The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 465, 7 January 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7.

We have boon furnished with lie statistical returns of I ho Presbyterian Church on t.ho Peninsula for the year ending Dee. 31, 1380, which have just been made up' and transmitted for tho Assembly's Year Book. The following arc some of the figures :—There are nine or ten plmes in which services have been held. There are alrfo about twenty members of committee. The membership stands as It was in the previous year (1879) — viz., GO. There are three Sabbath schools, with 15 teachers and about 100 scholars. The congregation aggregates about 300, taking all the places, or an average of about 30 to 40 in each place. There is one church with sitting accommodation for 120. Land has been secured for a second church in Little River. Tho total sum contributed for chtmh purpoj-es (-xclußive of £50 r in Church Extension Fund towards missionary's salary, and of money subscribed towards church site and the church in Little River) is £399 12s 7£il, against £322 15s 8d for 1879. The income, though very much larger than in any former year, is weighted by a much larger expenditure than heretofore, bo that it is all required, and falls somewhat short. The debt on church property amounts to £412 10s, tho interest on which is felt a good deal. The church has been quietly advancing bince 1874, when it was revived ; so that now membership, income, etc, are about double what they were seven years ago. Lavs Qeo.

The magistrates who presido in our loca teinplo of justice evidently hold very different opinions on the subject or! that virtue to tlio.se entertained by a higher tribunal. They sent up four prisoners for trial at the late sitting of the Supreme Court. Concerning two of these cases, His Honor Judgo Johnston commented severely on the action of the committing magistrates, going so fnr as to say that 1 c did not see the use o£ Resident Magisir.tesif they could not deal with such trumpery cases as those then brought before him. In a third ease the Grand Jury threw out the bili, thus intimating that in their opinion there was not even a prima facie or.se which the accused should be called upon to answer. In only ono casa out of tho four was a conviction followed by punishment obtained. Meanwhile the taxpayers are saddled with heavy expenses incurred by sending up cases for trial, which ought to have been summarily settled, or in which there was no chance of securing a conviction. It' all the decisions of our august local Court could be bimilarly reviewed by a superior body, we cannot help thinking that a similar fate would befal many of them. In another column will be found a letter from a member of tho Robinson's Bay School Committee, calling attention to an omission in our report of the school treat at that place. As we there state, we regret the omission, but we cannot refrain from reminding managers of thesr and similar gatherings of the fact, that reporters and Press correspondents are not omniscient and have no intuitive know ledge of matters which are well known to the local managers. In too many instances the reporter is looked upon as an intrusive, meddlesome individual, and as little information as possible is vouchsafed to him. If, however, the slightest inaccuracy or omission occur in the repoit, it is straightway attributed to malice aforethought. We do not say that such was the case in the instance referred to, but we hope that local bodies will remember that this journal cannot possibly keep a large staff of professional reporters, and that we shall therefore rely upon them to aid us in our endeavors to procure full and correct accounts of any proceedings of interest to our readeis in the numerous localities where the Mail circulates.

The ten per cent, reduction of the salaries of Civil servants lias had various effects, but one thai has come under our notice is, we hope, unique. A gentleman residing not a hundred miles from Akaroa, who, in return for a paltry stipend, bestows his valuable services on an ungrate ful country, has hit upon a novel method of supplementing his income. He announces by circular that he is prepared to execute job printing on the shortest notice, and below usual prices. We should think he could work at reduced prices,considering that his premised are provided for him by the aforesaid ungrateful country, that he has a certain " screw" paid monthly, and that what he get* by his

printing will simply be pocket money,there can l:o no doubt he enn compete successfully with tbos-e who have to pay rent, wages oAc. We expect fo find tho laudable example of this prudent young man will be extensively followed. Why should we not be able to procure " boots under wholesale price" from one enterprising gentleman wlio.se time is not fully o-.;>-upied —or an •' easy *have fur 3d " from Fitz Junes Smith of the Red Tape and Sealing wax Department, who could thus employ his evenings more profitably <lnn at the billiard-table? As to the common tradesmen wha have to live and pay taxes out of the proceeds of shoe-making and shaving, why of course their interests are not for a moment worthy of consideration.

The schooner Clyde has changed hands, Mr Black having sold his interest in her to Mr W. 11. Sawyers, late of tho Cleopatra. She is to be beached and cleaned ; the carpenters are on board, and she is to bo well caulked all over, and then taken on tho slip at Lyttelton, where she will be stripped and re coppered. We have no doubt that, when put in the trade again, she will soon pay her owners, as she is a vessel well adapted for the coasting trade.

Wk learn that tho sports which were to have been held in Dunedin on New Year's Day and the following Monday were completely spoiled by the weather. On Saturday tho downfall of rain was so persistent that even our Southern friends could not stand it, and the festivities had to be postponed to the following Monday. The only change that occurred in the weather, however, was one for the worse, and as a consequence tho great holiday time was completely spoiled.

The unfortunate man Kerrison who was shot at Templeton on last Christmas clay, died on Tuesday last in tho Hospital. An inquest was held the same day and fie jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder against Walter Pringlo Gibson. ,, On Wednesday, Gibson was brought before two justices, and committed to take his trial at the present sessions of the Supreme Court.

The following letter from the Public Works department has been received by Mr Montgomery. Our readers will per ceive that it is almost identical with the telegram from Mr Oliver which we have already published. A xory important ormnisskm is that no mention whatever is made of any time when tho work shall be proceeded with. Meanwhile progress has been arrested and time if run ning on. In less than three months the vote will lapse :—Public Works Office' Wellington 81st Dec, 1830.—Sir,—With reference to your letter of Dee. 11 (ac* knowledged on the 215t),1 am now directed by the Minister for Public Works to int'orni yon thai (hero has always been an intention to expend tho whole of the vote on the Little liiver and Akaroa Railway, and the platelaying will be proceeded with as far as tho balance in hand will permit. I have, etc.—John Knovvles.

A MEETING of the Spoils Committee was held yesterday evening at Brucc'a Hotel to wind up the financial arrangements connected with the late sports held on New Year's Day. Mr J. D. Garwood occupied the chair. Mr T. Grange re ported that after all expenses were paid and a few outstanding subscriptions collected there would be a balance of about £1 10s in hand. It was resolved that the £5 advanced by tho Uogatta Committee be repaid and they be asked to grant the same again in the event of sports being held on the Queens Birthday. Tbe meeting then adjourned and a meeting of the Water Polo Committee was held. At the latter meeting a report of a sub committee appointed to draw up rules was read and adopted. It was agreed to have the polo on Safruday 15ih inst., weather permitting, as the tide will serve on that day. The secretary was instructed to give public notice of tho time and place.