The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 370, 6 February 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6.

It will be ween from an advertisement elsewhere that the suggestion thrown out by Mr Montgomery at the meeting of the Count} Council on Saturday last has been quickly acted upon. The Hon. Mr Oliver, the Minister for Public Works, telegraphed on Wednesday from Tapanui that he would be glad to receive a deputation of gentlemen connected with the Peninsula, on the subject of tho further extension of the Akaroa Railway. The Minister was not able to fix a day, but promises to give such notice as will enable the deputation to reach Christchurch in time for the interview. The inhabitants of this districthave another excellent opportunity of doing good service in forwarding this to us all important work. It is the duty of everyone to give a helping hand, even at personal inconvenience to himself, to attend the meeting called for Monday, and assist in putting the case of tho railway into such a shape as will be intelligible to the Minister, and by their numbers and influence strengthen tho hands of the deputation. The gentlemen selected to form the deputation will no doubt be a thoroughly representative one, both as regards personel and tho different parts of the County from which they are drawn, but on behalf of all concerned we have to ask them to be unanimous in their views and aims, and moderate in their requests.*. More is to be done by reasonable than by the urging of chimerical schemes*?

Our legislators generally employ language more forcible than polite when speaking of each other, but we cannot: match a scene like the one described in the late Australian News as having taken place in tho Victorian Assembly:—"Mr M'lntyre, member for Sandhurst, inierjected in reply to Mr Ferguson, member for South Bourke, who recently had dyed his beard and whiskers, ' Wo will give yon a wig, old man, lo match your whiY.kers.' The taunt infuriated Mr Ferguson, who strode to the table, endeavoring to wrench off the wooden stand from tho mace. Failing in this, he sensed a volume of Hansard with both hands and struck a blow edgeways at Mr M'lntyre, who, seizing his wrists, caused the blow to fall upon Mr Bent, who rushed forward to prevent the encounter. Mr M'lntyre overpowered Mr Ferguson, who was seized by several members. lie struggled desperately, crying out, ' Let me at him," but hs was held till he quieted down. The Chairman of Committees reported to the Speaker gross disoider, and the Speaker insisted on exemplary punishment if he were officially informed of the details of tho disturbance. Mr M'lntyre pleaded for lenient treatment to Mr Ferguson, and tho House agreed that tho matter should be settled and not be reported to the Speaker, whereupon Mr Ferguson apologised. The outrage is keenly felt on both sides of the House. The lenient treatment is resented by many citizens.

Two entertainments of a very superior nature were given in the Oddellows' Hall, Akaroa, on Tuesday and Wednesday lastTho company providing them, though not numerically strong, are each and all exceptionally good in their respective departments. The bill of fare provided on each evening was most liberal, consisting of a comio operetta of Offenbach's, scenes fiom English operas, a musical melange, and a farce. The company consists of Miss Muriellc, soprano ; Mr C. 11. Crothers, tenor; Mr Browning, basso,and Mr.F. WFisher, buffo. Mr W. D. Juncker acts as musical director, and presides most efficiently at the pianoforte—the only orchestra possible here. Miss Murielle's voice is of great compass andsweetness. Perhaps her most successful efforts were the cavatina " Tell me my Heart," the " Dream Song" from the Bohemian Girl; and " Scenes that are brighest," from Maritana, Her rendering of Offenbach's sparkling, rippling music was also capital, and in a comic duet with Mr Fisher, she showed that she could act as well as sing. Mr Crothers is possessed of a very sweet tenor voice, and sings with great feeling and taste. The gems selected from Balfe, Wallace, Benedict, and others with which he was entrusted received full justice at hia hands. We should be inclined to give the preference to his singing of the ever favorite " When other lips." Mr Browning has a magniiiecut bass voice, and fairly brought dhwn the house in many of his pieces. The demands for an encore after his singing "The Heart Bowed Down," from the Bohemian Girl, were so persistent that he was compelled to repeat it, though in most cases the artists wisely. declined to respond to encores, the pro_ gramme being of sufficient length tota_thei r powers to the utmost. Mr Fisher, besides being an excellent baritone, is immensely funny, and would, if possible, extract laughter from a graven image, ilis rendering of a familiar Christy Minstrel melody " Old Black Joe," in which ho was assisted by an invisible chorus, fairly helj

the audience spell-bound. Altogether the company ia decidedly the best that has visited Akaroa, and wo only'regret that they,, were not better supported. . Wo. observe that thoy porionu to-night at Little River, and return to Akaroa for a final performance to-mcrrow ' evening. They promise an entire change of programme and reduced price:,, _ud :;houUl secure „ bumper house on chat occasion.

