The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 372, 13 February 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13.

We consider the district is to be congratulated on the meeting regarding the Akaroa Railway which took place last Monday. After nil that has been said and written about the apathy of the inhabitants of the County of Akaroa concerning a matter so vitally affecting their interests, it is refreshing to find a meeting of this kind co well attended, even numerically, at a season of the year like the present when their numerous avocations render it highly inconvenient for our settlers to leave their homes. But the meeting was more than numerically strong—it was eminently a representative one, there being gentlemen representing every locality and every interest on the Peninsula. We also consider the choice made of a deputation a wise one. The deputation will include men from all parts of the Peninsula, and of differing interests by locality and pursuit. Witli our correspondent "Fosco," we think, however, that a mistake has been made in not including Mr Letter's name among those of the deputation. That gentleman has been associated with the movement from its infancy. It is well known that, in his capacity as Chairman of the Trust, he has devoted both time and labor in no niggardly manner to furthering the work, and there is no reason for supposing that he would not have been willing to place his services once more at the disposal of his fellow-settlers as one of their spokesmen. The only objection, we understand to have been made to his election was the fact that he is now a Government officer. But a man does not cease to be a citizen because he is employed by the Government, and at any rate, if the objection were a valid one, it should have come from MiLatter himself or his employers, not from the puMic. Passing over, however, what we believe to have been a mistake caused by inadvertence, we think the choice of a deputation to be an excellent one, and have little doubt that its action will materially further the attainment of the end we all have in view. Of course, a Minister must needs bo careful not to commit himself or his Government too far in answer to requests from deputations, and it is very probable that Mr Oliver's replies to the representations of this one may be somewhat oracular and vague. The fact remains, however, that an important work will be brought officially and prominently for the first time before the present Government. Even if no definite promise is extracted from the Minister at the time, some correspondence will be certain to ensue, which will have the effect of eliciting the views of the Government on the matter.

We observe that the meeting refrained from instructing the deputation as to any details of the manner in which they should carry out their mission. This is as it should be. Having confidence in the men appointed, it is far better to leave them free and untrammelled. We imagine it to be thier duty to obtain, if possible, an assurance from the Government on three points. 1. That the line shall be recognised absolutely as one whose terminus is Akaroa Harbor, and that every step taken in its construction be taken with that end in view. 2. That no unnecessary delay take place in the prosecution of the work, i.e., that it shall be steadily proceeded with until completion. 3. That the endowments already set aside, and which were threatened by the projected legislation of last session, be conserved. With regard to the question of route, we take it to be purely a question between the engineers and the Government, bearing in mind that the problem to be solved is how to connect the harbor of Akaroa with the Plains in the manner which, taking all things into consideration, will be most advantageous for all concerned. We are, therefore, glad to see this question of route eliminated from the instructions given to the deputation.

A meeting of the Akaroa School Committee was held on Monday evening at. the Schoolroom. The members present were Messrs Meech (in the chair), Billens, Missen, and Wiggins. A list of candidates for the vacant seats in the Education Board was read, and the following received the suffrages of the Committee :-•-■ Messrs Ta-jcrud, Webb, and Uio Rev. 11. C. M. Watson. A letter was received from the schoolmaster, calling attention to various requirements in connection with the school. It was resolved that the matters coin plained of be attended to and deficiencies supplied. A return was also received of children attending the school from the tegular to the most irregular ones, and also including a. certain number, who, within the master's knowledge, did not attend at all. Consideration of this matter was left over till next meeting. It was decided to call for tenders for the removal and re-erection o£ the gymnastic apparatus, and the meeting adjourned. Wo would again remind those interested in fruit culture that a steamer leaves for the south to-morrow, a:;J I'uat one wit sail in that direction w:el:!y for iho re. mainder of tho Thoxi) mcieased facilities for shipping -lioiihi stimulate fruit-growers to additimial i iloils. Time-; certainly seem somewhitt out .»l joint when Nelson supplies fruit t>> ll lJunediii market, from, which i' i>. «-.i k-;.st I hive days stcciin diatan!:. over the lieads of Akaroa growcre, who are within ses'euteen hours of t!io samo purt.

We read lately of the master of a coun-' try school seuding in a list of schoo requisites to his committee. Among the articles enumerated was an "abacus." Great was the pondering and immense the discussion which this request called forth. The committee were unanimous only in each one attaching a different signification to the term. One thought it was a kind of picture alphabet; another maintained that it was an instrument of punishment; while a third opinion had some adherents —that it was some kind of animal! On various grounds then the request was refused. A teacher residing not a hundred miles from the Peninsula was wiser in his generation. Having a similar request to make, he carefully interpreted the term which in the former case had been such a stumbling block. He thus succeeded in making his requisition so thoroughly intelligible that even a Borough Council, to say nothing of a School Committee, could have understood it, and he got what he wanted. As evidencing the literary tastes of the community, the following return of the books issued from the Akaroa Library during the past year may prove of interest. The information has been furnished us by the Rev. President. The works in the Library aie divided into the following classes, and the return shows to what extent the public avail themselves of works on these different subjects respectively :— Wrks. Vols. Issued' Biography ... 61 82 19 History ... 60 132 26 Science 77 121 15 Travel 135 158 65 Fiction 632 763 1241 Poetry ... 35 39 11 Miscellaneous ... 146 178 53 1146 1473 1430 It will bo seen from the above that, as might be expected, fiction holds the premier position in popularity. While among the works on science scarcely one in five has been enquired for, and about one in three has contented readers of Biography, History, and Poetry, we find that, on an average, all the works of fiction have been issued twice over. On Monday last the heaviest train that has ever been drawn in New Zealand was hauled through the Lyttelton tunnel When it started from the Port it consisted of 79 loaded trucks, and at Heathcote another lot of 31 loaded waggons were attached, making a total of nearly 1000 tons, or the load of a good-sized ship. The total length of the train was 2,100 feet, or about four-tenths of a mile. The engine used was one of the lately imported, American ones, of the " Consolidation ' pattern. It appears that the " X " engines, also American built, are the fastest in the colony, and are always used for the express trains. The Christchurch tramway is so nearly completed that there is every probability of its being open for traffic next week. We are gratified to learn that in answer to a request made by Mr J. P. O'Callaghan, on behalf of the committee for the Irish Relief Fund, the Public Works Department " has consented to convey, free of charge, all grain tributed for that object.

