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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 383, 6 April 1880, Page 2

We are compelled to hold over a com munication from our Little Eiver spondent. It shall appear in our next.

By advertisement elsewhere, the Town Clerk notifies that the Burgess 801 l for the Borough of Akaroa is now open for inspection, and will remain so till thelsth instant. ' - •

We regret to hear that Mr Robt. Latter, of Barry's Bay, met with a rather serious accident on Saturday last. While following a bullock in the bush on horseback, the horse suddenly swerved round, and MrLatter's head came in contact with a branch of a tree, causing a large wound on the cheek, injuring the eye, and breaking the frontal bone immediately over the eye. Mr Latter was seen by Dr Guthrie shortly after the accident, but this gentleman is as yet unable to say whether the eyesight will be permanently affected. In the meantime, Mr Latter's recovery, his system having received a severe shock from the accident, does not proceed so rapidly as his friends could desire.

The children attending the German Bay School held their annual treat on Thursday last, at Mr Lyons' residence, German Bay, Valley, a.'spot admirably adapted for gatherings of the kind. It possesses large trees-for shade,, and the erection of swings and a fine level sward for running, jumping, and other games. The treat should have been held during the Christmas holidays, but somehow it was neglected. Not to dissapoint the children,, the present committee resolved, although late in the season, to get it off in faster wee'L The notice was rather short, notwithstanding which, thert, was a large muster of children and visitors. The weather was all that could be desired. The various games were gone into with a will and must have provoked a fine appetite, for to see the way young New Zealand got outside buns, cake, tarts and mugs of tea was ample recompense to. those who catered for these enjoyments. After scrambling for apples and nuts by way of dessert, the sports were again started and kept up with great spirit, till the sun creeping near the Wainui hills told old and young it was time the Kye should come hame. Altogether a very enjoyable day was spent and those who worked to get it up, are to be complimented on its success. The criminal sitting of the Supreme Court in Christchurch commenced yesterday. We learn that the libel case against Mr Ivess, set down for hearing, is not to come off, the Crown Prosecutor having declined to take it up, and Mr Crisp having intimated his intention not to proceed. How about the £100 in which Mr Crisp was bound over to prosecute? We imagine that gentleman will hear something from His Honour on that point. From Mr Peryman, of Tai Tapu, wo learn that he finished his harvesting last Tuesday, and reports a yield of close upon 6400 bushels from 86 acres. One paddock of Tartarian oats yielded an average of 93 bushels to the acre, and a small paddock of barley gave an average of 81 bushels to the acre.

Says "Frank Fudge." in the Saturday Advertiser :—" Archbishop Vanghan and Sir Henry Parkes have been playing a game of chess in New South Wales, and the Bishop has succeeded in upsetting the Knight. The Premier , it appears, was connected with the Chartists in his early yoars, but since he has been provided with a handle to his name he has become ultraloyal. In a recent speech delivered by hini in the Assembly he charged Dr Vaughan with preaching sedition, and this is how the English conservative prelate ' sits' upon the great Colonial States-

man:—'

' Ladies and gentlemen, I colild point out one man, occupying for the moment a high and responsible position, who—impressed, I suppose, with the force that truth has exerted in some quarters in consequence of my words—-has thrown aside argument and moral suasion, and has taken in hand the gag. He knows my intense sensitiveness regarding the thorough loyalty of my heart and conscience, and he thinks to silence me with the cowardly ury of 'sedition,'and to make the world believe that whenever I open my mouth on the education question and denounce his' odious Bill I am disloyal. Would he have the world believe that I am not far removed from those from those dangerous characters with whom I well remember my"father had to deal with as a magistrate when I was a boy at home ? I recollect it being said that many of those wild men were of the lowest and basest of the criminal class, and that hypocrisy, treachery, and deceit were written on many of their revolting countenances. I have ever since then, ever since 1 was a boy— when Frost, Williams, and Jones flourished —or rather disturbed the peace of England—coupled two thoughts together, that of ' sedition' and that of a Chartist, for I found the former is bred and born in the blood and bone of the latter, and where Chartists are not plotting they are tyranizing. And yet. am I, who have thus ever detested sedition as much as I have hated tyranny, to be branded with sedition ? (No.) Cannot I appeal to the past, to many a bloody struggle since Agincourt, when lie wlio.se name was given me—Sir Roger Vaughan—(loud cheeis) —was knighted on the field of battle by the Prince himself? Does my accuser imagine that, though the people of this country are opposed to my religion they will stand silently and approvingly by and see me gagged? Will they not repel this attempt to silence me, and will they not treat as it deserves this unworthy effort to stain the minds of fellow-colonists with the notion that I am not true to English authority as well as to English freedom.' (Applause.) Although you and I may differ, my boy, with many of Dr. Vaughan's ideas, we must esteem him for his manly English pluck in standing up for what he considers to be fair play and justice."

