The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 353, 5 December 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5.

A meeting of the Vestry of St. Andrew's Church, Little River, was held in Mr Tyson's house, on Saturday, the 22nd Nov. Present—Rev E. H. Wyatt (in the chair), Messrs Coop, Westropp, Smart, and Tyson. 'The rev Chairman said the meeting had been called together for the purpose of discussing a scheme for paying off the debt of the church. A sum of about £160 remained on the church, due principally to Messrs Coop and White and Co., for timber supplied by them to the church. The money in hand to pay off this debt was only £12 12a 6d, and there was about £14 subscriptions promised, which had not yet been paid. Messrs Coop and Smart promised to collect the same if possible. Mr Coop said that for his part he was willing to take £25 off his account on the following conditions :—That Messrs White and Co. take a like sum off theirs, and that the district be again canvassed. and that the Vestry use its. best endeavors to obtain the balance from the residents of the district. The Vestry thanked Mr Coop for his generous offer. A subscription list was drawn up by the rev. Chairman, embodying the above. The Secretary was requested to write to Messrs White and Co., informing them of Mr Coop's offer ancl conditions. It was resolved to hold an entertainment on the 31st December, in aid of this fund, the same to take place in the schoolroom. Resolved— That the church be re-insured for the same amount as before. A Sunday school in connection with the church was decided to be commenced at once. After the transaction of some minor business the meeting adjourned. The quarterly meeting of the Financial Committee of the Presbyterian Church, Akaroa, was held in the church on Tuesday evening last. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported that the income for last quarter had been £27 12s, and the expenditure, including debit balance from last quarter, of £3 0s lOd, had been £36 Bs, leaving a debit balance of £8 16s. The Treasurer was ordered to pay accounts as far as possible. It was explained that the half-year's rent for Manse ground was the cause of the large outlay. It was reported that Mr Yewen had given up the lease of the church grounds. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the informal way in which the grounds seemed to have been given up. Dr Guthrie proposed that the grounds should not be re-let, but should be cleared and sown in grass ; and kindly offered to be at the expense of this. Mr Meech seconded the proposal, and moved that Dr Guthrie's generous offer should be accepted with best thanks, which was agreed to. Correspondence was read from St. John's, Lyttelton, relative to pulpit lamps. A sub-committee was appointed to examine these lamps, and act as they thought best in the matter, the committee to consist of Messrs Dalglish, Billens, and Meech. A sub-committee was also appointed to arrange for putting the church grounds in order, said committee to consist of Dr Guthrie and Mr Dalglish. Tlie Secretary reported he had written to Le Bon's in reference to proceeds of last tea meeting held there, but had not yet received an answer. After several other matters had been discussed and settled, the meeting adjourned.

A numerously attended meeting of the Committee of the Akaroa Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition was held in the public schoolroom here on Tuesday evening last. In the absence of his Worship the Mayor, who arrived at a late stage of tlie meeting, the chair was occupied by Mr A. Nicholls, who explained that the object of the meeting was to make final arrangements for the coming exhibition, and that he did not think it would be necessary to have another meeting of the Committee before the show day. The Secretary, Mr S. Watkins, read the minutes of the last meeting, which were duly con- ! firmed. The Secretary intimated that he 1 had received written replies from almost all the ladies and gentlemen he had written to, asking to act as judges, and reported generally that all the arrangements were in as an advanced a stage as possible, and everything indicated that the coming exhibition would be quite as successful as any of the previous ones. The Secretary further reported contributions to the prize list of £2 2s from the Union Steam Ship Company, for plain writing for boys and girls; also from Mrs Dawber, Miss Connell, Mrs Welch, Miss Rowe, Mr Daly, and a special prize of 10s from 'Mr J. Aylmer for the best butter. In reply to a question whether special prizes were in addition to the Committee's prizes, the Chairman stated that when the exhibit was mentioned in the schedule the special prize took the place of the Committee's prize. It was arranged to carry out the suggestion of a correspondent in reference to allocating the prizes before the exhibition came off, and a motion was agreed to that when all the prizes had come im

