The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 470, 25 January 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25.

In another column appears ft letter explanatory of the proceedings of what we have ventured to call a " private " meeting of the Okain's District Road Board. On reading it the French proverb about excuses being equivalent to accusations ocenrs forcibly to us. In the first place it was the Clerk of tho Board who first informed our representative (that the meeting was a " private" one. Secondly, with regard to one or more ratepayers being excluded, we have excellent testimony on that head. Finally, we stated that we heard that at this " private meeting a contract was let. It now appears, by our correspondent's explanation that even more than this was done. That if , , a contract held by a gentleman who is now a member of the Board was "transferred" to some one else. Truly the ways of some local legislators are wonderful, and pust Ending out.

By advertisement elsewhere it will be i-'cen that the Union S.S. Company have laid on a weekly boat to run Southwards from Akaroa during the fruit season. Such attention to the convenience of their constituents should command a large measure of support.

We understand that it is contemplation to open an Oddfellow's Lodge in Barry's Bay. The sanction of the district has [icon obtained and a preliminary meeting will bo held on Saturday evening next which all intending members are invited to attend.

The cricket match between the Australian eleven and twenty-two of Dunedin was played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last. The result was as follows : —Australians, first innings 112, second innings 105. Total 217. The Dunedin men scored 83 and 90 respectively, theAustralians thus winning the match by -1-1 runs. The next match of the strangers is against fifteen of Canterbury.

The reviewers under tlie Property Assessment Act will hold sitting's as liereunder notified. Akaroa R.M. Court on the Bth, 9th, and 10th of February for the Borough of Akaroa, the Akaroa and Waiiiui, Okaiti's Bay, and Pigeon Bay rond districts respectively, and at the hllosuK'n arms, for the Little Kiver k>:ul district on th" 11th February.

The annual meeting of houechoklors of

the Akaroa School District took place in the schoolroom last evening, when about a dozen householders wore present, The Rev 11. Stocker occupied the chair. Mr Mcecln Chairman of the late Committee, read their report, from which it appeared that the school was in a flourishing condition, and on the motion of Mr Bruce, seconded by Mr Kedge. it was unanimously adoptedThe following householders were then elected a cemmittee for the coming yoan viz—Messrs Bruce, McGregor, Kissel, Sims'

Westenra, Kedge, and the Rev 11. Stocker A vote of thanks was proposed to the outgoing committee The new committee afterwards met and elected the Rev 11. Stocker chairman, and arranged to meet on the first Tuesday in each month.

We have received a copy of the Liberty a new weekly " Society "journal published in Christchurch. Its platform is an ultraliberal one and includes "Abolition of Capital Punishment, Anti-Chinese Immigration, Elective Governors. Freedom of Discussion, Leasing of Crown Lands, Protection, Reform of the Criminal Code' Representation ot Labor, Secular and Gratuitous Primary Education, And the Good that we can do." The last clause is a very comprehensive one, and we hope our contemporary will stick to it whatever comes of the others.

In another column the County Council announce the appointment of registrars of dogs for the various districts in the Peninsula. Henceforth the owners of dogs can have no excuse if they are called upon to interview the R.M. in respect of what we believe it is the correct thing to call their " four-footed favorites."

Quam Yam, undergoing a sentence of ten years' penal servitude, committed suicide on Friday night by hanging himself in his cell. An inquest was held at the gaol on Saturday afternoon, at which a verdict oifelo de se was returned. It appeared that deceased bad persistently refused to go to work, and for th'S offence had been sentenced by the Visiting Justice to receive twelve lashes on Monday morning if be did not go to work. Prisoner contrived to evade either alternative by hanging himself in his cell-

DuitiNG the hearing of a sly-grog case the other day in Christchurch, the following colloquy took place between counsel for the defence and a witness :—Mr Scott —"Do you know of an outhouse at the back of the boarding house in which beer is kept ?" Witness—" Not to mj knowledge, my kind, beloved, learned friend !'» When it is remembered that Mr Scott is an English barrister, hardly yet acclimatised, and the witness (known a g " Dutchy ") is deputy cook's mite's assist, ant at a boarding house of dubious reputation, the delight of counsel at such an affectionate tyle of address may be better imagined than described.

A Westport paper says :—Mr E. Hardcaslle has been gazetted District Judge for the District of Taranaki, vice Mr E Shaw, transferred. It is strange to find such an appointment made, just after the discharge of the late Judges Harvey and Weston. Well, it would appear strange to any one who believed in the bona fide of the Government in the late reductions they have been making. Those, however, who are familiar with the " ways tint are dark, and tricks that are vain " of those in authority will not think it " strange '' at all that one official should be " reduced ,, away, and room thus be made for the elevation of a protege.

Concerning a iVo/V/t-country barber, Frank Fudge writes as follows :—He has gone from our gazo like a beautiful dream and the police have had a " Consultation " over his departure. The investors have been sold, and the newspapers have been sold, by the enterprising and industrious barber of Wellington. His hasty departure has indeed proved a LITTLE SELL. They told them gently he was gone, The " sold " ones grimly siniied, And those that drew the lucky prads, Soon got tarnation riled ; 'Twas all iti vain the bobbies sought His hiding phice—in sorrow They cried, '■ Hush ! hush ! he'll soon be caught, We'll bring him back to-morrow." And folks dropt in to have a shavr, The shop look'il drear and bleak, And when they heard how he had fled, They ciied " Oh what a cheek !" And there the sergeant kept a watch, And muttered thus :—" Begorra! The barber must have gone up North, . He'll shave no more to-morrow." That day they missed him long, and brought The tel'graph into play— The news came—he is o'er the surf, To 'Frisco he's away ; For change of scene he's wandered there, New sovereigns to borrow ; He's gone away fresh " flats " to snare ; He'll come no more to-morrow. The gentleman who has tho editing of the Times advertisement sheet should be a little more careful. The following odd specimen recently found its way into its columns:—'A comfortable homo for city gentlemen, who could appreciate cheerful musical, and select society ; and one or two ladies, who would occupy tho same bedroom. Terms moderate and inclusive.'

It takes three editors to start a paper in New Orleans ; one to get killed in a dm>], one to die with the yellow fever, aii'i one to write an obituary of the defunct two.