The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 463, 31 December 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31.

Wrra this issue we have much pleasure •in presenting our readers with a sheet almanac for 1881. Owing to varisus unavoidable circumstances we are unable to furnish our ustial editorial on this occasion. We hope they kindly excuse the omission and accept briefly our sincere good wishes that to each and all of them the ensuing may be a Happy New Year.

This following is taken from the Christchurch Press. The Ranger referred to is aMr Frank Houghton, formerly a resident in this district It will be seen that the Justices who presided on the occasion referred to (Messrs Beswick, R.M., Cunningham and Hey wood) were of the same opinion as a correspondent of ours, that levying fees instead o£ driving to the nearest public pound and laytng ak information was very like levying Black Mail. "In a case which was heard at Rangiora Resident Magistrate s Court on Tuesday a ranger of the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board stated that he was authorised to charge Is per head on all cattle which he found straying, whether he impounded same or drove them to the owners' residences. The Bench considered that the system of levying a kind of black mail in this way was thoroughly objectionable. Moreover it was shown that while in some instances the full shilling waß oharged, the same ranger considered it to bo optional with him to make a lower charge, and in an instance where ten head had been seized he only charged Gd per head. The Bench thought it was the duty of the Road Boards to see that this practice was put an end to, and that the cattle should only be taken by the ranger to the nearest public pound, when he could legally claim his shilling per head for driving. The Clerk to the Bench said a like practice prevailed in the Eyreton district.

The annual distribution of prizes at th* Robinson's Bay School took place on the 23rd inst., accompanied with sports. » tea meeting and also an entertainment in the evening. The sports consisted principally of foot races, which were well con" tested both by the boys and girls. The tea meeting took place in the schoolroom, the tables being ably presided over by the Misses Saxton, .Morgan, Williams, and Shadbolt. After ample justice had been done to the good things provided, the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr Whitfield, in a few kind and appropriate words presented the prizes to the variou s candidates, the distribution being on the basis of the last Government Inspector' 3 report. Three ringing cheers were then called for, and given to Mr Montgomery for his liberal assistance to the prize fundWe may also state that the school had been neatly decorated, and conspicuously grouped in front of the audience was the work done by the various scholars during many past months, consisting of drawing, mapping, writing etc., which was a very creditable and pleasing exhibition Especially gratifying it must have been to the parents of the various children who had done such good work. The entertainment consisted of readings, songs, and a charade which was acted by some of the school children, the word Schoolmaster being manifest in the epilogue. Readings were given by Messrs Saxton, Whitfield, and Duxbury, and songs by Mr and the Masters Spurr. The former's rendering of " Mother kissud me in my dream," and the latter of "Mother, kiss your darling," fairly brought down the house. A worl of praise is due to Mr Samuel Johnson, who we were informed had worked hard in various ways to enhance the pleasure of the evening. The schoolroom was crowded in every part, and taken cs a whole it was one of those pleasant reunions in which all seemed to enjoy themselves to their hearts content, and we hope we may see many more of them.

A CiißisTcnußCH correspondent informs us that plans for the erection of a new Convent in Barbadoes street have been prepared by Mr T. B. Jacobsen of Christchurch, as tho present building is not large enough for the exercise of the religious and educational devotions. The building, which is to be of the Gothic order, will form an addition to the architectural beauties of this city. It is to bo finished by July nest year.

One of the inconveniences attending the isolation of this district and its want of rapid communication with other parts of the colony will be experienced within the next few days. Our only medical man, Dr Guthrie, has been subpoenaed to attend the sittings of the Supreme Court which commence on Monday in Christchurch. The consequence is that his patients and any persons who may require his services will be left for two or three days without any possibility of having their wants attended to. Tliis is certainly not a pleasant state of affairs, and will have serious results.

An accident which might have resulted fatally occurred last Wednesday. It seems that Messrs J. and B. Grange were riding in opposite directions, and the horses collided, Mr B. Grange and horse being thrown over an embankment. Fortunately the rider escaped without injury, but the horse had to be shot through injuries received. The animal belonged to Mr D. Wright.

We learn that from and after Jan Ist the administration of the Postal and Telegraphic Departments will be amalgamated The official designation of Dr Lemon will be "Superintendent of Posts and Telegraphs," and Mr Gray " Secretary of Posts and Telegraphs."

After ,this date the mail service between Lyttelton and Pigeon Bay will be carried on by the p.s. Titan, the owner of that boat having secured the contract for the coming year. The Akaroa will however continue to run, and Captain McLean is . making arrangements which should have the effect of considerably increasing the passenger traffic by means of the facilities offered. By advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that the Akaroa will leave Pigeon Bay in time to catch the two o'clock train for Christchurch. This should be a considerable convenience to business men to whom time is money. The fares have also been reduced to one half the rates formerly ruling.

An adjourned meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council was held on Thursday, Dec. 23 Present:—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Noonan, Guihberlet, Bruce, M'Gregor, Brown, Black, and Cullen. A letter from ;ihe Commissioner | of Telegraphs, informing the Council that, ! after saving £171, there was still a deficit in the telegraph office expenditure, having been read, it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Bruce, seconded by Councillor Noonan, " That this Council, having considered the letter from the Telegraph Department, and having in view a statement laid on the table of the House of Representatives, made up to March 31 last, showing an excess of expenditure over revenue of £28 Os 3d, and the statement in the letter in question that a reduction of £171 has been made in the working expense? of the Akaroa officei it is difficult to see the connection of the statement that there is still a balance against the Telegraph Department here." Some business of a purely formal nature was transacted, and a conversation having arisen as to the Clerk's bond, Councillor McGiegor gave notice that at the next meeting he would move '' That the necessary steps be taken to have the Town Clerk's security for £100 taken in some Guarantee Association, and that this Council pay the annual premium for the same." The Council then adjourned.

The public meetings held lately at Lin coin and Little River with reference to the progress or rather the non-progress of the work on the Akaroa railway have not been without effect. The following tele gram has been received by Mr Montgomery from the Minister for Public Works. It has been placed at our disposal by Mr Garwood, to whom Mr Montgomery for. warded it. There is a manifest insincerity in the first paragraph, but at the same time the telegram contains a distinct promise that the work will be proceeded with, and it will be somewhat difficult for the Government deliberately to ignore the statement of the Ministers. The following is the telegram referred to :—W. Montgomery, Esq., M.H.R., Christchurch.— There has never been the slightest intention to defer the platelaying on the Southbridge-Little River Railway. It will be proceeded with as far as the vote will permit.