The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 23.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 383, 23 March 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 23.

We have been shewn an exceeding fine specimen of wool which has come from Mr Chas. Haylouk's Station. It is 31 inches in length and of a first class quality and has been clipped from a two-year-old Leicester ewe, shorn during Febiuary last by Mr Donald M'Culloch. The specimen is on view at cur office.

From the Lyttelton Times we learn that the season in which native game may be killed has been proclaimed from March 29th to 31st July inclusive. This will be welcome news to all on the Peninsula as it is a much earlier date than has usually been fixed upon, thus enabling the sportsman to enjoy full swing during the Easter holidays. As will be seen by our advertisement columns, Mr H. Billens has just opened up a large consignment of every description of articles essential to the lover of the gun, and will be happy to supply the same on most reasonable terms. We have no doubt he will not be long making a considerable hole in his stock.

We beg to inform our readers that next Friday, our usual day for publication, being Good Friday, we shall publish on the evening of the proceeding Thursday, commonly known as Maunday Thursday. En passant we might inform them that this term Maunday is a corruption of the mandate of Jesus to His disciples, to break bread in remembrance of Him, and love one another. According to ancient custom alms are given in England every year on this day in the Chapel Royal to an equal number of poor men and women, each numbering as many as the sovereign is years old. This ceremony, performed by the Queen's subalmoner, is in lieu of the ancient custom, when the sovereign washed the feet of as many poor persons. This ceremony was persistently persevered in by Queen Elizabeth in person, and other sovereigns, the last who adhered to it being James ll' Subsequently the duty fell upon the lord high almoner, as the representative of the Crown, the last record of it being that of the sth of April, 1731, when the then Archbishop of York performed the office upon forty-eight of each sex. Since that time the task has been delegated to the almoner; the washing of the feet has been discontinued many years, but the gifts are always distributed, the number of recipients being one more of each sex every successive year. We would draw the attention of our readers to the holiday season approaching. We perceive from the different advertisements that some preparations are already being made towards catering for the entertainment of both residents and visitors in the way of a cheap excursion trip provided by the U. S: S. Co., to this port, of one to Pigeon Bay by the S.S Akaroa, of a Ball to be given by residents in the Town at the Oddfellows' Hall on Easter Monday, and of a Fancy fair to be held by the Catholic community in the Town Hall on the same day. This latter is in order to clear off a large balance left from their last bazaar. Refreshments will be provided on a liberal scale, music ad libitum throughout the day, and a dance in the evening. We have no doubt any guests who may favor this little Bay with a visit, will return perfectly contented and with a mind bent on return when opportunity shall offer.

The Chairman of the Railway deputation (Mr J. D. Garwood), informs us that he lias been in communication with Mr Montgomery on the subject of the further progress of the railway. The latter gentleman at once called on Mr Austin, the District Engineer, to ascertain when any further steps would be taken in the matter. Mr Montgomery writes under date, March 19th : —" Mr Austin having returned from Dunedin, I called on him to-day, and learned that he expected to be able to call for tenders for the plate-laying on the seventeen mile section of the railway, in about a month from this date. The survey of the section to Little River is being proceeded with." With reference to the latter paragraph, we are informed that the survey has progressed nearly, if not quite, as far as Olphert's hotel.

The shipping business in Lyttelton is unusually brisk at this time, and the lines and wharves present quite a healthy appearance of business. On Tuesday last the number of loaded waggons sent through to Port was 276, and 234 to Cluistchurch. This is the best day's work since the tunnel was completed. Or! last Beason the most satisfactory day was April 4 when 196 waggons went down.

The Patea Mail is responsible for the following :—Mr G-alvin, late sub-editor of the New Zealand Times is now on a visit to Hawera, for the, purpose, we believe, of starting a pJper there, should sufficient inducement offer. That Hawera ■will have a journal of its own ere long we do not doubt, and the first in the field, provided he can see the present bad times through, will be most likely to be supported. Mr Galvin is not a stranger to us, and we have no hesitation in saying that, if any man succeeds with a paper, he will. Hawsra people will find him energetic and straightforward, and one who will do his utmost to serve the district.

One of the amnestied deportes recently landed at Auckland, from New Caledonia, writes to the Star :—" Wβ pledge our honour that we shall endeavour to become useful colonists; our aim will be to follow the good examples set by our political brethren who preceded us in this free country \ we promise to respect your laws, for we like laws giving equal rights to all citizens, but we hate those which resemble cobwebs, catching the small flies and allowing the big ones to escape scot free ; we sincerely thank you for the distinction you havo drawn between political offenders and common law convicts."

Wβ learn that the ! Railway Commission has left Wellington, and will commence enquiries at Invercargill into the claims for local lines. The Commission will work the Middle Island northward from Invercargill, stopping at Dunedin and all centres along this seaboard. As the deputation lately appointed to ; interview the Minister of Public Works on railway matters may be considered a sort of permanent committee for the purpose of watching our interests in this particular it will be advisable for them to watch the movements of the Commission, and be prepared with evidence in support of our line, whenever the Commission come into this neighbourhood.

As will be seen in our advertising columns, the usual annual excursion from Pigeon Bay to Lytteltori-will •■■■take place on Easter Tuesday, March 30. The fares being so cheap, the trip ao enjoyable, and so many new sights to be seen in that City, amorigst which thetramwHy will not rank last we have no doubt many will avail themselves of the opportunity.

