Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 477, 18 February 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

From Dunedin we learn that a fire which completely gutted Hudson's flour mill and factory, and considerably damaged a portion of the now Coffee Pahce, broke out at 20 minutes to 2 o'clock on Sunday uioriiig. The now Coffee Palace was built immediately in front of the old Masonic Hali and for some years this building bus been occupied by Hudson as a mill, sore, and factory. The general opinion is that the fire originated in the bakehouse, but on this matter is a difference of opinion. The alarm was raised by stableman at tin . City Hotel. At the time the fire broke out there were four persons in the Coffee Palace—Mr C. C. Hawkins, manager, Mrs Hawkins and two female servants, Isabella Menzies and Elizabeth Ross. A boy slept in a room adjoining the factory, but fully a hundred feet from where the fire started. Mr and Mrs Hawkins occupied a room on the first floor of the Coffee Palace, overlooking Dr Hocken's dwelling-house, and the servants were in a room immediately above Hawkins' rooms. On Mrs Hawkins opening the door, a volume of smoke entered the room, and the first thing done was to arouse the servants. By this time the Fire Brigade, with the escape, were at the fire, and all were in a short time rescued. The building at the back was a mesa of flame, and wheat, flour, sugar butter and other stock were burning fircely. Several streams of water were soon turned to the building, as many as six branches being used at one time. The walls confined the flames within the building, but the water was played on to Dr Hocken's building, and a 1 danger of its catching fire removed. The roof of the Coffee Palace caught fire, and was greatly dam • aged before the flames were checked by the water, The construction of the Palace aided the brigade in keeping the fire bad-, as the firemen were enable to play upon upon the fire from so many different positions. By about 3 o'clock the fire was checked, and by 4 o'clock all danger was over. The origin of the fire is a mystery.

Civis, in the Witness, pays the following tribute to the late Thomas Carlyle. The

epithets be applies to the " French Revolution," though not original, are perhaps, on that account all the more forcible and truthful:—Opinions differ a<? to the literary place and merit of Thomas Carlyle, who this week has gone over to the majority. There are few subjects, 'ndeed, literary or other, on which opinions do not differ. I met an educated gentleman some short time ago who informed me confidentially that Shakespeare was immensely overrated. Admiration tor Shakespeare was the fashion of the hour, and would pass away. There really was nothing in Shakespeare. George 111., I believe (not that his opinion of such subjects is worth much), was of the same way of thinking. Carlyle, more titan moHt men of his generation, being a poietes, a maker, or in other words, an innovator, lias naturally stirred up detraction. There are who question his claim to any permanent place of honor in English literature ; there are who deny that he wrote in English at all. Let them rave. From far-off and barbarous Ts'ew Zealand I offer my poor wild-flower to lay in homage on the grave of Thomas Carlyle, greatest writer of English in my time. I am not forgetful of Tennyson, Scott, Thackeray, Dickens, Byron, Wordsworth. Carlyle was greater than any of them. His prose-poem, <; flame-epic " '' French Revolution " —though some ininnikin coinpendimnists who undertake to tell the story of English literature do not even give it mention—has not its fellow? among books written with the pen. I admit all Carlyle's extravagances of thought and expression. Nay, I glory in them. They are splendid sin?. No otlier writer was ever able to sin so splendidly, and to my defective literary morality that is an ample justification. Five years older than the century, Carlyle had outlasted his powers, and has long been little more than a mere nominis umhra. In Chelsea, the brilliant historian and essayist was known as "the gentleman who lives next to Miss Cobbe." The '• disease called thinking " had long been over with him, and there is little to regret in his final falling asleep, except that the small critics will take occasion again to damn him with faint praise. Now is done thy-long day's work ; Bold thy palms across thy breast, Fold thine arms, turn to thy rest. Let them rave. May shadows of the silver birk Sweep the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. Thou wilt not turn upon thy bed ; Chaunteth not the brooding bee Sweeter tones than calumny ? Let them rave. Thou wilt never raise thy head From the green that folds thy gr ye ; Let them rave. The p.s. Titan is announced to leave Lyttelton for f his port at 2 p.m. to-mor-row, and may be expected here early in the evening. On Sunday she will make an excursion in the harbor, leaving the wharf at ten o'clock The fare is exceedingly moderate, and. if the weather be fine, a pleasant trip may be anticipated, which will no doubt attract a good many excursionists.

