evening, and of which a condensed report appears elsewhere, was prolonged to an unusually late hour. We regret to say also that the discussions were not characterized by that moderation and courtesy which with very few exceptions has been the rule in that body for some time past. We are convinced, however, that no personal offence to any member was intended by the various speakers. When a committee of the Council assume the responsibility of an action for which it is at least doubtful whether they had authority, they must be prepared to have their action criticised, albeit severely, and, on the other hand, those who object to their conduct should be careful to admit that they believe that, though a mistake was made, it was done in good laith. As to the question itself on which the chief discussion took place, we have not the shadow of a doubt that, in calling for tenders, the Works Committee exceeded their legitimate functions, though it may have been done with those good intentions which are proverbially said to lead to unpleasant quarters. At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Jield in Christchurch on Wednesday, a letter was read from the Akaroa Borough Council, enclosing the resolution agreed to at the meeting of that bedy held oh* the llth instant. Dr Guthrie also wrote as follows : —" Akaroa, June 21, 1879. Sir, —1 have the honor to report that through the conduct at the Hospital of one of the members of the Borough Council, and a letter which I addressed to that body inconsequence, the question of the management of the Hospital was discussed at the last meeting of the Council, and a resolution proposed) which I presume has already reached you. For the information of the Board, I beg to furnish reports, &c., from the Akaroa Mail, which explain the whole matter with tolerable clearness. I trnst that what I have done may meet with tho approval of the Board. To express my approval, or disapproval, of the resolution now under discussion by the Board, would be clearly beyond my province ; but I trust 1 may be permitted to state, that I experience no difficulty of sufficient magnitude to render assistance in the management of the Hospital expedient. In fact, I am much afraid that confusion would be the only result of multiplying the control of so small an institution.—l have, &c, John Guthrie.—The Chairman, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch." The Secretary said that at the time the Hospital was established at Akaroa he had asked the authorities to act as visitors, but , those asked had all declined. The Chairman and Secretary were requested to draft a reply to the Council and Dr Guthrie, which should bo submitted to the next meeting for approval. Ihe feeling of-the Board was in favor of appointing the Mayor of the Borough a visitor as suggested. This letter appears to us somewhat inconsistent. After saying that to express approval or disapproval is beyond his province (which is manifestly correct), the writer goes on to express disapproval of it in the most marked manner. What the Times reporter calls the " feeling of the Board " seems to be a most reasonable view of the case. A tea and entertainment in connection with the " New Life Lodge" of the I. 0. G. T. took place in the _choolroomj at the Head of the Bay, on Tuesday evening last. Over a hundred persons sat down to an excellent tea, which was done ample justice to. Among those present were members of the Order and friends from Akaroa, Pigeon Bay, and Little Akaloa. After the tea had been disposed of a very attractive and varied programme was gone through, in which the following ladies and gentlemen took part:—Sisters Green and Everett, Miss Shadbolt, Misses Mary and Harriett Shadbolt, Bros. J. Bruce, S. Giles, C. Goodwin, Pawson, Cohen, M'Gilvery, Messrs Kerr, Newton, and P. Berland. The gem of tho evening was a song by Miss Shadbolt. Mr Kerr's comic singing fairly brought down the house, and Bro. Giles' songs were also deservedly applauded. After the Good Templars' entertainment had been brought to a close, a dance was organized, and kept up with great, spirit till nearly daylight.