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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 417, 20 July 1880, Page 2

~ AYe have in hand, from a special correspondent, a'most interesting rerjort of the Industrial Exhibition which was opened in Christchurch, but owing to press of '.'other matter we are compelled to hold it over for the present. Som_ anxiety has been expressed as to the .whereabouts of the p.s. Tongariroj which is reported to have left Sumner on Friday last for " Hickory," via Le Bon's. Up to last night nothing bad been heard of her in Le Bon's. Slio has probably taken refuge in some bay orf her route, and we have little doubt will turn up safe.

A meteor, of unusual brilliancy was visible in tbe sky on Sunday evening, at about half-past eight. Its direction was from the south-east;"'and-during its fall a bright light wis, nhed all around that.portion of the heavens. .

In reply to the resolutions passed at a at Littl&jßiyer,* the -.-chair.man,.. Mr., A Ki D. Allaii K; lia« received, a communication from the Premier stating that platodayiilg on the Little River railway has'been,'authorised"'as'-, far as the money voted by Parliament will permit, and that a further vote for the same purpose will be proposed. In connection with the same subject, we learn that Mr W. Coop has secured the contract, for the supply of sleepers for the line. It is rumored that several resident-of Robinson's Bay- intend shortly to giyo a, musicabentertainment to»be followed" by a" dance.' ; ■ • - - l \ - 'A' ' "' .The .Chairman of the Gotin,tyOouncil has., plncei- at our disposal a letter, which ho received from our representative.Mr Merit-; gomery, enclosing one received by him (Mr M.) from the Publip, Works Department in reply to- tho resolutions;passed.-at the late railway, meeting. The enclosure ia as f ollowß :—" Public Works Office, Wellington, N.Z., July 7th, 1880,— am directed by the-Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the- receipt'of your letter, forwarding resolutions of public meeting aj Akaroa re pushing forward the Little River and Akaroa railway, and to state that the same will receive due consideration when the works to bo proposed to Parliament this session are being settled. I have, etc., J. Knowlics, Under Secretary for Public Works. To W. Montgomery, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington." Mr Montgomery goes on to say : —'' Wellington, July 10, 1880— Jas. Dalglish, Esq., Akaroa,— Dear sir,—l have the honor to enclose herewith a letter from the Under Secretary for Public Works in reply to one from me forwarding your letter of the 26th ultimo, and the resolutions passed at the public meeting held at Duvauchelle's Bay to urge on the Government the necessity of pushing forward the works on tlie Little River and Akaroa railway without delay. I telegraphed to you, with other information, theaubstance of. tho reply which I was told would be given. I hope Mr Austin, the District Engineer, lias' arranged with the tenderer to go on vfith tbe platelayingI shall call at the Public Works Office on i Monday and ascertain what has been done. You may rest assured I will not neglect to do ail in my power.—i" have, etc., Wm. Montgo;>!!-;ky." A corresnortient from Robinson's Bay writes ihr.t bo 1.m." up to tho present time heard Akatoii ;..,.' hs vicinity stigmatised; as "Sleepy I ioilov; 1 ' ; but a recent event, of which lie was unwillingly one of the parties concerned, has convinced him that at all event* as far as tho committal of criica is concerned the. title ie, a misnomer. Ihe incident alluded to ia as :' ! ollow_:—Last Tliurnday evening, at about half-past five, bo tu.d his son had cmcuon to visit Akaroa

When about half way through German ' Bay they overtook a man and horse ; the man seemed to be examining the horse's legs, and our correspondent, thinking that some accident had happened, offered his help. In return for hia courtesy he was suddenly rushed atj and- ordered to stand. .On making a step back he was followed iup with a show 'on tlie assaulter's part of drawing out some instrument from hia breast to enforce submission. A parley ensued, when ouroprrespofident,not giving answers submissive enough to please, was sharply told to give' no insolence; but to answer questions at once. The last question was—" Are you a Presbyterian ? " and on being told that such was not the case, the man coolly told him he could go, and that he was not to think anything of what had taken place, as he had no ill-feeling against him, but he was paid for doing it. Our informant believes that, although the man was slightly under the influence of liquor, there was more in the attack than appears at first sight, and that the Rev Mr Douglas had better be on his guard.

Wi! hear that the 'Robinson's Bay arid Head of the Bay Juvenile Cricket Club are likely soon to havq their boasted powers, put to. the tos,t, as the Akaroa School' Club hasi Bent;them'„ohallenfee/ : which has been accepted, and all things being favorable the«match will come off at Robinson's Bay on the-31st inst. We understand that Mr Beney has met with good good success with the complete domestic bible since his. ajrival here, and this week he purposes visiling the several different bays in this district, when no doubt he will get a large number of orders for this justly celebrated work. From the Lyttelton Times, 'we learn that a paper laid on the table of the House on Tuesday showed that there were 83 nonpaying telegraph- offices in the Colony. Thelfollo'wing list shows those in Canterbury, together with the losses last year :— .Addjngton, £5.; Akaroa, £28 ; Dimsandel, £75'; Duvauchelle's Bay, £46 ; Hurunui, £1(K; LeithfieM, £89 , Oxford, £85 ; Rangiora, £7; Southbridge. £33; Temuka, £134; Waitaki, £1; Waitiku, £84; Winchester, 5s 4d. In the above list Odd shillings are omitted. The following is the average cost of each message over the price charged :—Addington, 4s4d; Akaroa, 2d; Dimsandel. 2s sd; Duvauchelle's Bay, 3a ; Hurunui, 2d ; Leithfield, 5s 9d ; Oxford, Is fid ; Rangiora, fd ; Southbridge, sd; Waitaki, l£d; Waiuku, 2s; Winchester, l-16d. Fractions of pence are in omitted in the above list.