Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 431, 7 September 1880, Page 2

Local and General.

Mr Brooks held his first sale at his yards at the Head of the Bay on Friday last. The sale was highly successful, and a report of the prices realised will be found in oar commercial column. By advertisement elsewhere Mr Brooks notifies that he will hold a sale on the first Friday in each month. By advertisement elsewhoro it will be seen that a meeting is convened to take steps to arrange for a race meeting at the Head of the Buy on December 27. Tho meeting will be heklat Brooks' Hotel on Saturday. 18th iost. Wfi trust our loader:; will not forget tho dramatic performance which is to come off this evening for the beuc-fit of the Akaroa Library. Tho ladies and gentleman engaged in the performance have been mo?t assiduous in rehearsing, and have spared neither time nor trouble in rendering thein.-elvea perfect. Last night a dress rehearsal took place, and we aru in a position to state that everything went off in a very satisfactory manner. We hope that the efforts of those who have taken so inucih pains to cater for the amusement of the public, and to further the interests of A deserving institution will be appreciated in the manner most grateful to all performers, whether amateur or professional, viz., by their having a crowded and appreciative audience. ■ We learn that a somewhat smart passage of arms took place yesterday, near the Borough Council Chambers, between the Town Clerk and a late contractor for that body, a man especially known for his urbanity aad suavity of temper. We are glad to say that no more dangerous missiles than hard words were used. Such a proceeding causes the more when we consider that both these gentlemen are remarkable for their ■ total abstinence from all beverage, likely to enfiame the passions. His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson left for Sydney en route for England, at six o'clock on Saturday evening, by the steamer Eotornahana. His Excellency was accompanied on board by several members of the Ministry. The various corps mustered in force and formed a guard of honour. On the steamer leaving the wharf, H.M.S. Danae and the local artillery fired a salute.. Regarding, thin departure the Times correspondent says : —The Governor left very quietly, there being no formal leave-taking, although most of the prominent citizens took farewell privately and a large crowd assembled on the wharf. With reference to the Corporation taking no steps for a valedictory address, it ia stated on authority, '• that inasmuch as the name of the chief magistrate of the city was omitted from the list of invited guests at the last Queen's Birthday dinner, the Corporation thought it undesirablo to present any farewell address." The project of connecting [Suinner with Christchurch, and Lyttelton by rail has assumed a tangible form. A company, with alarms provisional directory, has been formed to undertake the construction of the lino, and a prospectus has been issued. It is proposed to connect the new line with the Lyttelton and Christchurcli railway near the waterworks at tho Yallcyj

tli' G H-tfiiuiiunl li.ivitig ;(g'iH.\l to li.id the rolling-stock and work the line when constructed. This railway should be a groat boon to. the inhabitants of Christehurch and suburbs, aafit will afford a run to the sea side upon every favorable opportunity of which no doubt great numbers will avail themselves. Tlie coat of construction ia ostimated at a remarkably moderate figure, and as a large passenger traffic should be developed, the line ought to i prove a very profitable undertaking to the shareholders. Our readers may remember a letter' which appeared in our columns , a] few issue's past from Littlo Akaloa, signed " Resident," and referring to the legality or otherwise Of the Chairman of the School Committee occupying the schoolmaster's house with the sanction of tbe schoolmaster alone. Mr Cox, in reply, stated that it was with his sanction, and that he bad his own reasons for refusing to live in the house himself ; suggesting, moreovor, that a suitable reply to " Residents • enquiry would be to mind his own busi--1 ness. At ihe time, not having the Act before us, we were unable to say whether the point .in question were legal or not, but we find that the matter was no* [.allowed to rest unsettled, and that at the last meeting of the Board of Education ! a letter was read from Little Akaloa asking if it was legal for the chairman of the Commuiee and his wife to occupy the residence of the schoolmaster with tbe sanction of the schoolmaster alone ? The Chairman read the rule on the subject (48). He presumed the Chairman of . the Committee was living in the schoolhouse without the con&ent of the Committe. Rev C. Fraser pointed out that rule 48 provided for the. Boards having the J right to control the' possession of the school buildings. The Board resolved, to , inform the Co.nmittee that the house was intended for the master, and for no other purpose without the sanction of the Board ; and instructed the Secretary to write to the effect that when any other arrangement was desired application must be made to the Board.

; A letter haa been received by the Under-Secretary for Goldfields from the Warnen at Okarlto, which states that:— " The number of miners at present on the ground I estimate at from 90 to 100. Up to this date there are, I believe, 13 claims represented by 34 miners, on payable gold ; and I calculate the average returns to be from £3 to £3 10s per man per week. Tho best claims are at present held by four men, who are averaging over £6 per week There are a number of shafts being sunk, and several tunnel rights have been applied for, varying in langih from 200 to 4JO feet, which will cost a large amount of time and capital to complete 1 feel confident that eventually thin will prove a good goldfield, but I would wish to warn miners without means, against rushing tho district at present."