The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 29.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 407, 29 June 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 29.

In another column will be found some highly important and sensational telegiams about the notorious Kelly gang, who have been so long setting society at defiance in Victoria. The unusual length of these messages, together with a rush of late advertisements, must be be accepted by our readers as an apology for the omission of our leading article.

We have received a letter, signed ''Advance Akaroa." for which we have not space. The writer pleads guilty to being one of the " larger boys " present at the late concert, and referred to by Mr Stephen Watkins. Our correspondent denies that there was anything more than " smal 1 applause" on the occasion. We must leave the question of fact between Mr Watkins and A. A. to be settled by those present, but we must say that A. A. gives rather a peculiar reason for such noise as there was when he says that the occasion for it was that " somebody gets up and addresses the larger boys through his nose." It appears that this was more than the larger boys could i Btapd, ! and hence'- the trouble' Neither can we see how the quality of the " geer (sic) used by Mr Smith in Crickety Bay" bears on the question at issue. We are afraid that A. A. has got into bad company, and should remember the adage about evil communications, &c.

The electors of the Borough of Akaroa are reminded that noon to-day is the hour fixed for the latest reception of nominations of candidates for the office iof Councillors to fill the places of Messrs Wiggins and O'Reilly, who have resigned. We trust sufficient interest may be shewn in the matter to, at any rate, secure the nomination of two burgesses, so as to prevent the risk of causing Akaioa to cease to be a borough.. We believe that there are some few, either self-interested or short-sighted parties, who would rather rejoice if such a change were to take place, but we feel convinced the majority of the ratepayers hold a more sensible view on the matter.

We believed Akaroa was somewhat celebrated for the amount of fruit it shipped to distant parts every season, but still there are some fruits which even Akaroa cannot produce. These, our readers will perceive by an advertisement appearing in our columns, Mr Henning has been enterprising enough to introduce, and is, moreover, prepared to dispose of at very moderate prices.

We perceive that Mr E. Cookson, who has held command of the Commercial Hotel, Christchurch, for|the past few years, has taken charge of that well-knowa hostelry, the City. He has taken steps to make such additions and improvements to his new house, which': should command him a good trade. We are informed that the arrangements and internal economy of the hotel when completed will not be surpassed by any hostelry in the colony? and under the supervision of the proprietor it should be able to hold its- own against all comers. Mr Cookson is determined to carry out in its integrity the guarantee he gives to the public that—comfort and economy will be the marked characteristics of the " City." Messrs Oram Bros, who lately had .charge of the '* City," have removed- to the Royal Hotel, which has also been thoroughly renovated, of late.

I A smart piece of work (altogether on a par with other similar transactions from the same body) was performed by the Borough Council at their last meeting. In the account, which had been rendered as due to the Akaroa Mail it was found* after measuring, that it was just possible for the Council to dispute one-sixteenth of an inch in the measurement in two cases and even that was, and is, open to question, and would require a most elaborate rule to arrive at a certainty. Notwithstanding this and likewise that the Clerk had suggested the idea of the two items being checked, and if necessary corrected, at the time in front of the Council and the representative of the Akauoa Mail, his worship the Mayor ruled that such a proposal could not for a moment be entertained, and the account cotild not possibly be presented. An ordinary man of business in a similar case would have corrected the account and tendered the altered amount, but public bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and appear to think they can do what they like. Mr W. M. Paul, travelling agent for the Australian Mutual ' Society, intimates in another column that he is at present on a visit here, and invites the settlers of the Peninsula to do business with him. We would draw the attention ot our readers to the notice appearing in our advertising columns, calling a public meeting for this evening of all interested in the Horticultural and Industrial Society, in order to secure the election of officers for the ensuing year. The committee are requested to meet at 7.15 sharp. ' A meeting of the Okain's Road District Assessment Court was held in the Library, Okain's Bay, on Thursday, the 24th instant) before J. Aylmer, Esq., Judge. The following entries, which had been omitted from the Roll as originally prepared, were inserted, and the Roll duly signed:— John Smith, 1408 acres, owner, £281 12 s. Adam W. Steel, 80 acres, owner, £12 ! Trustees of the late James Cook, 75 acres, £10; John Hamilton, 75 acres, owner, £15 ; Trustees of the late Edward H Har. greaves, 40 acres, £5 ; Frederick Lyons, 125 acres, £16 ; Alexander Marshall, 140 acres, £25 ; — Guy, 146 acres, owner, £20; William McKay, 118 acres, owner, £18.

Any of our readers who may be desirous of shipping goods to Lyttelton will perceive by a notice' in our advertising columns that the s.s. Akaroa is announced to sail on Thursday morning next, July 1, for that port, wind and weather permitting.

By a notice elsewhere it will be seen that for the future the Town Clerk will be in attendance at the Council Offices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10 till 4. .The present Mayor is about the last man whom we should have suspected of perpetrating a " goak," and yet this advertisement, to which his name is attached, contains a regular screamer. After making the announcement of the Town Clerk's attending as above, it goes on to say " and not daily as heretofore." All who in past times have had business to transact at the Council Office will appreciate the extremely severe satire of this clause.

WE/would call attention to the continuation for to-day of the auction sale held by Mr C. W. Bridge, at Mr Daly's Beach Store, of groceries, provisions, wines, spirits? drapery, &c. The sale held yesterday, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was well attended, the attraction, doubtless, being the well-known genuineness of Mr Daly's annual sales. Several lines were sold at a sacrifice on cost prices; but this, considering the dulness of the times,.is perhaps hardly to be wondered at. The sale to-day will commence at 11 a.msharp, and, if necessary, will be continued to-morrow.