Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 476, 15 February 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

The German Bay side-school will be formally opened to-morrow. The children of the neighborhood are to have a treat provided them, and the elder portion of the community will endeavor to amuse themselves later on. Numerous invitations have been issued, and a considerable gathering maj be expected.

Duimng this exceptionally hot and dry weather people cannot bo too careful about the risk of starting fires out of doors. A very serious lire took place last week on the land of Mr Dalglish, Le Bon's Bay. Besides burning , a lot of grass, this iirc destroyed about a hundred and iifty bags of grass scud.—A few days ago a fire was staited liy some means on Bruce's Terrace, near the hospita'. Mr Dixon and Mr Lardner happened to bo at hand, ond succeeded in putting it out before it had a chance of spreading.—On Sunday another iire was, \<y some means, lighted among the grass between the beaoh and thecemo tery road. Mr F. Hahn, who was passing at the time, managed to extinguish this one before it had spread far. If it had succeeded in crossing the road, there is no doubt it would have done an immense deal of damage in the present parched-up state of the country.

Two individuals the other day entered a hotel in town, and endeavoured to wheedle the proprietor into .Allowing them credit for two drinks—one fur himself and one for an equally bucolic friend. This the proprietor failed to see in the right light, and the thirsty soid sooner than go without liquor, expressed his intention of making a sacrifice to obtain it. " Look'ee here, ol 1 f'ler," eaid lie, " lemme 'arf-a-crown, and blow me I'll shout for j'er !'' This generosity on the part of one of the thirsty souls failed, however, to "fetch" the proprietor ; and they at last wondered out, pitying the individual who had denied himself the pleasure of a drink.

Sydney Smith is reported to have said that railway companies would never be compelled to take proper precautions till a bishop was 'nlied. We have been forcibly reminded of this remark of the reverend jokist by an unfortunate accident which took place on Friday evening last. On that occasion, Mr A. I. McGregor was returning from his attendance before the Board of Reviewers at Little River. Incoming down the hill the other side of Barry's Bay, the horse he was riding put its foot on somo of the loose stones which so plentifully bestrew the road in almost evory part, with the result of falling over with its rider. Mr McGregor sustained some severe cuts about the head and was badly bruised and shaken bosides in various parts of the body, though for.unately no bones were broken. We are afraid that Mr McGregor will be incapacitated from any active work for .some time to come. There is no doubt that for some time past the state of tho main road from Akaroa to the boundary of the district has been highly disagreeable and dangerous to those who have- had (for their sins) to travel on it, and not very creditable to those charged with the duty of its maintenance. Some nine months ago the Road Board let some contracts for keeping the roads in thorough repair. The idea was an excellent one, but owing to the neglect of the contractors and the supinonesa of tho Board the result lias been anything but satisfactory. For some time past the contractors for the main road have utterly neglected it, and have treated all remonstrances from the Board with the most supreme contempt. We do not know whether the agreement gives tho necessary power to the Board, but if it does, they should have before now have done what the Little River Board did under similar

circumstances —viz., put men on to do the necessary work, and charged the contractors with the expense. Now that a serious accident has happened, perhaps something will be done. Meanwhile, wo are sure Mr McGregor's numerous friends will sympathise with him in his misfortune.

There was a grand battle royal on the occasion of tho election of the Dunedin School Committee. 'The struggle was between the Bible-in-Schools party and the Secularists. The former gained a narrow victory, securing four seats against three on the Committee. One of the first acts of the new Committee was to pass a resolution to afford every facility to ministers to impart religious and moral instruction to the scholars. What must have been the feelings of the majority of tho Coinmitteo when, instead of a rush of reverend gentlemen anxious to secure the privilege thus accorded them, the rery first application for the use of room camef rom—the Freethought Association. Here s what the Echo, the organ of the Association, has to say in the matter: — "It was a grand stroke of policy on the part of the Freethought Association to apply to the School Committee for tho use ot a room to give religious and moral instrutction. It was carrying the war into Africa with a vengeance. Coming as the application did immediately after the formal resolve to afford every facility for tho giving of such instruction, there was simply no escape from the dilemma, and thus was presented to angels and to men the astounding spectacle of the chosen vessels of the Bible-in-schools party deliberately granting a room wherein to teach the damnable heresies of Freethought ! The wry faces wherewith they did it only heightened the effect. A special day will probably be set apart at the Tabernacle for humilation and prayer. As for the fearfully and wonderfully worded resolution about' the said Supreme Being'—but the thing is so exquisitely rich that I cannot forbear setting it out at length. Here it is:—'That as religion involves faith in and worship of some Superior Being, and religions instruction will be instru tion us to the being and attributes of th ! said Supreme Being, and as to the way in which lie may be worshipped, before consent be given to the Freothought Association to use a room in the Arthur-street school, they be requested to state in what Superior Buing , they believe, and in what book the manner in which this Being in worshipped is taught.' Comment would spoil it, so I let it stand iv all its naked beauty, contenting myself with this one remark—that it is right worthy of tho man who concocted it, and none save he could have done it. The thing should be framed, together with n portrait of the ingenious author, in })er yetuam rei memoriam."