From the South Canterbury Times we clip the following:—A correspondent from Clive, Hawke's Bay, informs the Telegraph that between 12 and 1 o'clock on Sunday morning some of the inhabitants were aroused by the barking or howling of dogs, and, on looking out to ascertain the cause, saw that the township was inundated with water. An alarm was at

once given, and everyone-was , soon astir ? some trying to secure their furniture by placing it on tables and chairs, while some were endeavouring to save their cattle and horses and such live stock as was found possible. At about half-past 1 the water had risen so rapidly that it became doubtful whether the inhabitants whose cottages were on low ground would be safe, A boat was launched in the road as soon as possible, and the families who were in most danger wore removed, in some instances the water having risen 3ft. and 4ft. in their houses. The boat was taken right into the doors of the houses while the occupants were removed, some to the police station, and some to Mr Mitchell's. These two houses fortunately escaped. The work of removing families was carried on till nine or ten on Sunday 1 morning. It was not till noon on Sunday that the water had gone down to any perceptible extent. It is hard to estimate the loss until the flood has entirely subsided. On Saturday morning a violent ex-' plosion of gas took place in the prison Lyttelton. A resident of Christchurch -named Veals, who was employed at the prison, was working in the room from which the gas pipes lead to the various parts of the prison and where there is f ul* control of the gas. While at work on the floor he noticed the smell of gas escaping, and struck a match to light the pendant burner, when a serious explosion ensued, the whole of the upper part of the room, which is very lofty, evidently having been fully charged with gas. The door of the room was open, as was also the window, or the explosion would have been much more serious. Yeats was thrown down badly burned about the neck, back, hands and arms. The windows were broken, and the whole of the paint work in the room burned. The great wonder is that Yeats was not more seriously injured. He was sent to the Christchurch Hospital, where he was immediately attended to, and on inquiry was found to be progressing as favorably as possible under the circumstances.

The following is the return of the Registrar o£ Births, &c, tor the quarter ending-■■■ March 31:—Births, 2'd ; deaths, 9 ; marriage, 1. The death rate, it will be

bserved, keeps very low, and indicates a most satisfactory state of health among the community. The marriage return is the lowest yet recorded, and this fact speaks volumee for the comparative want of prosperity at present prevalent. Statisticians are all agreed that there is no surer indication of " good" or " bad " times than ie to be found in the number of marriages contracted within a given period. ■ As an incontestable proof of the profit obtainable from an apiary costing , no outlay and but little labor, we give the following extract from the Wagga Advertiser :— " A female school teacher, not a great way from Albury, started 3 years ago last summer with one swarm of bees in a soap box. At the end of the three seasons she had real ised for honey and wax the sum of £70 in cash, and her stock of hives numbered 60. Besides, her family had made daily use of the honey. All the hives were the ordinary soap boxes, and they were placed on the ground. With proper barframe hives and supers, and skill in managing, no doubt a much larger success would have resulted j but this ought to satisfy farmers that beefarming would pay. _'Ihe lady referred to had no previous experience with bees, nor any work on bees for guidance." The Ashburton Mail is responsible for the following account of the Act of blackguardism perpetrated at that place by some Volunteers :—A disgraceful ontrage was perpetrated in this town on Good Friday, by a number of Volunteers from Dunedin and Port Chalmers. They alighted at the Station and rushed across to Saunder'e Buildings to purchase something or anything. The fruit shop of Miriness was open, find in they rushed, crowding up the small chop, and others waiting outstde for their turn to enter. Mr Furness being ill, his wife was attending to the rush of customers, but was naturally unable to serve a crowd in a moment, Those Volunteers, defenders of their country, began to help themselves. Those crushing behind to the counter saw bottles and tins on shelves within their reach, and began to fill their pockets and caps with whatever could be seized. Soon the scramble became general. Most of the fellows took anything they could lay hands on, and the whole crowd at once engaged in a wild scramble to Bee who could take most. Such a scene was never before witnessed in a civilised country in a time of peace: soldiers who should defend their neighbours' goods stealing all they could reuch, like so many fiends in a bread riot. Dozens of men wearing the Queen's uniform left that shop carrying tins of biscuits, packets of lollipops, lumps of tobacco, pipes, cakes, and small articles commonly sold in a mixed business. As fast as these thievos poured out of the door, other thieves poured in, impatient to carry off as muoh as any other thief. At least a hundred volunteers were seen to leavo that shop with trophies they had taken from the shelves. Everything within reach was taken. They sacked the shop, with as little compunction as any horde of robbers. A few of. the men paid something for what they got> but that was before the thievish scramble became general. Alter passing that line, like brutes tasting blood, they plunged in and stole all they could seize, with no thought of payment, or little attempt to pay. Stealing a poor woman's property seemed such excellent fun for loyal Volunteers, that they enjoyed the outrage ,as a novel amusement. They marched through the street and promenaded the' station platform displaying their plunder, and proud of the honest prowess which had gained them so much booty. Some of them shrieked with laughter, it was so amusing. They never discovtrod before such a happy wuy of spending a Good Friday. Their enjoyment will be very keen when they see this valiant exploit chronicled in the newspapers. They will be able to send copies to their friends, and so extend their fame. The value of the small articles carried off was about £8. Perhaps a score of mon threw money on the counter as payment for what they were carrying viz ; out what was a few sixpences or shillings to set against £8 worth of goods V The majority of the men tendered no payment at uIJ. Let it bo understood that ho local Volunteers were concerned in this affair. They were all from the enlightened South; from that city which prides itself on being the largest, the best built, the most intelligent, and most advanced town in New Zealand. They who distinguished themselves most in this thievish scramble were the Naval Brigade from Dunedin and Port Chalmers. These be your noble tars, your bluff and hearty marines, your honest jolly Jacks I Shame on the lot of you.