"A commercial traveller arrived at Napier the other day (says the Telegraph), a case of dutiable goods having preceded him. After securing the case, and getting it put on the express cart, he was accosted by the wharfinger, ' Heigh ! what are you doing with that case ? There is 14a to pay on it.' ' Oh ! that's all right, here you are. And traveller and box went on. Then the wharlinger remembered something, and sung out again, " Heigh! there's 3s 6d wharfage on that.' The money was paid, and again the cart drove off ; but had not gone far before a commission agent called out, ' Heigh ! where are you taking that case ? There's receiving and delivering, 5s Gd to pay on it.' Said the traveller with a sigh, and paying the money, ' I suppose I t's all right, but while I've got my hand in my pocket does any body want any more ? Do you want to build a quay, or a wharf, or maybe you want a breakwater ; just say the word before I go.' And everybody looked injured like, and the case and traveller departed in peace."

Regarding the deputation appointed to wait on the Minister for Public Works re railway matters, we learn that Mr J. D. Garwood received a telegram from Mr Montgomery, stating that he had communicated with the Hon Mr Oliver, asking that gentleman to be good enough to inform him when lie would be prepared to receive the deputation, and also that he would, if possible, give sufficient notice of the time, to enable the members of the deputation to reach Christchurch in time. Last evening, Mr Montgomery forwarded the following telegram, quoting the reply he has received from the Minister:— " Christchurch, Feb. 12, 1880. J. D. Garwood, Esq., Akaroa, —I received the following telegram from Mr Oliver to-day, dated in Timaru :—' I will let you know when I shall be in Christchurch as soon as I know myself, but I cannot say that I ohall stay there three clays or any definite time. Signed—X. Oliver.' You will give this the Akaroa Mail for general information. —W. Montgomery." It will thus be seen that the deputation cannot reckon on having much notice of the time when they may be required to attend and it will

heivfoiv), 1 c necessary for them to be ready

to start at a moment's notice,

' To-day is the Eve of St. Valentine, and is the correct day on which the tender missives called after the Saint ought to be posted. We have no doubt that the numbers forwarded by the youth of the neighbor hood will tax the resources of our postal establishment to the utmost,,

On the evening of Tuesday last we received a letter dated " Little River, Feb. 7, "80," and posted, as we have since ascertained, during the forenoon Of that day. The document appears to have taken a somewhat circuitous route to reach our office, as we find by the post-mark that on the 9th it made a halt at Christchurch! We learn that this is not a solitary instance of letters between Little River and Akaroa taking about as long on their journey as they would to go to Auckland. Is the fault in the postal regulations or in the manner in which they are carried out ?

Ashburton has come forward to assist in raising £funds for the relief of the distress in Ireland, a meeting having been held therefor the purpose of organising a committee and starting a canvass. Akaroa still keeps in the background. Where is our local musical and histrio.pic talent ? Surely it would not be difficult to get up an entertainment which would fill the Oddfellows' Hall. We hope to see the hint thus thrown out warmly taken up, and have no doubt, if this be done, that the public will not be wanting in furnishing an audience. The comet was visible again on Sunday evening between nine and ten o'clock. On this occasion it extended over a greater extent of the heavens than when first seen. A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times asks :—-" How does it come to pass that the present visit of this cornet has not been observed by any one before Feb. 3? In what way can it be accounted for that a comet with a tail many millions of miles in length should approach our orbit without being seen many days before the date mentioned ? I remember well the appearance of the comet in 1858 and its gradual approach to and its receding from our planet; yet it never assumed so majestic appearance as regards length as the present one. Perhaps some of our astronomers may be able to account for this sudden appearance."

Frank Fudge in the Saturday Advertiser rays:—Although the Americans are a thdloughgoing matter of-fact [people, it is a mistake to imagine that they lack taste for the sublime and beautiful in art* On the ocassion of my last visit to Christchurch, I dropped across a Yankee gentleman whom I had casually met with in Dunedin. As we strolled together through Cathedral Square, my acquaintance remarked, as he gazed upon the venerable pile of stones and mortar which grace, or disgrace, that portion of the city : "I reckon this terri-tory must have been inhabited by some other nation before you Britishers came here." "Why do you think so ?"I enquired. "Because," he replied, " those crumbling ruins yonder are ' hoar with the frost of ages,' as some poet remarks. We have some good specimens of ancient architecture in tho States, but nothing so old as the relics of other days which we see before us. Ah stranger," he continued* 'I've a wonderful reverence for the glorious past, and I could gaze on those crumbling gables for hours together. I guess you Dunedinites are considerably smart and slick in running up new buildings, but you can't touch the Christchurch folk for ruins They can lick you into a cocked hat in the ruin business, you bet, and this grand old monument of the monastic days is a credit to them. Come along, stranger, and we'll wash down the ruins at the ' Commercial.'" And Aye went over to see " Jack" at

Cookson's,