After the meeting of trie County Co an oil oh Sai.u-.day, -Mr Montgomery, who was

present, made a statement to tho members

and such of tho public as were in sif end-

ancc, concerning tho present state cd the

case with regard to the Aharon Railway. Mr Montgomery alluded to the fact of the vote of £30,000 which had been passed in

the previous session having been reduced the last one to £20,500. He had interviewed the Hon the Minisser for Public

Works on the subject, pointing out to him

that this was scarcely fair treatment. Mr Oliver had assured him that thero was no desire on the part of the Government to delay the work in any way, and that the sum voted would be sufficient to complete

the portion already formed. He (tho speaker) found that the rails were provided for in another vote of a lump sum for material, and no doubt it was the case that under these circumstances the line would be completed so far before tho end of the year. Tbe Government were proceeding with sectional surveys of the next eight miles. With regard to the endowments of the late Trust, he would read them the clause of the Public Works Bill as at first introduced, which would have swept away these endowments. He had interviewed the Minister on the subject, and pointed out its hardship. On consideration of tho matter the Minister had promised that if he (Mr Montgomery) would introduce an amendment, the Government would sup14m it- The Ilousej; however, was always -jvery suspicious of a membcr'j advoeaang : something for the benefit of h\a district, and he had induced the Government to Introduce the alteration themselves. The result was that the endowments were secured to the purpose to which they were originally dedicated, viz., tho v construction p.wl n i .'u'ntcr.,_.'. i C!» o. ; ' ;-. :_:.v.'_y to j iii_!:.;:ior.od this to i-how iaci ;i olio tiot follow hetaii#?.a member did no-: ta"c loudly in tl;c ITcorae" ab'-Ui __o ehihiv, of: ";is <'!•!- Lrl__, tlv-reibr. iu ? ?;"T^]. , iu -of tbe intercuts of bis con-;ciuio:i!.:\ Lir Montgomery concluded by recommending the settlers to have a pubic meeting, anil appoint a deputation to wait upon fe Hon Mr Oliver, who would shortly b. in Christchurch. In answer to qaoaiiom', Mr Montgomery said that it would bo perfectly competent for such a meeting to express an opinion aa to the rosppcti'/e merits of the two suggested lino?, through Little River. It will be seen elsewhere that the suggestion has borne . fruit, and that a meeting on the subject' is convened for Monday next. A contemporary says : —At the Invercargill ll.M's Court lately two'" Jai-p.es'' sat on the Bench, one an M.E.K. After consultation, Mr McGaughan said the case would be remanded for the consideration of the Resident Magistrate. Mr Wade : But your Worship must give a decision in the case. Mr McArthur: We cannot agree as to a decision. Mr Wade : Then it follows that the case is dismissed. I think the Resident Magistrate would decline to interfere, or else re-hear tho case, which is simply throwing over your authority. You can remand the case for your own consideration —Mr McArthur : It will be necessary to have a third J.P.—Mr MeCaughfm : We remand the case till this day week. Mr Wade: You cannot order a remand when the case is closed. I pre-

sumo you reserve your decision. I_m afraid you will find this recorded in history as another instance of what is called " Justices'justice," which has sometimes caused a good deal of amusement. I invite you to remember that it is the first time a thing of this kind has evor been done in constitutional law. It is perhaps a precedent that ought to have been set long ago. —Mr McCaughan : We establish the precedent, Mr Wade.—The case, which has already been adjourned, was then remanded for a week. We quoted a paragraph from the Ashburton Mail a few weeks ago, showing how a gentleman in that neighborhood had enjoyed the felicity' of crushing the proprietary oi that journal by giving the majestic order to " strike my name of!: your list of subscribers." He had also saved fully 7s Gd in subscriptions, and had fiuthcr hid t'-e oi hating an £13 lui-e '•old out ol ii j t " ig k r ii.. i l' r i jo in I all l cun d ui_ '1 << <. i j i i t 100 all i i , i < ', r * sub e-nh i "-n v l ' , ' ill IICGi. (' t)t »lj _1C l I Lit! Ji 1 f urn- of _ it jmi il tnr in ( , turn mlou amui, nhif'i "\o k '» v supplied to lnni n-, tV *ny ' t mart foi t\om ct i I 1 _, ' h \ hen it ii to ) ! i ( lb t vp pio] _ ot hi-, h.o j 'd to vi "y " \r i n d< ot 'A) i ii ' i i i : v l i i no o' i > h 1 i i ( i n v ti v n vi j it httcLii ■) o a-, Mih-ct'pti jn on the trrmaction. ll - in_ial io 00/iou_

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to tho i iko-d c. i r i fsJiv cm nm, ''< , afUi 11 I i.ioni ii k t i

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httl j tin inn!) of , .°t. The comet a i )l vi sh lr on ¥ edncsday or Ihm day (\.i n, o" . o_nt ol too cloud} state of _ _-io> nuo \\ o believe, Lorn its ii { „ i cc, to l tb l = a i mnt 5 ll »' c mic mi i ot i.'t'H i' 1 ,h dm 13hi

\ » i c „'i i ,i! , o i , _i ii - a.H I'd ~i IJPi , tbo ni I'm. 1 rmplo. cd being a piece of manuka. The workmanship is highly creditable, and the stock is very nearly 'finished.-' "Judging" by "-the

,-' ; .nu:> ! e'ia question, we -arc.* surprised that, thiii wood is not more generally used for furniture and other ornamental works. This specimen has a beautiful grain, and has proved susceptible of a very high polish. It seems a pity that Avood possessing such characteristics should be chioily made use of as fuel. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council which should • have been held on Wednesday last, lapsed, for want of a quorum. It was adjourned till last evening, when his Worship the Mayor, Crs Bridge, -OTloiily, Bruce, Kissel, and Chad wick put in an appearance. ~ We are in.possession of a, full report of the proceedings, which must-stand over till our Hoxt issue. •' '■ ~..'..,