The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 327, 5 September 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

The usual meeting of the Akaroa Mutual Improvement Association took place on Tuesday, at the schoolroom. The attendance was not very numerous. After the formal business had been disposed of, the President, according to promise, read a paper on the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of Government. A discussion ensued, in which the Rev Mr Douglas took the chief part. Next Tuesday is to be devoted to readings from Shakespeare's " King Henry IV," in which "the whole strength of the company" will take part. This should prove a treat, and we expect to see a large attendance on the occasion.

Ihe nomination of candidates to fill three vacancies in the Borough Council caused by the retirement bj r iotation of Crs O'Reilly, Bruce, and Henning. took place yesterday, at the Council offices, Mr A. I M'Gregor acting as Returning Officer. The three retiring candidates were nominated, and also Mr Charles Armstrong. Mr Henning, however, finding that three were nominated without him, declined to standand Messrs O'Reilly, Bruce, and Armstrong were accordingly declared elected. The official declaration of the Poll appears elsewhere. The concert in aid of the funds of St Peter's Church takes place to-night, at the Oddfellows' Hall. We understand that the rehearsals have been highly successful, and an attractive programme appears elsewhere. A larger number of ladies and gentlemen of undoubted talent are taking part in this affair than has been the case for some time. We hope that the zeal of the performers will be rewarded by a full house, and believe that a real treat may be anticipated. The nomination for a candidate for the Borough Council in place of Cr Beecher • takes place to-morrow The Government steamer Stella arrived in harbor on Monday night, and lay here till yesterday waiting for orders. She sailed yesterday evening- for the south. The New Zealand Press News for September has reached us. The number is fully up to the usual creditable standard of this excellent journal. We observe that there has been a change in the pro ■ prietary, the copyright having been transferred from the Otego Typographical Association to Mr George Griffin. The prospectus of a new journal appears in its columns, to be called the Colonial Printers , Register, with which the Press Neivs is to be incorporated. The Register is to be published on the departure of each San; Francisco mail, the first number appearing for despatch by the next mail. A travelling company, called the " Raphael's Star Troupe of Gymnasts and Acrobats," announce themselves as about to give a performance in the Oddfellows Hall to-morrow evening. Some great feats on the double and single trapeze form part of the- programme, together with a drawing-room entertainment, wirewalking, &c. The company will appear at Robinson's Bay on Monday evening.

We have received some specimen pages of a work which is being got up in Melbourne, George Robertson being the publisher. It is entitled " Victoria in 1880," and is intended in the words of an introductory editorial note " to illustrate the material progress and natural beauties of this country" (Victoria). The literary portion of the work has been entrusted to Mr Garnet Walch, whose name as an author is most favorably known, and the illustrations, which are profuse, are from the pencil of Mr Charles Turner. These illustrations, judging by the specimens before us, are executed in the highest style of art, a little bit of bush scenery called "The Lyre Bird's Pool," being a perfect gem. The frontispiece is also _a highly favorable specimen of chromo-lithography The letter-press is also of a superior kind, and altogether the work promises to be what is promised in the prospectus " a veritable livre de luxe." Works of this kind, illustrating the capabilities of the colonies, must have a most beneficial effect, as no doubt many copies will find their way into the hands of visitors to Melbourne during the Exhibition year. The work is being published by subscription, and & numerous and influential list of subscribers is appended, many of whom we are happy to say belong to New Zealand.

The results of the elections, as far as they have gone, are as follows : —Avon, W. Rolleston ; Dunedin, T. Dick, R. Oliver, W. D. Stewart; Invercargill, J. W. Bain ; Selwyn, Hon. J. Hall; Picton C. Kenny ; Rangitikei, Major Willis ," Motueka, R. Hursthouse ; Dunstan, V. Pyke ; Totara, Hon. VV. Gisborne ; Mataura, J. Shanks ; Newton, W. Swanson ; Akaroa, W. Montgomery ; Thames, SirG. Grey, Hon. J. Sheehan. Of the above the first ten are oppositionists, and the remaining six ministerialists. The polling for Christchurch takes place on the 10th inst. It is anticipated that the return of Sir G. Grey and Mr Richardson is certain, and that there will be a close run between Messrs Stevens and Andrews for third place. Mr Feldwick, defeated at Invercargill, has entered the field at Geraldine against Mr Wakefield. Mr Sheehan, though returned unopposed for the Thames, contests Clive with Mr Ormond. So far, as will be seen, parties are pretty evenly balanced.

A serious accident and plucky rescue took place in the neighborhood of the lighthouse on the 27th of August last. It appears than Mr Dominique, with the Petrel, was off the Heads on that morning, having on board a quantity of sundries for Mr G. Haylock. Seeing the boat approach, Mr Haylock and his son took their bullocks down to the Bay to receive the goods. Meanwhile Dominique loaded his dingey and sent it off: with the goods in charge of one man, a Norwegian. The boat does not appear to have been well trimmed, there being too much weight in the stern. To use the language of our informant, she appeared to be trying "to imitate a seal standing on its tail." All o± a sudden, to the horror and surprise of those watching from the cliffs, the boat capsized, and the unfortunate man was seen clinging to the keel. This occurred when the boat was just clear of the breakers, and about a chain from the shore. Immediately one of the carpenters employed at the lighthouse, named Wells, got himself lowered from the cliffs, and swam out to the rescue) taking a line with him, by means of which the poor boatman Avas rescued from his perilous position. When brought ashore he was insensible. He was taken to the camp and every attention paid him, and he was finally brought round. The boat meanwhile had drifted ashore on the opposite side of the bay, whence Charles Haylock, jun., fetched it across to the derrick, together with two bags of oats, the sole remains of the cargo. The young man took the boat off to Dominique, who by this time had hove in sight again, not having witnessed the accident. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Wells for his prompt and plucky conduct, as there is no doubt that, but for this, the boatman must have lost his life.

A narrow escape from what might have been a serious conflagration occurred in Akaroa yesterday about noon. At the time indicated smoke was seen issuing from the roof of Mrs Rhodes' house, in Jollie street. On some neighbors running to the spot, it was found that a smouldering fire was burning in the lining of the house, between two of the back rooms. It had apparently originated from a defect in the chiinne}'. Some buckets' being speedily brought to the spot, a number of willing hands set to work to pour water on the spot where the fire had started. The result was that in a few minutes it was thoroughly got under. Had the affair occurred at night, when no one was about, the building must have been destroyed. In these clays, when the temperance question absorbs so much of public attention, it may not be out of place to quote the saying of a candidate for Parliament, at a recent meeting of his constituents. A man in the crowd called out, 'Whatabout the Liquor Bill ?" " Well," said the can didate, " mine was uncommonly high last year. How was yours ?" He had him there!— Sun.