The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 432, 10 September 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

Ax accident of a painful nature happened to Mr John Staples' little boy on Wednesday afternoon last. It appears the little fellow was about to enter his father's house, adjoining Messrs Garwood and Go's shop, and in so doing, managed to get his hand jammed in tho doorway. Dr Guthrie was immediately sent for and it was found necessary to amputate the first joint of the second finger. Attention is called to a notice appearing in our advertising columns intimating that Air Charles Algor tailor, has removed to his new premises in Lavaud Street where he ia at present carrying on his business. Our readers will scarcely want to be reminded of the treat in atore for them tonight and Saturday night. The fame of the Carandinis is so well known that any puff on our part would be superfluous All we need say is that by the Bills to be seen in the various parts of the town i' will be found that a really rich programme is provided for both nights and we have i,o doubt this excellent company will meet with a cordial reception. A short sitting of the Licensing Court was hold in tho Resident Magistrate's Court on the 7th inst, when Justin Aylmer, Esq., R.M., H. H. Fentcm and A. C. Knight, Esqs., J. P.'a, were present. Mr T. Grange, of Bruce's Hotel, applied to have the transfer of the license from Mr Beechcr to himself confirmed, which was done. Tha rest of the licenses remained unaltered. A correspondent sends us 'he following protest against a highly objectionable practice indulged in by tailors and others : —-" G-ennen Bay Sept G 1880—Mr Wigins printing offico Akaroa sir I want this in the neit mail and toll then all party and partys and I dont required to be bailed up in Akaroa street for the sake of 1 shilling and cono up to the house a>id get payed." Tut". Otugo Daily Times, of. Saturday lust, states that "'the additional rate of sixpences now charged On telegrams, pent from or to any non-paying office, is to be rescinded." We trust that our contemporary is right, but no instructions have yr,t been received to t':is effect at the Akaroa office. The sooner this stupid blunder is rectified the better.

As will In) rtecii I'mihlbi's wiil t't<r.reiurii»;<l at the ChKif Post OlFu-e, Cbcisu-lmrfh, up to Thursday the 30lh lust., for rlie conveyance of mails fur the Canterbury district for the vcars 1881 and 1882.

This accommodation aftirlel by the old S'jhtjolhouse at Little River having been foand insufficient, a new building 41 ft long by 22 ft in width, with a class room 22 ft long by 20 ft wide, is to be erected. There are also a cloak room and lavatories. The class room will contain a gallery for the infants. The plans wore drawn by Mr A. W. Simpson,- ar,chj.teipt. A house for the master will be erected at some future date.

We learn that what must surely have been a mistake on the part of live gentleman in question occurred on Tuesday evening last. It appears that those ladies and gentlemen who bo ably and effectivolj' rendered their services ftt the entertainment given in behalf of the Akaroa Library at the Oddfellowe' Plall were somewhat startled in the midst of tneir dressing by seeing, prior to the opening of the doors, a gentleman and- lady enter the Hall by the side door pass through the green room cro.ss the stage,ajnd quietly make for the pick of the front seats. Inquiry into the cause of such strange behaviour elicited the reply that the party in question a member of the library committee, but one, and perhaps the only one who had rendered no assistance whatever towards the entertainment, desired to " get ft comfortable seat before the crowd got in." He was politely informed that he had mistaken tho right entrance and with a somewhat gloomy countonance they walked out and took their places amongst the common herd. Wβ trust this may prove a useful lesson to others who take or may desire to take a similar liberty.

As will be seen a critique appears in another column, on the entertainment given in the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening last, on behalf of the Akaroa Library; for obvious reasons, we preferred not to criticise the performance ourselves, and consequently requested a gentleman well up to the work to act for us. His criticism appears intact, So far as the attendance was concerned, nothing more could possibly have been desired. The House was packed both downstairs and upstairs, and the behaviour of the audience was unlike to other occasions, remarkably good. We are glad to see such a large return for so goed a cause, and feel sure all will agree with us that the thanks of tho community at large are due to those ladies and gentlemen who so effectively rendered their services. One name we think should have prominence—that of the Rev 11. Stacker, who has spared neither time nor trouble to enhance the success of the undertaking. This gentleman attended all the rehearsals, and proved himself a most adept coach. He might have been seen on the day preceding and tho day following the entertainment working hard carrying things from this place and tho other, and subsequently returning the same. Wo believe that so far as the latter part is concerned, with the exception of Mr R. Noonan, Mr Stocker worked singlehanded, returning the many " props" lent for the ocoasion. While on this subject we might gay we think it is to be greatly regretted to see so small a list of subscribers to this institution. We consider the subscription to be exceedingly moderate, and cannot help thinking there arc many who ought to allow their names to be added to the list. More especially should this bo the case with those gentlemen, whom were it desirable we could single out by name, who use the reading room daily, and do not subscribe to any paper or magazine, yet they decline to in any way contribute to an institution from which they derive co much benefit.

