Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 429, 31 August 1880, Page 2

Local and General.

A well-attended meeting of the Akaroa Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition Committee was held last evening, a full report of which will apyear in our next.

Our readers will perceive that Mr Thos. McDonald, of Lyttelton, is holding a consultation on the Canterbury Cup, to be run in November. Mr McDonald has for several years conducted these consultations in an exceedingly able manner. Particulars and tickets may be obtained from Mr T. Grange, Bruce'B Hotel.

We perceive with regret that the time for tbe contract of lampiighting for our streets has expired, and we could not fail to notice the great inconvenience caused by their being left unlit, especially on Sunday.evening last. We trust it may be found practicable by tbe Borough Council to enter into a fresh contract. We were under the impression that the intention had been at any rate to continue the lighting of the lamps along the sea-wall.

We would direct the attention of our readers to a notice appearing in our columns from Messrs Wood and Co, intimating that the sale of the property at present in thp possession of Mr Woodill, advertised by them to take place to-morrow, is postponed till further notice.

As will be remembered, at the last meeting of the County Council, Mr J. Gebbie mentioned that owing to the Lake Ellesmere not being let out, a large amount of damage bad been done to tho line of railway. He urged that a telegram be despatched to our member, inquiring if the contractor for the platelaying is bound to keep tbe Lake down to a certain level. The following is the reply received by Mr Dalglish from W. Montgomery, Esq. M.H.R., on the matter :—"The contractor for the earthworks of the Little River railway is bound to maintain the embankments for three months from Juno 29th to the date of the final certificate."

To-Morrow promisos to be, or should be, an eventful day in the annals of the Borough of Akaroa. No less an event is to take place than the nominations of three citizens to fill the places in the Borough Council rendered vacant by the retirement of Messrs Kissel, Black and Brown, who retire by rotation. We trust a little interest will be displayed in such an important matter, but we are aware it would be absurd to expect much. We are glad to see the extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr C. Armstrong was filled on Friday, Mr C. Gutberlet being returned.

An entertainment of a highly attractive nature is in course of preparation in Akaroa. There is no doubt that'we possess among us a fair amount of latent dramatic talent but for want of some one to take the initiative it has been allowed for some time past to remain dormant. We are happy to state that a beginning has at last been made. Some of our local amateurs, ladies as well as gentlemen, have determined to give a dramatic performance. The proceeds will be devoted to the funds of the Akaroa Library, a fact which should serve of itself to secure tbe affair extensive patronage from all sections of the community. But besides tho excellence of tbe object, the performance itself ought to attract a full house. A sparkling one-act commedy, a farce and an interludo should satisfy the most exacting playgoer. We have witnessed two rehearsals and may any that every thing promises to go well. The pieces aro well chosen, and a striking novelty is to be introduced by Mr G. Black, viz.:— a newly invented Yankee instrument called the ' Talkiphone." We understand that this invention beats Hdison's phonograph hollow, it must be seen to be appreciated. Full particulars will appear in a futuro issue.

A meeting of shearers was held at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, on the 21st inst, to consider the price to be charged for sheep shearing during the coming season. There was a good attendance, Mr J. Bull being voted to the chair. It was unanimously resolved (hat tho price should be 22s 6d per 100 for sheds containing less than 1,000 sheep, and 20s per 100 for sheds containing that number or over.

SAYS the Lyltelton Times : —Our readers will remember that the steamers Havyea and Hinemoa had a run last week' from Lyltelton to Wellington, when the Hawea beat the Government boat bj' an hour and uiore. The skipper of the latter boat was being " chaffed" after' bis .arrival at Wellington on his being beaten by the Hawea, when he replied, " What can you expect when the Government have just taken 10 per cent off the screw, ?"

The report and balance sheet of the Standard Insurance Company, for the half-year ending June 30, have just been issued. The net premiums received amounted to L 27.890 2s, and tho interest on investments and transfer fees to L 3758 9s 4d. The fire, marine, and guarantee losses are shown as L 30.430 18s 9d, and. commissions, salaries, and charges 117748 22s 3d—or a total of L 38.179 lis; as against L 31,648 lis 4d, the revenue for the six months ; the loss for the half-year being L 6531 19s8d. The balance brought forward from the preceding half-year (L 2496 9s lOd) reduces the amount to debit of profit and loss to L 4034 9s lOd ; and to meet this the Directors suggest that a sum of L 9500 be transfered from the reserve fund.

The question of payment of members of the House the other night reminded Mr Georga Jones of a ' Yankee yarn,' which he related to the House. It was this :—A man went into a Yankee store and said. •Boss, do you want a man ?' * Yes,' replied the storekeeper; 'what pay do you require?' Twenty dollars a month and found,' replied the needy one, 'or four dollars a month and the run of the till.' There seemed to be an analogy between this man and our representative institution. There were plenty of men who would even pay a premium to get into the House and have the 'run of the till,' and therefore he believed in paying members fairly. The prosecution for libel to which we referred in a former issue, instituted by Mr Izett, editor of the " Star," against the proprietors of the " Echo " was heard in the R.M.s Court, Christchurch, last Friday. The defendants—Messrs Fraser, Cnrnahan, and Johnston—were committed for trial, bail being allowed on their own recognisances for LIOO each. We learn that the two papers lately started in tho Ellesmere district, styled the " Ellesmcre Advertiser" and the " Ellesmere Guardian" have amalgamated, the proprietor of the '' Advertiser " (Mr Ite's's) having disposed of bis interest to Mr Sherlock, of the "Guardian." Mr Ive*s intends to make Waikato, North Is'and, the seeno of his next journalistic venture.