The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 323, 22 August 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22.

Mr Turnbull addressed the electors of Timaru on Monday evening last. There was a very large attendance, the large room of the Mechanics' Institute being crowded in every part. Mr Turnbull announced that he was " for Greyism to the backbone." He also explained that what the Opposition called Greyism, they would, if they had a spark of manhood about them, call liberalism. On Wednesday Mr Woolcombe, late Resident Magistrate, held a meeting, but was unable to obtain a hearing. The leader of " Her Majesty's Opposition " met with a very cool reception at Wanganui. If the meeting he addressed may be considered a representative one, there appears everyprobability of the House re-assembling without the presence of Sir W. Fox, which would be a highly significant hint to members composing the late majority. On the succeeding evening Mr Ballance received an all but unanimons vote of confidence. Mr Rolleston appears to be likely to have a walk-over for the Avon, and no one has come forward to contest Mr Wakefield's seat for Geraldine. The two candidates for Coleridge, Messrs Hart and Wright, appear to be both opponents of the Government, and the engrossing question in that electorate seems to be who is likely to get the most for his constituents.

The writ for the election of a member of the House of Representatives for Akaroa has been received by the Returning Officer. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that the nomination takes place on Sept 1, at the Court-heuse, Akaroa and the poll (if necessary) on the sth. The writ is returnable on the 17th. Mr Montgomery is expected to arrive in Akaroa to-day.

The Mutual Improvement Association held their usual meeting on Tuesday evening last. The attendance was not so good as usual. In consequence of the unavoidable absence of Mr M'Gregor, it had been arranged to have a series of readings instead of the essay which that gentleman had promised. The following readings were then given :--Poem, " The wreath of mallows," Mr S. Watkins ; selection from the " Innocents at Home," Mr J. M. Wood; " The Devil's Grip," from Jack Hinton, Mr Scott; " Scene from Henry VIII," Rev. H. Stacker ; " Brick Fenshaw's Funeral," by Mark Twain, Mr Robertshaw ; and one of the " Ingoldsby Legends," by the President. On next Tuesday evening, Mr M'Gregor will give his essay on "Spinoza." We understand that a Shakesperian night is to be arranged f °r. The selection of a play,or portion of a play, has been left to the President, and parts will be taken by various members. This is aiming high, but it is a course which we consider quite the right one to take. Such an association ought to have an educational aim, and not be content with supplying mere amusement.

A meeting of the Barry's Bay School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Monday, the 18th instant, the members present being Messrs D. Lecomte jnn. (chairman), P. David, T. Lecomte, H. Niblett, and S. Paget, A circular from the Minister of Education was read, impressing upon the Committee and Master the necessity of strict accuracy in keeping the school registers. The Chairman was requested to apply to the Board of Education for the sum of £20, part of this sum, viz., £15, to be expended in forming a road to the school (there being at present no approach for a dray without trespassing on private property), the remaining £5 for erecting stays for the support of the schoolroom, it having some time since been blown out of the perpendicular by violent nor'-west winde, to the full force of which it is at present very much exposed. A complaint was made by the master of the school with reference to the disorderly state in which the schoolroom was left by those attending the services held in it, all the desks being turned round and left for him to replace in their usual positions on Monday morning. That maps were taken down and left in the porch of the schoolroom ; that windows were opened and left so. He also drew the attention of the Committee to some writing which was left on one of the black boards after service on Sunday last, and which he had preserved for their perusal. That the rails which he had temporarily erected until a gate could be made were constantly left down, and a number of valuable trees recently planted by the Committee at considerable expense left exposed to the tender mercies of any stray horses or cattle that might care about browning on their tender tops. The Committee, after due consideration, resolved on not allowing the use of the schoolroom in future for service, unless those attending made some arrangements for the replacing of the school furniture. The Borough Council invite applications for the post of Eeturning Officer. A special meeting of the Council will be held on Monday, at noon, to consider such applications, and to make the appointment.

Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. announce an auction sale of fat stock to be held at the same time and place as the sale on account of Mr E. C. Latter, on Tuesday next. Mr C. W. Bridge also intimates his intention of holding a cattle sale on September 1. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns An entertainment under the auspices of the Hope Ledge of Good Templars, Little Akaloa, was held in the schoolroom, on Friday evening last, and a considerableaudience assembled. The chair was taken by Mr J. B. Barker, who delivered a short address, and explained the unavoidable absence of several members and friends through the inclement state of the weather, but yet felt pleased that so large a number had braved the elements to lend success to the cause by their presence. The following programme was then gone through :— Pianoforte duet, the Misses Ashwin ; reading, Mr Willis ; song, " Ever near," Miss Emily Waghorn ; comic song, Mr M. E. Ashwin; song, Mrs J. B. Barker; song) Mr J. Shuttleworth; song, Miss. Alex. Ashwin ; song, Mr T. Coyne; recitation, Mr M'Nicoll; song, Miss Lily Ashwin ; song, Mr John Barker; reading, Mr M. E. Ashwin; song, Mr John Barker; pianoforte duet, the Misses Ashwin, and others. The various pieces appeared to be thoroughly appreciated, and, as is usually the case, the comic element provoked considerable applause.

We observe that the old schoolroom in the Akaroa Public School has been decorated in a most extraordinary manner. Of course, we do not pretend to know who the committee of taste were who dictated the dim religious tone of color that pervades what was the old schoolroom. Suffice to say that what was once a cheerful schoolroom is now, by the staining of the natural woodwork and its present tone of color, a dismal den. The Committee, beyond their ordinary duties, should see that a matter like this is properly carried out, as, by want of a little taste, what might be a pleasant schoolroom might degenerate into what is most undesirable— a place of melancholy gloom. The foregoing part of this paragraph refers to actual matters of fact, but the aesthetic matter connected with it has a much larger bearing, and refers to the important question whether the youth of the district should be educated under the lowest tone of harmony or under pleasant surroundings. In educational matters, there is no doubt that sunoundings have a vast influence, and we do not think that the general tone of the internal arrangements of the Akaroa school is conducive to that effect. The new infants' room was opened yesterday on the Kindergarten principle and we trust with the happiest results.

We remind our readers that the following meetings will take place :—The Assessment Courts, for hearing objections under " The Land Tax Act," will be held for the Borough of Akaroa, to-morrow at the Court House, and on Monday, the 25th inst., at the same place for the County. A sitting of the Court will also be held at Wascoe's Hotel, on Wednesday, the 27th inst., for the hearing of objections under the Act. —The election of a member for the Okain's Bay Road Board, in place of Mr Boleyn, resigned, will be held on Wednesday, the 27th inst. Messrs M. O'Connor and W. Thacker have been duly proposed for the vacancy under " The Regulation of Local Elections Act."—Two vacancies have occurred in the representation of the Pigeon Bay Eoad Board through the resignation of Messrs J. Hay and Gillespie. In this matter a very original advertisement comes to us, stating that a poll will take place a week after the nomination of candidates. Of conrse we are not aware what the Returning Officer's notions are on the subject of the election of Road Board members, but the fact remains that he must proceed under the Ordinance of 1872, or " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." The latter, we believe, is not in force in the district. We hear that Messrs T. Hay and T. M'lntosh have been nominated to supply the two vacancies.