We hope the dairy-farmera will not forget the meeting which is to be held nt the Head of the Bay to-morrow regarding cheese export. Let them come in ruim bers, end prepared with any practical suggestions that may occur tc them. Kemttinber that " Heaven helps those that help themselves •"

Mr Joskph Ivkss, the welf-known newspaper proprietor, thus bids adieu to the people of Waikato :—With the present number the original proprietor of this journal severs his connection with the Cambridge disiriot, after a career in the Waikato brief but stormy. At the outset the Mail was welcomed with a flourish of trumpets ; promises and pledges of the most distinct and definite kind were made lo be, as the event has.proved, deliberately broken, and the dishodorable way in which some have behaved, is enough to shake all faith in human nature. When the paper was published, it was intended to make it a thoroughly independent organ of public opinion'j in this part of the colony, but experience has proved that there are so many wheels within wheels in the Waikato, so many dodges and combinations, so many rings of all kinds, that unless a paper is prepared to become the slave of one and all, its chancee of success are slight indeed There is in the Waikato a greater network of intrigue than is existent in any other part of the colony, and those unwilling or unable to enter the secret circle, may as well give the district best, and try other fields. The rings ot all kinds, the pAwnbroki:ig institution of a certain kind, do not want a paper in Cambridge or else where unless they have the power of pulling the wires, and the writers are puppets that dance to any tune that they inaght think fit to play. In taking leave of the public of the Cambridge district, he does so with pleasure, for the tieatment he has received at the hands of those who chiefly control public affairs Lere has been of the most scurvy kind.

As bearing on the question of cheese export, which is now engaging considerable attention on the Peninsula, we quote the following prices from the Liverpool Mercury of December 25 last. Cheese per cwt —Extra fine 64s to 675, fine, 50s to 60s, ordinary to medium, 40s to 50s. It must be remembered that these prices are for the imported article alone. Irish and American, and do not include English cheese.

The sculling race between Edward Harilan and Elias Laycock for £500 a side, the championship of England, and the Sportsman's challenge cup, took place on Monday last, over the usual course on the Thames, between Putney and Mortlake. The weather was fine, and the water smooth, and the banks of the river were lined with spectators throughout the course. The betting was four to one on Hanlan. A good start was effected. Hanlan commenced with 35 and Laycocic with 38 stiokes to the minute. The Canadian at once took the lead, and was a length or more ahead at Simmons' yard, and two lengths ahead at the mile-post At this point. Laycock made a splendid spurt, and Hanlan's lead was for a time materially decreased, but the latter again rapidly drew ahead, and was four lengths in advance of Laycock at Barness' Bridge. He continued to increase his lead, and reached the winning post several lengths ahead having led from start to finish, and completed the distance in 25 minutes 41 seconds .

