The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 2.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 382, 2 April 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 2.

The Carandinis have been performing at the Oddfellows' Hall, Christchurch during the week. The Wanderers of Christchurch have been playing Dunedin, and have come in for a good licking. The Wanderers scored 77 and 80 in the first and second innings respectively. Dunedin made 157 in tho first innings, and won the game by nine wickets. There have been disastrous floods in the North Island in the Wairarapa and Napier districts. The Taueru, near Masterton, hud risen to the level of the telegraph wires, and in some places the water was even higher, and logs were floating about over them. The mail was interrupted between Masterton and Napier, and Masterton and Manawatu, in consequence of the riverain the Forty-mile Bush being flooded. The Hutt has also experiensed one of the heaviest floods known for years. Mr J. F. Roberts informed us of an apparently malicious act of incendarisin committed on Sunday, March 3. The spot chosen was the gorse fence round his pro. perty in German Bay. We have abstained from sooner referring to the matter as } knowing that information of the act had been given to the police, we feared we might trammel them in the execution of of their duty, but up to the present time they have been able to discover nothing decisive in the matter. We might state that a strict watch is being kept, and woe to the unhappy offender should he at" tempt the renewal of the same. It fortunately happened that no wind was blowing at the time of the fire and that rain had fallon the previous night, or there is no telling how far the mischief would have spread. That the bruie creation ia endowed with instinct is well known, but it is quite as true that, like the human race, the gift of intelligence is not equally distributed. A case of extra savy was exhibited yestercay morning by Mr Arming's old black horse, an animal almost as well known in Akaroa as any of its greatest celebrities, although we can not say that we have often heard many compliments paid to it. It has oftentimes been observed giving its email Jehu any amount of leg exercise before permitting its being caught, but upon this occasion it even went further ; not only did it land its rider oJl : its back to terra firma much against his grain, but the tide being then in made for the water, where it stood up to its belly, till a well known waterman had to bo impressed in to aid to drive the wretched beast ashore again.

Ihe Public Ball held on Easter Monday, in the Oddfellows , Hall, was in all respects but one a decided success. We regret for the sake of the promoters of the affair that the failing element was in the financial line. This, no doubt, was attributable to tbe contra attraction going on at the same time in the Town Hall, in the shape f a Fancy Fair and a free dance.

Several complaints have of late been brought to us about the late hour in which the lamplighter fulfills his nightly d l, ty, never commencing his round till dark, thereby failing to supply the further end of it till an hour or an hour and a half after the proper time. We would draw the attention of tlie Chairman of the Lighting Committee to the fact.

The Chairman of the Railway Deputation has received the following telegram from the member for the district: — " Christchurch, 30th March, 1880. J. D. Garwood, Esq., Akaroa, — Tenders for platelaying on seventeen-mile section will probably be called for this week. Commissioners will inspect line to the harbor on their return from Otago, and will tele graph to me when coming.—W. Montgomery." In another column will be found an advertisement in which Mr Garwood convenes a meeting of the deputation and the general public, to be held at the County Council Chambers, Duvauchelle's Bay, on Monday next. We hope to see a large attendance at this meeting, as it will be necessary to settle upon some plan of action prior to the Commissioners visiting the line.

The Volunteer review, which came off in Christchurch on Easter Monday, was a great success. The scene of the manoeuvres was the racecourse. The total numbef>of people on the ground is estimated at 15,000. The exact number of Volunteers •engaged could not be ascertained, but there must have been over 1800 present. The first proceeding was the usual inspection by Colonel Packe and his staff, the rear ranks taking open order for the purpose. Next came the march past, the Cavalry, headed by their band, leading the way. Then came the artillery with their guns. The marching on a whole, was highly creditable, the Artillery, Naval Brigades, and Wellington and Christchurch Engineers being particularly noticeable for their steadiness. After an interval, a sham fight took place, the enemy being an invisible and imaginary one, and the volunteers formed an attacking force. Altogether the whole affair appears to have gone off in a very creditable manner, and it will doubtless have an excellent effect on volunteering throughout the colony. The Lyttelton Times of Tuesday says :— Every sportsman in New Zealand will regret to hear that this little game racehorse was killed on Sunday morning. His owner had taken him to Yaldhurst to give him a trial gallop on that course with the Governor. Soon after the horses were started, a cow walked across the course, and Terapleton, as he was in the habit of doing with cattle, rushed at her. the result was that he completely smashed himself up, and so severe were his injuries that he was immediately shot, and on Monday morning his remains were deposited alongside those of old Tarn. There side by side now lie two of the gamest horses that ever raced in New Zealand. An accident occurred to Richard Welch, a young sailor on board the s.s. Wanaka, whilst discharging her cargo on Tuesday last in this port. It might have been attended with fatal results, and indeed nothing more likely need have been looked for. As it turned out, however, the injuries chiefly consisted in his being stunned for a short time and a few bruises on the back and forehead. The accident was caused by a sling of empties coming apart after they had been raised, and just as they were about to be landed on the wharf. We have oftentimes thought that great carelessness has been displayed both in loading and discharging these vessels, and if more care is not taken there will most assurecfly be worse events to record. In the present case the sling consisted of empty fruit cases, one of which floored the unfortunate man; had they been full cases or even heavier substances the result could not have been so slight. The last time wo had our attention directed to this matter was on the raising of three full hogsheads, when the slightest thing would have caused them to come apart; as, on the goods being landed, the rope was within an inch of the edge. We consider the officers in charge should give their attention to this matter.

