Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 438, 1 October 1880, Page 2

Local and General.

This day at neon is the time up to which nominations for two vacant seats in the Borough Council will be received. We hope that this time the vacancies will be filled.

Thk usual monthly meeting of the Little River School Committee lapsed for want of a quorum.

We would remind our readers of Mr Billens' clearing sale at the Town Hall on Saturday next. From the varied and assorted nature of the goods, and also from the fact that there is no reserve, a good attendance should be expected.

Akauoa is about to be* visited by a complete dramatic company. The leading artiste is Miss Clara Stephenson, and she is assisted by a company o_f acknowledged merit, including Miss Lucy Ashton, Miss Madge Herrick, and our old friend the evergreen "Johnny" Hydes. Miss Stephenson is very highly epoken of by the Press wherever she has played, as a really first-class actress. The company opens on Monday eveniag at the Oddfellows' Hall with a dramatized version of Miss Braddon's highly popular story 'Lady Audley's Secret," and a light comedy, entitled " Euchred." We are informed that the dramas will be put upon the stage in their entirety, a thing that ia seldom attempted in country places, and certainly has never been done in Akaroa. The venture of bringing a complete dramatic company down here is a plucky one, and we hope they may be well sup ported. Considering the want of opportunity our residents have of witnessing dramatic performances, this ought to be the ense. We may mention that by mistake the performances are announced in the bills to take place at the Town Hall, whereas the correct locality is the Oddfellows' Hall.

The thoroughbred entire Marmion, now travelling between Christchurch and Akaron, yesterday, nnd i£ sufficient support is accorded will continue to visit Akaroa at stated intervals. Marmion is a dark bay, standing 16 hands 3 inches high, and is one of the grandest thoroughbreds in the colonies. His breeding is undeniable, and his performances on the turf in Victoria show that, but for an accident, he would aye made a name for himself. As it was, his racing career was very good, having started in six races and won five out of the six, against large fields of first-clasH horses, and all won as a three year old. Mariuimi '!i"n nn ■• ■•■; '■ on accident. >■<■<• •'>:;. pr-r-.1-i- , ---: auieiy command attention.

The Akaroa School Committee will hold a meeting on Monday evening next at the schoolroom.

Notwithstanding all that the croakers cay about whatf, they call the desperate state of affaire in Victoria, when 'those dreadful Democrats are supposed to be ruining the country, it appears that the. capitalists of Great Britain regard that colony with favor. By our telegraphic, advices it will be seen that for a V'ctorian loan of two millions, no less than eleven millions have been subscribed.

A meeting of the Little River Library Committee wan held in the Library on last Saturday, Sept. 25. Present—Messrs Jas. Reynolds (chairman,), Smart, Brodericfc, Archer, Holt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Marahrhan's letter of the 3rd ult. was again brought forward. It was resolved that the Secretary acknowledge tHe receipt of Mr Marahman's letter, and inform him that the Committee is in communication with Mr W. Wilson on the subject. A draft letter to Mr W. Wilson was read and approved of. The following resolutions were passed, viz :—That applications be called for the office of librarian for six months ; that the cleaning of, the library be stopped; that the Secretary write to the Akaroa Library Committee, asking if they could exchange books with the library; that the Secretary write to all members who are in arrears of subscription; requesting them to pay up. The meeting then adjourned to 2nd October. '

A FEARFUL tragedy is reported from Auckland. It appears that aMr Willcott had in his service a Fijian, whom he had brought from the islands with him. On Monday last this savagt murderously assaulted two sons of his master, aged respectively eleven and fourteen years. The attack was made with an axe. The

