The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 361, 6 January 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6.

With this issue of the Akaroa Mail, we publish the usual weekly supplement which should have appeared with our issue of Friday last, but that we did not publish on that day.

The annual treat .for the children attending the Akaroa District school took place on Friday last. Tne spot selected was a paddock of Mr Waeckerle's, which had been kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by that gentleman. The weather was delightful—a trifle warm perhaps, but that is a good fault for a picnic. Soon after nine o'clock groups of youngsters, some of them accompanied by their parents and friends, might have been seen winding their way to the scene of revelry. As a matter of course there was a very large concourse of juveniles, and by no means an insignificant nnmber of children of a larger growth. An abundance of refreshments was provided, and several ladies were indefatigable in attending to the requirements of all and sundry, children and adults. Besides l , the creature comforts, a number of amusements were provided for the youngsters in the shape of races, jumping, &c. Two steeplechases over some tolerably rough country, were well contested, and created great amuse'.inent. It was near dusk before the company separated, highly gratified with their outing.

The first meeting of the now Board for the Akaroa and Wainui Road District was held in the office, Duvauchelle's Bay, on Friday last. All the members were present. The first business, as required by the Ordinance, was the election of a Chairman. One member after another was proposed in succession, and all refused the honor. After a long discussion, it was agreed that the election should be taken by lot. The lot fell on Mr E. Chappell, the Chairman of the late Board, who duly took the chair, and a considerable amount of business was afterwards disposed of, a full report of which will appear in our next issue.

Another decision has heen given re that vexed question the Tippling Act. The locale this lime is the R. M. Court. Ashburton. Reporting a civil case heard in that Court, the Mail says :—" The claim was £8 los. There was a set off against plaintiff which the latter objected to> pleading the Tippling Act. Mr Puree! 1 held that the Tippling Act did not apply in this case., llis Worship held that where a lodge;~-or servant procured drinks the Tippling Act "did not appty. He gave judgment for plaintiff for £3 Is '21-—the into Court."

The following is the Registrar's return of births, marriages and deaths for the quarter ending December 31, 1879 : — Births. 33 ; marriages, 8 ; deaths, 6.

The Catholic Bazaar, which had been held on the 16th December re-opened on New Year's Eve, and was kept open during the followyigday. On the Wednesday the weather was by no means favorable, and the attendance was not good, but on the afternoon and evening of New Year's Day the hall was well filled, and as far as could be judged a fair business was doing. The same ladies officiated at the various stalls as on the former occasion ; and we may here mention that in giving the names ef those who assisted, through imperfect information, wo omitted two who certainly deserve honorable' mention, as they were unwearied in their exertions both in the preparations for the bazaar and in conducting it. We refer to Mrs Piteley and Miss J. Rodrigues. We are informed that the nett receipts of the bazaar amounted to £120 7s 4£d ; and the expenses in conducting same, £35 17s leaving a balance of £84 9s 9d. There is still an amount of £3 13s due to the bazaar, which, when received, will bring the balance up to £88 2s 9d.

On the evening of New Year's Day a party of about thirty proceeded down the harbor in the steam launch Pioneer for the purpose of witnessing the lighting up of the lighthouse for the first time. The evening was hardly dark enough to enable the light to be seen at its best, .but in spite of this drawback we are informed that the light displayed great brilliancy. The excursionists returned greatly pleased with their trip.

The quarterly criminal session of the Supreme Court opened yesterday in Christchurch, before Mr Justice Johnston. There are twenty prisoners for trial, besides those committed on the charge of complicity in the late riots. The Peninsula does not contribute any of the prisoners on this occasion, though one of them was airested in Akaroa, John Jones, who has to answer two charges of forgery and

uttering.

The cases of riot and assault on Boxing Day were heard on Friday in the District Court room, before Mr Mellish and a full Bench of Magistrates. In the case of John Barrett, licensee of the Borough Hotel, charged with aiding and abetting the disturbance, no evidence was brought forward to connect him in any way with the affair, and he was discharged. Walter 'league's case was similarly disposed of, as it proved to be one of mistaken identity. The evidence against Ryan, Mahoney, Gawley, and M'Mahon not being sufficiently conclusive to convict them of active participation in the proceedings, they were likewise discharged, and the remainder were committed for trial at the approaching session of the Supreme Court, bail being refused. The caaes were not disposed of until 7 p.m., the Court being densely crowded during the hearing. Michael Connolly was also discharged, but brought up on the following day, on a charge of throwing a stone on the evening of the 26th, and fined £5. The alleged Timaru rioters were examined on Friday and Saturday at Timaru, before the Resident Magistrate and a full Bench of Magistrates. Mr White prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and the prisoners were defended by Mr Stout. At the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution, Mr Stout addressed the Bench at some length, suggesting that the ends of justice would be met by binding all the accused over to keep the peace. The Bench retired for about a quarter of an hour to talk the mat-, ter over, and on returning into Court the Resident Magistrate said the Magistrates had unanimously decided to commit all the prisoners for trial. Bail was accepted for their appearance.

The polling for the election of two members of the Okain's Road Board takes place to-day, There are live candidates, and the contest is expected to be a close one. On the same day the annual meeting of ratepayers will be held in Okain's Bay for the purpose of receiving the yearly accounts. A " strike " has taken place to a considerable extent among the telegraphic operators. The cause for this extreme action is stated to be the abolition of payment for overtime. The strike occurred throughout the principal offices of the colony, including Blenheim, Invercargill, Dunedin and Napier. A considerable number of the strikists have since returned to their allegiance. The places of others have been supplied, and but a slight interruption to the work of the Department has supervened. Whether such an extreme measure is excusable or not, it must be evident that, to be effective, it ought to have been unanimous, and this unanimity is just what it is impossible to get among a number of men so scattered and isolated as the telegraphic operators. The settling up for the races held at the Head of the Bay on Boxing Day took place at the Somerset Hotel, on Monday lasl. The committee had the satisfaction of being able to wind everything up, pay all claims, and retain a moderate balance in hand. On this occasion, Mr B. Shadbolt had the lion's share of the prizes to receive. This gentleman well deserves this little slice of good fortune, as he is a staunch supporter of these amusements, and is always ready to lend a helping hand in any ,way towards getting them up.

A nomination —we had almost written the usnal weekly nomination—of candidates for the vacancy in the Borough Council takes place to-morrow at noon.

We observe that the Rev. Thomas Sea tree, who has lately arrived from England, is announced to deliver a lecture on behalf of Temperance at the Oddfellows' Hall, on Thursday evening. From testimonials which Mr Seatree has brought with him, it appears that he has been very successful as a lecturer in the old country, and we have no doubt that Good Templars and other friends of temperance will muster largely on the occasion.