A resident of Akaroa returning home by writer after an absence of a month could not fail to notice ere even reaching the wharf that something had happened, that Akaroa was changed somewhere, that the town had a different, a fresher, and a more prosperous look than when last seen. It might even puzzle such a one to at once devine the change, but presently, little by little, it would dawn on his mind that a new and commodious hotel had been erected, and then on nearing the spot— What, no! never; yes though', by Jove! Bruce's old hotel transmogrified by the art of the painter to a new building. Aye, such is the case ; worthy Boniface Grange has not allowed much timo to elapse before working changes in a building which had began to assume a gloomy and almost repulsive appearance. Even the commonly dubbed " long room," a room formerly bad enough to turn a man from his beer, has now quite a cheerful aspect, and every room in the houso, upstairs and downstairs has shared in the beneficial change, whilst the outside of the hotel has been dealt with in an equally liberal manner. Then again whereas to "Civil John" the idea oi 1 waiting till fifty up was played before eurning the " bob" was sufficiently outrageous to causo him to dose his billiard room, now under the new regime the room is once more devoted to its original object, and the lovers of the game now always depend upon finding , the room open, .and a marker in attendance.

Tub "Fifteen Gem Puzzle " has at last been put to a satisfactory use. The gaoler nt Lyttelton has given it to the Maori prisoners. They are quiet.

Our predecessor, Mr Joseph lvesa, ha.i been "at it again." His lust venture in the journalistic line made its appearance on Wednesday, Sept. 1. It is called the " Waikato Mail," and is published at Cambridge, in the county of Wajkato, Auckland. Mr Ivess seems to regard his new enterprise hopefully, and Bays :—" The talk oE our newspaper being now an absorbing topic of conversation, ac strangers in the district, we are sometimes compelled'to overhear remarks not very favorable to our longevity. We hope to prove, however, that we come of a study stock, accustomed t® brave a i«,or,e intemperate climate than wo are likely,to be expused to. We can already point to nine plants which, although set in a ragged soil, are now hardy and flourishing trees, and trust that the one we have brought with us has np .less-, vitality than the othets, and when once firmly rooted jn the fertile Waikato, will grow and flourish liko a ' green bay tree! , " We re-echo thz wish. The well known .steamer Harigi , has been wrecked near New Plymouth. The following is a condensed report! of. .the affair as furnished by the Press Association telegrams under date September 7. At three o'clock this morning, the steamer Rangitira, on her passage from Manukau to this port, ran ashore near Bell Block, and became a total wreck on a reef known aa Pepperik's Fishing Rock. The place lies about four miles from the Waitara. The cause of her making that point is supposed to be somo evasion of duty- on the part of the men on watch, no alarm of danger being given till the steamer wr B fairly on the reof.- There wtire oight. passengers. It was a beautiful night, and there was no cause for her to run ashore so far from that port she was making. The passengers and mail have just been brought into town. Tho Rangitira was uninsured. She was owned by the Hon J. Marten. Messrs D. Anderson, and JBurn, of Wellington, and was valued at £6000.- ■ •'■■ ■ "

An information hft3 been laid under thn • Friendly Societies Act, against Mr J. S. Wilcox, secretary of the Court Queen o f ihe Isles, A.0.F., for neglecting to send to the Registrar an annual return showing the receipts, expenditure, and general status of the society. The case which we understand is the first of the kind brought up in New Zealand, was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, on Friday. Mr 11. N. Nalclor, for the defence took several technical objections and took exception to the police appearing in support of the information. He argued that the informant was not represented, and therefore the ciso must l>« dismissed. The Bunch reserved its decision.

The full list of prize awards has jus' been received from Sydney, and Messrs Brinmnead & Sons stand,, with two firstclass awards and a Ftppuial certificate, ft the head of a!! tho pir.no manufacturers who exhibited at the Exhibition, Following them that fa to raay amongst the firstclass awards without special certificate, are Messrs Erard, Messrs Steinway, Messrs Chickering, Messrs Bechstein, Messrs BliUhner, Messrs Ronsche, and a local Sydney piano nianfaeturer. People say that England is deteriorating. In pianos at any rate at Sydney, an English firm has gone ahead of the most celebrated makers of France, America and Germany.