The annual tea meeting in connection with the Anniversary Services of the Congregational Church at Bon's Bay has for years past attracted a,large gathering of friends ,frqm Akaro, a^^ad*.. the.:; Bays, and we have no ,dnuH that," should the weather prove favorable, -a number of the friends of the Church will be present. We observe it will be held on Good Friday evening. A singuar case of malfoimation came under the notice of the honorary surgeons of the hospital recently (states the Ballarat Courier). A woman from a country district brought into the institution a young male child, about 14 days old, and apparently healthy, "to see if the doctor could do anything to it." On examination of the infant it was seen that it had no thighs nor knees. Feet it possessed, and portions of legs up to close below the knee joints, but at what would generally be called the calves of the the legs they were joined to the body. In all other respects the child was apparently perfectly developed and heallhy. The doctor could do nothing to it to sot it right; and it is hardly possible that any., artificial contrivance can be made to supply the defect. We regret that our readers should have been a second time disappointed with regard to the appearance of the Carandini Company, more especially those who travelled any distance in expectation of a performance ; but we need not say that the fault did not lie with us, the cause being the accident to the Waitaki, in which boat the Company were proceeding hither at the time; they did trust they might have been in time for Friday and Saturday* but when they found the steamer would net leave for Lyttelton till five o'clock they gave" it up as useless, and their prior engagements elsewhere would not permit of their being here this week; "MrSKerwin, manager for the' Company, has requested us to explain the matter in our columns, and state his sincere regret at the untoward circumstances, and to add that he will take an early opportunity of visiting the town.

On Thursday, March 11, a trial of an American gang plough was held in Mr Hay Smith's paddock at Ashburton. Through that gentleman's courtesy Messrs Andrews and Beaven, of Christchurch, were enabled to exhibit an implement new to many, in the shape of a one-way donblefurrow by Davy and Sleep, of St Germain, Cornwall. One great advantage of this plough is that a paddock can be ploughed without either a fiering or finish, it being, so to speak, a double double-fiirrow plough. Two of the ploughs work while the other two are carried to the end. of the furrow empty, when, by the simple action of turning the horses, the ploughs become reversed, and the furrows are taken back by the empty pair without turning on the head lands. This, to one unacquainted with the implement, might suggest the possibility of carrying an enormous extra weight, but their lightness.of draught, as evinced by their being worked all day six inches deep by a pair of medium farm horses quite easily, at once dispels that idea. The work done by this implement was above the general average of doublefurrow work, the furrows being square cut ( and exceptionally well packed, a fact which was particularly noticeable. This implement will probably be largely used by farmers whose land has already been broken up, and for.,hilly country or clown land it must prove ak invaluable implement. Messrs Poyntz and--Co' , . >of Ashburton, have been appointed agents for these nseful implements.

In another column appears a letter from Mr, Joseph Ivess, referring to a short notice which appeared in this journal of the prosecution which has been in • stituted against him charging him with libel. We have great pleasure in inserting the letter, but must remarkthat Mr Ivess has entirely mistaken the gist of our remarks. The '• allusion " to himself to which he refers was certainly meant in no unfriendly; spirit, and we do not consider that we expressed any opinion whatever on the merits of the case. Naturally in such a case our sympathies are with a brother journalist, and it is only the fact that the matter is still sub juclice that prevents our expressing a very decided opinion thereanent.

Criminal informations for libel are apparently becoming the rage. Scarcely has the preliminary investigation in the case

of Mr Ivess been concluded, when another aggrieved individual puts the criminal law into motion, and this time against no less personages than the directors of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company. The complainant is MrG. G. Stead, of Christchurch, and the defendants are Messrs James Smith, T. M. Hocken, W. Guthrie f W. H. Reynolds, James Marshall, and George Fenwick, of Dunedin. The case was opened on Saturday, at the U.M. Court, Christchurch. Mr Spackman (Wynn Williams and Deacon), appearing for the complainant, and Mr Garrick for the defendants.

We observe that the ship Euterpe, bound for England from Lyttelton, got to sea on Saturday last. She made an abortive attempt to start on the previous Tuesday or Wednesday, but stuck in the mud between the two extremities of the breakwater in which position she remained till Saturday. Concerning this little delay we observe the Christchurch papers preserve a significant silence.

We have received the first number of a new evening journal published in Christchuroh, entitled the Echo. This paper is a folio demy in size, an 3is published at the modest price of one half-penny. The present depression in which many other journals find themselves would seem hardly a favourable opportunity for launching another aspirant for public favour; still, there is no doubt that an opening for an independent evening paper in Christchurch exists. At least, it will be strange if that city cannot support one, when it is well known that in other towns evening papers are, in many cases, the most prosperous ; witness the Post of Wellington, and the Star of Dunedin.

Wβ would draw the attention of our Borough Council to the present most unsatisfactory state of the bridge in Lavaud street situated near and known as Hahn's bridge. This bridge was half washed away during the last winter floods close upon twelve months ago, leaving just, and only just, enough room for a cart or trap to pass over, upon it a farthing rushlight has, during the hours of darkness, reigned supreme, pointing to the road to be taken by the travelling public, and in a mild, silent manner expatiating upon the blindness and folly of the Council not to have taken the opportunity offered during the summer months of an almost' dry creek to repair the damages. One thing is certain, viz., the opportunity, like everything else, neither can nor will last for ever, and in a short time in all probability our worthy councillors will awake to find that as they neglected to repair a small rent in the bridge, the whole fabrication has been washed away, and they will have the pleasure of building a new one. Councillors, remember! a stitch in time saves nine. The autumn is more than half over, the winter in its usual course is sure to follow. Repair the bridge when you have a chance. We believe that the foundations are good, and that it would take a comparatively small sum to repair it compared to the cost of erecting a new one.