youngest lad, Gibspri'jWillcott, received a dangerous gash four inches in length, extending from his temple to the crown of his head. The other lad received a blow on the neck and face with the axe, but was not dangerously wounded. Another lad named Sandry and the • servant girl, attempted to stop the ruffian while decamping when the alarm was given, but he threatened Sandry with the weapon and threw a brick at the head of the girl, which fortunately missed her. He then fled, retaining : possession of the axe. The next day, while the police were scouring , the country in pursuit of the savage, a milkman'named Matthew Crawford, residing near Mount Albert, fount! tlie body of a man lying on the road some distance from the Eden Vine Hotel, with a clean cut on tho back of his skull, about an inch in width, which must have been instantaneously fatal. The milkman reported tlie matter to the police, and the investigation immediately instituteddiselosed that the murdered man was Henry Louis Reos who resided with his wife and family on tho New North road, near Morningside. It appeared that Mr Koos left his home to meet his wife. He missed her on the road, and cm his return home early this morning was met by Joe, who was hiding in the scrub, evading the search of the police, which had been maintained all night. Tho temptation to kill was too strong for the Islander, and it is supposed he crept up noiselessly behind the poor fellow and felled him to the earth. The surrounding ground and little pools of water are marked and discolored with blood, but there are no other marks to denote any struggle. Joe, after completing this murder, proceeded to Mount Albeit, called at Mr Melville's at 8 a.m., and demanded food off the washerwoman, Mrs Arnold, to whom he upoke. She refused, and Joe at once pounced upon her, and after a desperate resistance on her part, threw her down. He then struck nt her repeatedly with the axe, but she fenced off his blows with her arms. They are fearfully hacked about, while one severe wound extends across her temples. Her screams brought assistance, and at the noise of footsteps Joe decamped. In the yard he was met by Mr Melville, who assailed him. with a log of wood, and seizing a convenient opportunity, h© Struck out with the* log and broke the handle of the axe in two. His wife came but with his revolver, at the sight of which Joe held up his hands, as if pleading for his life. He made signs, and said something in his own tongue. Mr Melville secured the murderer with ropes, and tied his hands and feet till the police arrived. The police brought Joe to the station ; great crowds lined the street to get a glimpse of the savage.—An inquest has since been held on the victim, and Joe has been committed to take hie trial on a charge of '* wiltul murder,"

The Scotsman of July 11 has a report of the Annual Edinburgh University Athletic Games, which took place on July; 10. All College boys—past and present —will be glad to hear that F. G. Westenra successfully completed in these sports against well-known pedestrians. , Mr Westenra's name appears three times in the list of competitors, viz.; ; second in Hie f one'hundred yards—time', HO' 2:sth Weci;--first (with 2yds start) in ,the,two, hundred yards— «eu(; arid second in' the drop-kicking competition, with a kick of o3y<lr to iii-i ■.•'•••■.l:f F<n- ■■ov. r>l ycnv:* Mr ''■'•■■■■■■ ■ - ■ " • : ■ - . ■ ■ ■ ■ ; n Will) I imh'.-i , jih-.-i/'s gHiii'.-ii a' \arinijK irhletic i

gatherings held in Canterbury, showed him to be a first-class pedestrian, and it is very gratifying to know that he succeeded in holding his own against celebrated athletes in the Old Country. The young man, referred to is a eon of Mr Richard Westenra, late Representative of Akaroa in the Provincial Council, and nephew of Mr A. Westenra of the Bank of New Zealand, Akaroa.

Much as the modern French duel is ridiculed by certain smart people, it is in reality one of the most dangerous institutions of our day. Since jt is always fought in thn open air, tho combatants are nearly sure to catch cold. M. Paul do Cassagnac, the most inveterate of the French duellists,, has suffered so often in this way that he is at last ft confirmed invalid ; and t'to best physician in Paris has expressed the opinion that if he goea on duelling for 1 fifteen or twenty years more—unless he rfonris the habit of fijjhling in a comfortable room where damps and draughts cannot intrude—he will eventually endanger Lie life. This ought to moderate the talk of those people who are so stubborn in maintaining that the French duel is the most health-giving of recreations because of the open-air exercise it affordsi, and ft'oujjhi also td uioderate<that foolish talk about Frenctird'ue'lliatsS/and ; socialist-hated ; monarohs being the only people who are immortal.