There is a matrimonial registry office in Auckland, kept by an individual named Haimai'ord. Lately he announced that a young station manager in good circumstances and otherwise eligible, who was ieadihg a Kobinson Crusoe existence on an island in the Pacific, desired a wife. The Auckland Herald says that the advertisement has caught the argus eye of an Australian damsel, who has addressed herself with business like promptitude. Mary Ann's acented missive was addrsssed —"Mr Hansford, Auckland firm, Handford's registry, upper Queen street, New Zealand. , The lady comes to the point at once, and frankly admits that business is dull, and that unless matters mend she will have to tako a situation. Tall, dark, 22, and re-

ference as to character from last employer complete a catalogue of excellences which are amply sufficient to whet and appease curiosity until the " other party" discloses his hand. The inevitable postcript, ho dear to the feminine heart, is devoted tomatters theological,, and the satisfactory announcement that she is " a protison." Other letters and photos havej poured Jin, and '• the station manager " is in a quandary, as Elder Sorensen would say, as towhom he should be " sealed." Some of the candidates for matrimonial honors aredrawn from the most respectable families in Auckland, and have been formally introduced to Mr Harmafordbysome of our most esteemed fellow-citizens. There are brunettes and blondes in the list, somewith noses " tip-tilted like the petal of a, flower," and others of the true doorknocker pattern. One or two of tho photos are suggestive of—

The souls and lips that are bought and sold, The smiles of silver and kisses of gold.

The annual Easter meeting of parishioners residing in the parochial district. o£ Little River was held on Friday evening, April 2, in the Little River schoolroom. The chair was taken at eight o'clock by the Rev. E. H. Wyatt, curate of the district, a good number being in - attendance. The churchwarden read the statement of accounts for the last year, from Easter, 1879, to Easter, 1880, which had been duly audited, and the statement, as read, was adopted by the meeting. After some conversation on church matters, the meeting proceeded to appoint the Churchwardens and Vestry for the ensuing year. At th& conclusion of the business, .the Chairman referred to tho pleasure it gave him to find such a large number of persons interested in the work of the • Church, and expressed a hope that cordiality and cooperation might always be found aui9fig the parishioners in the district. The public meeting was followed by a meeting of the newly-elected Vestry, for the consideration of the best means of reducing the debt on the Church. It was resolved,' as there seemed to be no liope of obtaining any assistance from Messrs W. White and Co., to canvass the district afresh for subscriptions. Mr Coop adhered to his generous offer to forego £25 of his account, and Mi' Allan also subscribed a further liberal sum towards the reduction of the debt.