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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 362, 9 January 1880, Page 2

The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Okain's Road District took place on Tuesday last, for the purpose of receiving the yearly accounts. Mr J. B. Earker, Chairman of the Road Board, presided. - There was a good attendance, and considerable interest was manifested in the proceedings, and a number of questions were asked after the accounts had been presented. The election of two members of the Board in place of Messrs Barker and O'Connor, the retiring members, took place on the same day. There were three polling places, viz., the libraries at Okain's and Lo Bon's Bays, and Little Akaloa, The official declaration of the.poll appears elsewhere. It will be seen from the result that Messrs Moore and Oldridge were elected, the former polling 86, and the latter 82 votes. The other candidates were Messrs Barker, O'Connor and Rix, who were pretty equal, receiving from 44 to 52 votes each.

The foundation stone of the new Convent, or "Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Notre Dame dcs Missions," to be erected in Christchurch, was held on Sunday morning by the Right Rev Bishop Redwood. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of spectators. A little before 11 o'clock the procession entered the Convent grounds, from the direction of the Church. After the ceremony, Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Dr Redwood in the church, and Dr Moran preached on the subject of "Conventual Institutions." The amount of subscriptions received was £530.

The annual picnic of the Okain's Bay school took place on tho 2nd January. The weather was all that could be desired, and this, together with the rapidly increasing population of the district, resulted in a larger gathering of both parents and children than ever assembled at Okair.'s before. The arrangements were excellent, both dinner and tea being spread under the shade of the trees on the grasß adjoining the school. Racing, cricketing, &c, occupied the time until a lottery, all prizes, and no blanks, claimed the undivided attention of the jnveniles, every child receiving a gift. After a suitable address to both parents and children had been delivered by Mr Hutt, the master of the school, the prizes were awarded. The following is the order of merit iv their respective standards : — Standard VI — W. Hutt, 1; Rosa Harris, 2. Standard V— Emma Mason, 1 ; Ellen Hutt, 2 ; John Thacker, 3. Standard IV—Alice Mason, 1 ; Amy Harris, 2 ; Edith James, 3. Standard lll—Ruth Hutt, 1; Rose Chapman, 2 ; John Boleyn, 3. Standard ll—Henry Thacker, 1; Annie Mason, 2 ; Jane Wham, 3. Standard I —Ann Ware, 1; Walter Harris, 2 ; Ellen Wells, 3. Infant clawGeorge Wells, 1 ; Charles Coffin, 2 ; Jafntss Harris, 3. '■

The Gazette of the 24th ultimo contains the appointment of C. J. Waeckerle, Esq., Mayor of Akaroa, as a Justice of the Peace, under " The Municipial Corporation Act, 1876" A cricket match, married v. single, was played at Okain's Bay on New Year's Day, and considerable interest was evinced in the game throughout. The match resulted in an easy victory for the latter in one innings and several runs. ' A return match was demanded by the benedicts, to be played on the day following, and it turned the tables on the bachelors, the married winning by 4 runs. Chas. Moore and Chas. Hartley for the single, and H. Sefton and G. Mason for the married, alone succeeded in reaching double figures. The bowling of E. Sefton and L. Graham was very effective. A summoned meeting of the Loyal Hand of Friendship Lodge, 1.0.0.F.,M.U., Okain's Bay, was held at the Lodge-room, on Dec. 31, 1879, when, after the usual preliminary business had been gone through, the following officers were elected for the ensuing term:—N.G., Br W. Harris ; V.G., Br G. Mason; G.M., Br J. Wells; Secretary, Br C. Moore; Lecture Master, P.G. J. Moore ; R.S. to N.G., P.G. E. W. Harris: R.S. to V.G., Br E. Hunt; L.S. to N.G., Br S. Harris ; L.S. to V.G., Br Thacker; Guardian, P.G. Gilbert ; Warden, Br Flutey ; Auditors, P.G. E. W. Harris and P.N.G. J. Wells. The proprietor of a Temperance Hotel up North, in advertising his shanty, drops into poetry like Silas Wegg and gushes thusly:— Weary traveller, step within ; No temptation here to sin ; Wholesome viands here are sold, Quite refreshing, hot and cold; Tea and coffee, water clear, Lemonade and gingerbeer ; Books and papers, too, you'll find, To cheer and elevate the mind.