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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 393, 11 May 1880, Page 2

Our readers are informed that W. Montgbmery, Esq., M.ILK., their representative in tlie House of Parliament, will meet them at the Oddfellow's Hall on Thursday next, the 18th instant, at 7.30 p.m., to address them on the present political state of the Colony. We hope to see a large attendance. Tenders are invited in our advertising columns for the office of Librarian at the Literary Institute. .All.-information.with regard to the-duties required, &c. may be obtained from the Rev. 11. Stocker. The tenders are to be sent in not later than Monday, tUa 17tli instant, at 4 p.m. The Assessment Court sat at Pigeon Bay on Saturday, May 8, to hear opjections from ratepayers, Justin Aylmer Esq., presiding. Objections to the Valuation List had buen lodged by James Hay Esq., (representing Messrs Hay Bros), and John Budua Esq. Each appeared to sustain his own objections, which maihly were that the land ,vas rated at two high a sum. The assessor, A. I. McGregor, Esq., from •Akaroa, appeared on his own behalf.. The Cases having been argued, on both sides the Court modified the rating of freehold, and in the case of leased land took the tactual rental as the just valuation. I Lie Honor Judge Kenny, of; Hawke'e sfcay, the other day apologised to the Bar •oi liir, Appearance, in unofficial costume niune/y, without his wig and gown, and he stated that the Union StWnv ship Company were carrying them up and down the coast. We cannot help expressing some surprise at the quiet way in which the Committee are acting, if they are indeed acting at ail, with regard to Ui€i mutter of ariangeing sports to. be held here on the Queen's birthday. So far as wu can learri since the public meeting held for-'ihe object of appointing the committee, no further steps have been taken. A committee was chosen of men thoroughly competent, and, although absentees, we believe for the most part willing to act, still we learn th<js? have never even been waited on to ask their views and their assistance in the matter; and we have it from the best authority that even the Secretary himself, Mr George Saddler, an absentee from the meeting, has never heard a single mention of the matter, or been asked for his consent to act. In fact, the only intimation he has recieved has been from the report which appeared in our paper. We fear this is much on a par with the general way of conducting affairs in Akaroa,'but we trust the matter will not be allowed to lapse for the want of a little energy. We feel sure no difficulty noed be anticipated in collecting the small amount which would be necessary, were the matter set about in a proper manner,

We understand that Mr Henning, as agent for the Union Steamship Company, and also lessee of the Government Wharf, has brought under the notice of the harbormaster (Mr Justin Aylmer) the inadequacy of the present jetty light. It appears on enquiry of seafaring persona, that the red light, specially intended to warn masters of vessels of the Green Point reef ie not visible at all at tho buoy ; whilst, the while light (into which the red turns after the buoy has been rounded) is not distinguishable from the street lamps which lie in the background of the jetty light, as seen by a master coming up the harbor. It is to be hoped that such alterations will be aiade, without delay, as may be neees.snry to make the light fulfil the important requirements it is intended for, or we may yet have to chronicle some serious shipping disaster. To intending tourists and to valetudinarians in search of health (saya the Lyttellon Times) a record of the sojourning and travels of Royal Commissions would be an invaluable guide So pleasant places. Wherever there is a| good hotel, and nice society, or picturesque scenery, there two or three Commissioners are sure to be gathered together. We trust that these patriotic gentlemen will not allow their Commissions to expire without leaving behind them some permanent record of their tour, showing the roads which they took, the places which they visited, and, especially the hotels at whichthey stopped. Ihey owe it to man kind to leave some "footprints on the sands of time," footprints I which other travellers, "sailing o'er life's solemn main seeing, may take heart again." The "Loafer in the Street "thus scarifies a churlish settler at the Halswell: —At an inquest held at Southbridge, on a fisherman who was recently drowned there, the mate of the deceased, who himself narrowly escaped with his life, gave tho following extraordinary evidence, which I quote verbatim from the report given by your own correspondent in the columns of the Preae : —" Having drifted on to a hard bottom, I anchored the boat and walked on sft'GYtt near the moutH V)f the Halswell. After walking about two m\|les I arrived at a farmhouse, stated the eXrcumstanees,,and asked for Shelter, but urns' -ry+hifd" (The italics are mine). Now what sort of a man must this Halswell farmer be anyhow, who would refuse a halfdrowned, half-froZen, starving man a feed and a little shelter? I declare I think this is, without exception, one of tho most disgraceful cases I ever heard of. A mnn like that would take a piece at potato peeling out of a liind sow's mouth. From my personal experience of the Halswell folk, I don't think they have many farmers of his sort. Your correspondent should i send us his name. Fame would be thrust ' upon him inside of twelve hours. Great goodness, how can such a man be aHowed to live."