The opening of the German Bay side school situated in the Long Bay road was celebrated on Wednesday in a mos ; enjoyable manner. From about eleven o'clock in the forenoon groups of juvenil • accompanied in many instances by the ' elders of the family might have been seen wending their wayto the mountain recesses where the school is situated. As there is hardly sufficient level land about the school to afford scope for the acrobatic evolutions of a fly, the entertainment was held at Mr ChappelPs where some table land exists emminently suitable for the the purpose, and wli.ch was kindly placed at the disposal of the visitors, young and old by its proprietor. About twelve o'clock the youngsters wore regaled wilh a first-class collation, after which sports of various kinds were indulged in, and a variety of attractive prizes was provided for those who proved themselves good at running, jumping and other athletic exercises. The utmost liberty prevailed, and while some of the boys were practising cricket, a number of tho girls and such of the boys whose native modesty could be sufficiently overcome, went in for kiss-in-the-ring. Towards evening another profuse supply of tea, cakes, &? made its appearance, while such of the seniors as cared to partake of it found a more substantial repast awaiting them. As milking time drew near the company gradually dwindled away, only to reassemble, however, in greater force than ever in the evening when a dance was held in the schoolroom at which no less than sixty couples put in an appearance. Mr J. Johnson, J. Rodrigues, and E« Bailey contributed the music, and dancing was kept up with the greatest spirit and enjoyment till daylight. The expenses of the treat for the children and their friends were made up by subscriptions among the members of the committee. All worked witli a will to make the affair a success. and they must feel gratified to think that their efforts wore fully appreciated. The weather was all that could be desired The school itself is a moat superior buiiuing, - being , i'ar and away the best of its kin<l on t!ic Peninsula. The workmanship reflects tho jrroatest credit on the builder. Mr X. Walters, pvc-ythmjj being ! finished in the most cnmi.lote uiiiinu'r. '

The for vf tiliition in. nf the mo«t coMipicrp d>'Si-rijjtion. I'liu total ; cost, inch! , liii.fr i'eii''in, f r. hut of eotmw i exclusive oi' value of wite, has been about j £3GO.

The missing Christchurch mail, due here on Monday afternoon did not arrive till Wednesday. We are informed that it was detained in Pigeon Bay, though how, and by whose fault is left entirely to be conjectured. No effort was made to con\ey it to its destination during the interval between noon on Monday and Wednesday. Nor does there appear to have been any enquiry instituted as to who was in fault. If a case of cheese had been delayed on board one of the steamers there would have been a strict enquiry, but an important mail—officialdom does not put itself out of the way a bit to facilitate its transfer Surely our local postmaster must have sufficient authority to act in such an emergency, and to charge any expenses incurred to the defaulting party. If not, he might have placed himself in communication with the chief office, and thrown the responsibly on therm. If the people of Akaroa are willing to submit to have their mails interrupted for weeks while a steamer is getting painted, and another one left behind without any explanation whatever being vouchsafed, they may expect to have the service interrupted on any pretext, or none at all— and they will deserve it too.

The invincible Australians cricketers have succumbed at last. After polishing off the pick of all the big towns they have yet visited, after making a " holy show ' of Christchurch and its most redoubtable knights of the willow, they have been beaten by an up-country village in the Province of Wellington, yclept Wanganui. Concerning this defeat, the Lyltelton Times says :—•• The Wanganui Twenty-two having put them out for a small score in each innings,] succeeded so well with the bat themselves as to defy the opposing bowling till the required runs had been made with the loss of 11 wickets. One player named Barton made 44 of the 8G required, but he appears to have been let off several times. Curiously enough his was M'Neil's score at Dunedin, and not one in the colony has yet achieved a higher score either against the previous team or the present one. The primary cause of the Australians' defeat appears to have been the roughness of the ground ; while in a secondary measure it was also due to Blackham's absence, and the neces sity of playing one man short. However, we imagine no New Zealander will be sorry, for the honor of his country, that the Eleven are not going to leave the Colony undefeated. If we could not beat them ourselves we are, at least, glad someone else has beer, found able and willing to do so, fluke though it may have been, and will of course be called."

By our report of the proceedings of the Akaroa Borough Council, it will be seen that any action as to the proposed repairs to the main road was postponed in consequence of the absense of a report from Mr Barwick. His Worship the Mayor informs us that this report should have been in in time, as he has since received it, and it bears the Akaroa postmark of the 16th inst. (Wednesday). The cause of the delay, therefore, does not lie with Mr Barwick, whoever it may be.