The following story is so good that it sounds apocraphal. Its veracity, however, is vouched by a Registrar of Births and Death not ten miles from Axbridge. A woman came to him with two children, twins' and expressed a wish to register their birth. "What are their Christain nainea?" inquired the careful Registrar " Cherubim and Seraphim, plea.se, sir," re plied the woman. " What !" exclaimed the astonished Registrar. " Cherubim and Saraphim," reiterated the woman. '• What in the name of all thats wonderful makes you wish to give them those names ?" asked the perplexed Registrar. " Because," answered the woman, "they continually do cry." Lady (engaging parlor maid) " And why did you leave ) our last place ?" Can didate (bridling-) " Which I was considered too good looking, mum i Visitors was always takin 1112 for kiisbus, mum !'

A pu'soneh named Edward Clarkson

who was doing a sentence of 10 years in Lyttelton Goal for highway robbery, and who was very severly injured by a fall of earth while at work with the hard labor gang, has received a special pardon from the Government. He has been crippled for life by his injuries, and was released yesterday. .He had been in goal since October, 1879. The crime of which Clarkson was convicted was committed in the neighborhood of Akaroa, and the victim was Mrs Ramsay, wife of our late Sergeaut of Police.

The Post says :—" So far as the returns for the past nine months are yet made up they go to show that the colonial revonue for the year ending 31st March next will come fully up to the Treasurer's estimate, probably will be in excess. It is practically certain that Customs will be materially ahead of the Estimates, and also the land sales, this latter, of course, being duo to the sale of the Wai mate Plains, Railways are likely to be under the estimate, and also telegraphs, but all other sources of revenue are expected to come fully up to the marie." We hope tho fact of the railway revenue being under the estimate will induce the Government to return to the old tariff though the public convenience has been a matter of no account in their eyes. The Wellington correspondent of the Press, evidently inspired from the highest quarters, telegraphs to that journal as follows :—" I observe statements in the papers that the Premier will shortly address hia constituents, and that Mr Bryce delays meeting tho Wanganui electors because he feels bound to concede precedence to Hall. I have authority for stating that there is absolutely no foundation for this report. Mr Hall will not address his constituents earlier than he did last year, and never has had or expressed any intention of doing so. He has always intended, addressing his constituents just before the session and will then explain the Ministerial programme, but not earlier. The probable time will be about the middle of May, and certainly not before that month. Major Atkinson would probably have met tho Edgmout electors shortly, but for the accident to his knee, which proves much more serious than was at first apprehended. It is now nncertain when he will be able to deliver a speech." A Southern contemporary has gone in for a " Gaelic column." To judge by the first specimen this column must be rather rough on Saxon compositors and proofreaders. Fancy a poem of fifteen stanzas with the following cheerful refrain— Seisd.—Ho ro, eliairdean as gach gleann, Gabhaibh misneachd's na bi'bh faun, Tha a Ghaidhlig togail ceann, 'Sa fas gu fallain ladair. The editor warning! y says :—" Communications in Gaelic,if not plainly written, cannot be received." We think so neither. The European settlers in and about the kainga, Onuku, having combined to give a treat to tho children attending the Native school, the event came off on Saturday last. As the school has never been formally opened before, the Maoris took the opportunity to give a dinner, and invited all their friends from Wainui and Little River to come over for the occasion. It was thought better to amalgamate the two affairs and hold a general pic-nic, to which all should contribute. A liberal supply of provisions waa sent in to the schoolhouse by Mesdames Glynan, Haylock, Keegan and Brown, and the Maoris also contributed largely in the shape of cakes, lollies, peaches, etc. The children assembled at about 11 o'clock with their parents and a number of friendn, and games were entered into by all present. During the afternoon a number of races were run off by the boys and girls, a liberal supply of toys having been provided for prizes for the various events. About 3.30 p.m. the children gathered together for tea, after which they adjourned to tho schoolroom for the distribution of the prizes awarded for their work dining the year. The schoolroom had been tastefully decorated for the occasion with ferns and flowers, and reflected great credit on the young ladies who had taken it in hand. After some school songs had been sang, Mr Hamilton (the master) made a few introductory remarks, and then read the prize list, the prizes being distributed by Mrs Hamilton. After a few more songs had been sang, three cheers were given for those who had provided the treat, and also for Mr and Mrs Hamilton, and then the children were dismissed. The dinner was laid out in a tent erected in the school ground, to which a large number sat down, including sixteen visitors from Wainui and Little River. The day's proceedings were brought to a close by a dance in the schoolroom, which was kept up with great spirit until 11.30, when all separated, well pleased with their day's enjoyment. It is intended to make the affair an annual one. We append the prize list:—Class lII.—-Elizabeth Haylock 1, Ellen Haylock 2. Attendance—Jane Porter and Abigail Porter. Class ll.— Thos. Porter 1, Peter Glynan 2. Attendance—Wm. Wilkin. Class I.—Hebe Haylock 1, Mary Glynan 2. Attemlance—Jos. Glynan. Infants. — Attendance—Ernest Wilkin. Maori attendance prize—Sarah Williams. Special prize for mapping — John Glynan.

