Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 456, 3 December 1880, Page 2

Local and General.

The Akaroa and Wainui Road Board invite tenders for cutting the grass on the road sides. Particulars appear in our advertising columns.

By a notification which appears in another column it will be seen that Mr William Sims has been duly appointed Inspector of Nuisances for the Borough of Akaroa. Owners of back yards and pet smells in general had better look out.

By advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that the s.s. Akaroa will make a trip from Akaroa to Lyttelton direct during next week on a day to be named in a future advertisement. We also observe with satisfaction tbat the regular trips of this steamer to and from Pigeon Bay are to be resumed from and after Monday next. A meeting of the committee of the Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition was held on Tuesday evening at the schoolroom, Akaroa. There were present the Rev. H. Stocker (in the chair), Messrs Penlington, Bicknell, Harris, Perm, Wiggins, and S. Watkins, Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary read a list of contributors for the prizes both in money and kind received and promised up to date. He also produced a sample prize ticket, of which he was authorised to procure a supply, the colors for horticultural and industrial exhibits to be different. The arrangements as to erection of tables, providing a piano, &c, were left in-' the hands of the Secretary. A letter was read from W. Montgomery. Esq., M.H.R., promising to be in' Akaroa on the the lGth December, and to open tho Exhibition, also increasing his donations from £3 3s to £5 ss, also letters from tlie masters of the East and West Christchurch bdiools promising exhibits. The Secretary reported having written to the Akaroa School Committee, asking for the use of the schoolroom. He had received no reply, but had heard that the request was granted. The following judges were appointed : —Needlework— Mesdames G. Wright, Penlington, Cotton, Stocker, and Miss Wakden. Works of Art —Dr Guthrie, Messrs McGregor and Wiggins. Writing and Mapping—Messrs Wilkin'', J- M. Wood, and Welch. Horticultural exhibits —Messrs Nalder, Perm. and Greenaway. The Secretary was instructed to give notice as to the times for exhibits, and the meeting adjourned.

Owing to a delay in forwarding the plans and specifications of the Little River school building the time for receiving tenders for the work is extended to Tuesday the 7th.

An accident of a very serious naiure ] took place at Mr Lelievre'a station yester- I day afternoon. A young man named Green whilst working under a precipice was struck by a falling stone, thus rendering him senseless. He was conveyed to the Hospital and be has been under care of Dr Guthrie over since. On making further enquiries we hear that concussion of the brain has set in, and lie lies in a very

precarious state.

A special meeting of the Little River School Committee was held in the schoolroom last Saturday evening. Present: — Messrs Coop (Chairman), Greenland, Reynolds, Jacobsen, Walters, Smith, and Olphert. Tlie minutes of the previous meeting" were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that the business was that Mr Westropp had called upon him, stating that as tho attendance of scholars was upwards of 50, it was impossible for him to do the whole of the teaching alone, and that Mr Lee was willing to act as assistant master. He had also received a letter , from the Board of Education, stating that the plans and specifications for the new school had been forwarded to him, hut he had not yet received them, and he thought it very likely they had been carried on to Akaroa ; it would be for the committee to decide what should be done in the matter. A letter was read from Mr C. M. Lee, applying for the situation of assistant mas--1 ter. It was proposed by Mr Olphert, l seconded by Mr Greenland, and carried — < " That as the average attendance at school I is increasing, Mr Lee be recommended to ' tho Board of Education for the post of I assistant master, until such time as an ■ assistant mistress is appointed." A letter I was read from the Board of Education, stating that the plans, etc.', for the new I school had been forwarded. It was resolved—"That a messenger be sent to Akaroa to see after the plans, etc., and if there to forward them to Little River by coach on Monday." "That the Chairman be requested to writo to the Board of

Education, stating that the plans, etc., had not arrived, and asking that the time foi receiving tenders may be extended to Dec, 2." The Committee then adjourned.

Tue inquest on the body of Miss Dobie, who was brutually murdered near Opunake, as recorded in our last issue, took place on the 28th and 29th of November. A good deal of circumstantial evidence was adduced, tending to incriminate one Tuhi, a Maori. With regard to Stannard

who had been arrested on suspicion, the jury gave their verdict as follows : —lt is the unanimous opinion of the jury that there is no evidence whatever against Stannard, and it is their wish that he should bo at once released. Sergeantmajor Bullcn produced an affidavit from Mr Cook, of the Empire Hotel, Hawera, accounting for some of the blood found on the clothea of Mr Stannard. The Coroner said—l congratulate you. You leave this room entirely free, without an}' stain on your character. Tho Maori confessed "I did it" when Mr Hursthouse asked him if he had anystattnent to make. He was fairly warned before he confessed. He said, "It waa done by me." Mr Hursthouse said, "Do you know what you have really said ? Do you know your position?" Tuhi said, "I know? I killed the woman. It waa a great sin or crime. I know it." The Coroner then said, " I do not think under the circumstances, that I can ask the gentlemen of the jury to do anything. This is not like a Court of law or the Supreme Court, and I think I can hardly ask you for anything further." The excitement was intense. The interpreter faltered and was deeply moved, as was the coroner. The murderer appeared more calm than most of those

in Court

We feel deeply grieved at having to record the death, by accident, upon the Christchurch tramway of Mr John Greenaway, the well known florist and seedsman o£ Christchurch. The deceased gentleman has for the past two years written the Garden Memoranda for this journal, and has otherwise aided us with journalistic memos, connected with his favorite pursuits. Mr Greenaway was a school-fellow of Mr J. D. Garwood of this town, and a native of the City of Oxford, England Subjoined we condense fiom the " Lyttelton Times" an account of the calamity :— " We most sincerely regret having to record the shocking death of Mr J. Greenaway, nurseryman and seedsman, which took place aboul half-past 5 o'clock last evening, on the Papanui Road. The news of the melancholy accident spread rapidly ; and the event cast quite a gloom over the city. For the past 1G years Mr Greenaway has been identified witii the progress of floriculture in this city, and with the fortunes of the Christchurch Horticultural Society, of which body he was the honorary secretary. By all who knew him,the unfortunate man was both liked and respected ; and his death has created a void which will not be easily filled." Deceased appears to have been attempting to step from one car to another, when he missed his hold and fell, the second car passing over his body He was promptly attended to, but only lived for a few minutes. Mr Greenaway has officiated as judge at our local Horticultural Show, and was appointed one of the judges at the forthcoming show on Doc, 16.