Wβ have been favored with a copy of the Examination papers presented to the pupil teachers of the first and second year, held in Christchurch during the last month. After perusing them, we consider them the stiffest we have yet seen, more especially the Mental Arithmetic and the Sacred and British History papers. Still we have no noubt, taking into consideration the wonderful improvement effected in the scholastic line of late, our pupil teachers will prove themselves capable of withstanding the ordeal. One of the questious occurring in the paper on School management was " What plan for teaching the alphabet is adopted in jour school ?" We learn that the answer given by one of the candidates from this district was, "'none, as our master does not approve of its being taught."

The inquest on the victims of the late j brutal murder in Dunedin was concluded on Tuesday evening last The coroner summed up and the jury retired at about a quarter to eight, and returned their, verdict at eleven. The verdict was to the ' effect that Robert Butler, -otherwise called Donnelly, did on the 14th day of March feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought kill and murder James Murray Dewar, Elizabeth Mary Jane Dewar, and Elizabeth Linsday Dewar. The verdict on the fire ran, that Bobert Bqtler, alias Eobert Donnelly, did feloniously, unlawfully, and maliciously set fire o a certain house in Cumberland street with intent to injnre Elizabeth Mary Jane Dewar. The verdicts were signed by only twelve of the jurymen, the two others taking this means of recording their dissent. The following riders were added to the verdicts :— (1) The Jury are further of opinion that Robert Butler should have been present during the inquest, as it appears to them that his absence thereat was contrary to the principle of justice and fail play ; and further, his absence has weighed greatly with many of the Jury, who felt that they were scarcely in a position to return a verdict against a prisoner who was not present to hear the proceedings, to cross examine upon them, and, if he chose, to give evidence. (2) They also desire to express their high appreciation of the conduct of the fireman, Mr Eobb, who first appeared on the ground, as also of Constables Townshend and Coulbourne, for their smait apprehension of the supposed criminal." In relation to the first clause of the iider, the Coroner said : lam very glad such a rider has been given, as it has been a source of great anxiety and regret to me that the prisoner was not present; and I hope that your rider, which I shall forward to the Government, will have the effect of preventing a thing of this kind in the future.

Onr readers are reminded of the auction sale of cattle and horses, to be held by Mr C. W. Bridge, at the Head of the Bay, this day, commencing at 12 o'clock.

Wβ have been favored by Mr Dixon Steward of the Hospital, with the following statements of Returns from that Institution for the month ending March 31, 1880:—Admitted—Males, 2 ; females, 0Died —Males, 0 ; females, 0. Discharged— Males, 2 ; females, 0. Total in Hospital at that date—Males, 2 ; females, 0.

From the Lyttelton Times we learn that the s.B. Stella left Lyttelton at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, with the Wellington Naval Brigade, several cf whom, for some time previous to the steamer's leaving, behaved in anything but a becoming manner.. They paraded the town in batches, and their conduct was almost beyond endurance. The remainder of the volunteers for Wellington and those for Nelson left by the Hinemoa last night.

The Fancy Fair and Dance held by the Catholic community on Monday last in the Town Hall proved a most decided success. The gross takings were some £17 odd, whilst the nett profits to be handed over to the object for which the Fair was undertaken, viz., the Building Fund> reached something like £14 10s. The ladies were most assiduous in their endeavors to please their guests, and Sergt. Willis and Mr Chadwick admirably filled their posts of " Dutch Auctioneers," although we believe that through the tightnessof the money market some £12 worth of goods had to be bought in. Almost the last thing disposed of in the evening was a small " porker " won in a lottery by Mrs Dttely. The dancing commenced shortly afterwards, and piggie caused.no little amusement by the aptitude he displayed for taking his part in the Scotch (Irish ?) reels, causing a grand sensation amongst the empty bottles standing at the rear of the temporary bar. This sweet little creature was liberated upon no less than three ocassions during the dancing to perform his antics amongst the fair sex. The entertainment concluded about 3 a.m.

The Hand and Heart Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Pigeon Bay, celebrated their anniversary by a ball on the evening of the 25th instant., and was a decided success. A committee consisting of Brothers H. Firmston, J. Pettigrew, R. Paton, A. Wilson, H. Lecomte and R. Colquhoun was formed to carry out the programme of the evening. Visitors from Little Akaloa, Okain's Bay, and Akaroa were present, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Dancing was kept up with great spirit till an early hour. Bro. Firmston catered for the occasion, and right well did he discharge his duties. Bro. Lecomte acted as M.C.