The Board of Reviewers under the Property Assessment Act held a sitting at Wascoe's on Friday last to hear objections against the assessment for tho Little River District. Six objections had been lodged, throe from the Little River Koad district proper and three from Tai Tapu. In one instance in the Tai Tapu district a hundred acres was valued at £20 an acre. This valuation was also sustained, which means that the land is considered to be worth £25 an aero .on ordinary terina in the open market.

On the arrival of the Pigeon Bay coach yesterday, it was discovered that it had brought no Christchurch mail. This was the more singular as the English mail via San Francisco came through all right by the same conveyance. On finding that the mail was missing, the Postmaster telegraphed to Lyttelton on the matter with the result of eliciting the fact that the bag had been duly placed on board the p.s. Titan. The fault or. its nondelivery therefore lies between the proprietors of the steamer and the driver of the coach. The latter emphatically declares that he brought in all the bags received by him. Meanwhile the public have been put to a very considerable inconvenience. We regret to learn that Mr G. Smith draper, who has been carrying on business temporarily in Akaroa, has been taken very seriously, if not dangerously, ill. Mr Smith attended to his business as usual on Saturday, but was suddenly attacked on Sunday, and up to late hour last night his state was such as to cause his friends great anxiety. " Thersites, ,, the dramatic critic of the Saturday Advertiser, is responsible for the following:—A few weeks ago the daughters of the well-known Australian manager, Mr George Coppin, determined to wipe off a debt that was hanging over a church at Sorrento, Victoria, and to attain their object gave some dramstic performances, which were thoroughly successful. The parson wrote to the ladies as follows :—" I feel more grieved than I can tell you that our church has been so dishonored as to have its name attached to your playbill. I pray that the Lord our God will bring you to understand these things as they are in the light of His truth —a curse instead of a blessing." I doubt it' anything was ever written in more execrably bad taste than this 'etter of Rev 11. Maxwell, and one cannot hut hope, not only for the Church, but, fur the sake of common humanity, that such men arc scarce. To gratuitously insult two ladies, who were actuated by the most charitable motives, as this clergyman has done, shows a:i utter absence of gentlemanly feeling. Such conduct should remove him far from the pale of any but the lowest society.

The Chief Justice recently mnde some important remarks on bankruptcy in the case of a Mr lsherwood who applied for discharge. The creditor o' trustee said a resolution was passed against the debtor's discharge, because some years eince Mr Ishcnvood filed in exactly the same position as now. Ho believed during tho who'< 3of that time Mrs Ishorwood had been in receipt of a monthly remittance from Home of £20. Mr Isherwood in spite of that, failed for £500. He had not made any effort to make a payment to his creditors—in fact, he had been very off hand with them. His Honor the Chief Justice said that while a large amount of consideration fairly might bo accorded, and usually was accorded, to persons in trade who had failed, often from causes either unforseen or beyond their control, no similar consideration could justly bo claimed by a person whose mine was not in trade, but who knew almost to a penny what were his moans and prospects of payment when ho con tracted his debts. He would only have a claim to leniency if he could show that he was in a better position when ho incurred the liabilities than when he failed. If a man with a Ixed and limited income or with no income ran up debts he had no right to claim his discharge from the Court unless his creditors were willing to release him. If they 'lid not think him entitled to his discharge, the Court would not take it on itself to reverse their decision, or to override their resolution. In that case the debtor would have to go to work and do his best to pay his creditors, at any rate a sufficient dividend to win their consideration and leniency. The decision should act as a warning to bankrupt?.

Tiie following advertisement appears in a Transvaal paper signed by sixty Boers :— We, the undersigned protesting burghers of tho Ward Hoogeveld, in tho district of Rustenbourgh, hereby prohibit all friends of the English, or English officials, to coino on our farms or our houses to ask for any necessaries, because we aMior euch persons, since v;e have not only been warned by our betrayers, but have learned by experience that tho said porsons are very dangerous destroyers of eoul and body, having divested themselves of all senbe of justice and fairness. They who do not pay attention to this notice must tako the consequences, for we are weary of being provoked, and are full to bursting. A a recent wedding at Washington, according to a paper in that cily, "the bride walked on the arm of her father. 1 ' The spectators must have been surprised at such an acrobatic display.