hat they be allocated for each particular subject, and a request made to Mr J. D. Garwood to allow them to be seen in his window prior to the exhibition. The Treasurer reported that there was a balance in hand from last exhibition of £4. Mesdames Sunckell and Newton were appointed judges of the bread, and Miss Shackcll and Mrs Beswick were added to the list of judges for ladies'work. It was resolved to divide the Union Company's prize into four, two for boys and two for girls. In addition to Mr Justin Aylmer's special prize for; butter, itrwfs agreed to give prizes for phees'e, 'and honey in the comb—the conditions being that the butter be not less than 2 lbs, and without salt; cheese and honey to be of any weight. The Secretary was directed to arrange with the Committee of the Sports and Regatta and Catholic Bazaar, as to getting posters printed. A long discussion took place as to printing the prize schedule afresh, and it was finally agreed that the Secretary get tenders for the ,-aine, with authority to ac-cept-the lowest. The Committee made an arrangement under which the exhibits in plain needlework were to be elassi_ed ( viz., girls under 8, 10, 12, and 14 years of age. The matters of seating, fixing tables and lighting were left to the Secretary, and he was empowered to get all requisite assistance. Tlie Chairman undertook to arrange in regard to music. After passing a resolution that no exhibits in the industrial class would be received after 8 p.m. on the 15th instant, and none after 11 a.m. in the horticultural class, the Committee then adjourned.

Mr Whitaker, jun. has introduced a Bill into the House of Representatives, which has been read a second time, to render it impossible for a man to be imprisoned for shooting game without a license. In introducing the measure, the hon. gentleman referred to a case which had occurred under the present law, and which certainly does seem hard. A man residing in a northern township was brought before the local Bench, charged with having shot three pheasants without a license. He was fined £5 for each bird, and the costs brought the total up to £31 10s. The culprit was further guilty of being poor, and consequently unable to pay. He was thereupon sent to gaol for two months. The man was a respectable artizan, and was sent for that period to herd with felons for taking the life of these sacred birds, his wife and family meanwhile being deprived of their support. History repeats itself. It only needs a few more such convictions for an artificially created crime to cause every vestige of a game law existing in New Zealand to be swept from the statute book.

Mr Stout writes to the Daily Times : — " I exceedingly regret that any hindrance should be thrown in the way of Sir Julius Vogel entering the English Parliament. What harm could it possibly do the Colony to have one in the Imperial Parliament who, whatever his opinions were, always carefully watched NewZealands's interests? I hope some one in the House will move a distinct resolution binding whatever Ministry is in power to give the AgentGeneral the permission he asks for. Some of the politicians whose reputation and fame really depend on what Sir J. Vogel did for them are amongst those who object to his contesting the English seat. Why they should be jealous of his preferment I cannot discover. There are many men in the House who, I believe, are able to rise above past political quarrels, and are capable of dealing with this question on its merits. Let them take matters in hand, and ask this question—' Will not the Colony be benefitted instead of injured bj* having one in the Imperial Parliament who knows our position and who is anxious for our progress ?' "

Mr Villiers, artist, who has come to the colonies on behalf of the London Graphic, is at present staying in Wellington, preparatory to taking a tour through the North Island. He will remain in Wellington for a fortnight or three weeks, during which time he intends to visit the various public institutions in the city.

The Ashburton Guardian says : —" The war paint is mixed. At an early sitting of the R.M. Court, the magistrate will be called upon to decide the cases of twenty ratepayers whose contributions to the Borough funds have not yet been paid.'' We are much more amiable in Akaroa. Our Council could not think of hurting any one's feelings by taking proceedings for the recovery of money due. They are content to figure as defendants, and in that capacity to get slated.

A meeting of the Sports Committee, consisting of Messrs G. Armstrong, Kissel, Sadler, Scott, and Tosswill, was held at Beecher's Hotel, on Wednesday evening, 3rd inst., when the programme was revised and amended as now shown in the advertisement. A remark being made that there was not a long race set forth in the former programme, as desired by many, it was proposed that a Ladies' Prize for a mile handicap race should be the main feature of the Anniversary Meeting, and the several members of the Committee undertook to collect subscriptions from their lady friends. The first prize to be a cup value £5 ss; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, 10s ; entrance, ss. It is to be hoped that a numerous field will be present in consideration of the handicapping, which is in the hands of Messrs Tosswill, Kissel, and Sadler. The two* latter gentlemen also undertook to mark out the ground. Mr Scott was appointed Secretary and Treasurer, and was instructed to write to the Rev. U. Stocker, requesting him to act as Judge.