The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1881.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 488, 18 March 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1881.

Tmc G't-ielte of, March '10 contains a > notification that Sir Francis Dillon Bell has entered upon his' office of AgentGeneral for the Colony, in London, on Feb. 18. 1881, in place of Sir Julius Vo'gel, resigned. The same Gazette contains an intimation that George Henry Saxton, J.P., has been appointed a member of tiie Licensing Court for the districts of Pigeon "Jay, Okain's Bay, and town of Akaroa } vice 11. H. Feu ton, resigned. The meeting of the Borough Council for Wednesday evening fell through for the want of a quorum. The only members putting in an appearance were His Worship, and Councillors Noonan, Gutberlet, and McGregor. Atter waiting the time prescribed by law. His Worship adjourned the meeling till Friday evening, at 7.30. Numbisus of immigrants are arriving at Newcastle from New Zetland in search of work. A suusciubkr called yesterday and paid his subscription, saying—"Short reckonings make long friends; don't you think so, boss ? " We didn't presume to know anything about the truth of the old adage, and the fact of our having a long list of short reckonings doesn't prove it either.

At the annual rent audit of Mr Gladstone's estate at Hawarden, an announcement was made that, in consequence of the continuance of the agricultural depression, he (Mr Gladstone) had resolved to leturn 10 per cent, on rentals, which, with the 15 per cent remission made at the last audit, amounted to 25 per cent on the year.

An audacious robbery has just been committed (says the Home News) at the Bank ol France. Two women entered the bank for the purpose of depositing securities to the amount of 41,000! : r, and handed tlie papers to a receiving cashier, who proceeded to make out a recipt. While thus engaged he was asked for some information by a man who followed the women into the office ; and during tbe conversation another person came in and carried off a portion of the scrip. Neither tbe women nor the clerk noticed tbe robbery, tbe bitter only discovering some minutes later that some of the securities were missing. The thief was out of sight by this time, as was also the first man who followed the women, and who was probably an accomplice in the robbery. The value of the property stolen was 30 OOOfr.

An Irish lady called on a photographer .0 have a cabinet portrait taken. When ihe artist removed the plate he told her die nee 1 not sit any longer; on coming out of the dark room be found her still boltupright in the chair, with that look of despair on her face peculiar to the photographic pose. " Yon needn't <sit there any longer," said the frightened artist. ''What's that?" she hoarsely whispered, without changing a muscle. "I say you needn't sit there now—l have finished," he explained. " Ain't Ito pay ye a dollar ?" she interrogated, in the same gurgling tone, with ber eyes strained on the mark. "Yes." "Well, thin, do ye mane to say I'm to give ye a dollar for only five minutes in the cheer ? Begorra, I'll have a full tin minits for tbe money, an' that's little enough in all conscience !" And she had it. A Dunedin tradesman,who has probably been bard hit, publishes the following, in which he certainly hits hard again, though probably not undeservablv, some of those who bave "let him in"—"This is to notify, that A.8.C., of street, labourer, carpenter, mason, etc., has this day tiled a notice that he cannot pay for the meat, bread, and groceries he has been living on with his wife and family for the past month or more. Would any man with a spark of honor or courage send such a message to his life sustainers ? No, none but cowards and thieves do these things. No wonder those who give credit cVirge exorbitant prices to make those who do pay pay for those who do not." Jovii sometimes nods, and the leaderwriters of some of the Metropolitan dailies ftccasionally indulge in slipshod English. Here is what a Dunedin contemporary has to say anent the arrival of the Governor in that city :—" His Excellency will therefore readjly understand.that on the present occasion we can only pretend to those feelings of loyalty to the Queen which will induce us at all times to treat Her Majesty's representative with respect.'' The italics are our own, but our contemporary's language runs at least perilously near Oat blasphemy, high treason, etc.. etc. Does he wish His Excellency to unders':and that whatever demonstrations of loyalty he may receive are " only pretence " ?

Various definitions of happiness have have been given since the world began, but here is one which, to us al least, has the merit of novelty. At a meeting held ■i few days ago at Mornington, near Dunedin, to oppose the licencing of two n,;w houses, one of the speakers said be was now connected witb the Good Templars, but he had been the worse for drink a good few times. Whereupon -in enthusiastic individual in the audience exclaimed- " Then you know what real happiness is !" We are not purprised to learn that tbe interupiiou was receive 1 with great laughter.

Thk cabmen of Melbourne bate tbe tramway system as much as diggers do the Chinese. There are more than 700 trucks loaded with grain in Christchurch and Lyttelton at the present time, the scarcity of shipping causing quite a block. Instructions have, in consequence, been issued to tbe station-masters along tbe line to keep back the grain as much as possiole. In consequence of the scarcity of tarpaulins,a great many waggons loaded with grain are nightly placed in the friendly shelter of the Lyttelton tunnel.' Mr J. Baunett, of Leeston, has just threshed a paddock of 23 acres of wheat, yielding 1,404 bushels of good wheat and 232 bushels of seconds ; or an average of little more than 71 bushels to the acre.— Mr Lawrence, of Leeston, averaged nearly 47 bushels of wheat to the acre off about 150 acres. Lirge yields are also reported from other parts of the district. It is reported that it has been resolved to airest Mr Dillon, who, a few days ago, made a violent speech in the House of Commons, iv which he attempted to justify the shooting of landlords by their tenants. Hanlan has arrived at Toronto, where he was received with great enthusiasm. In ti public speech he praised Trickett and Laycock very highly. Hanlan intends to retire i'rom rowing, The coining season in London is expected to he particularly brilliant. The King of Italy is to visit the Prince of Wales, the King of Denmark visits tbe Queen, and Bismarck is to be over i» May; and Gambetta, ths Republican leader, is to return the visit of Sir Charles Dilke, the Radical, and thus preserve the balance, or Communists might be alarmed at this gathering of royalty. The Governor passed through Ashburton on his way South by special train last Monday morning at 9 30. The volunteers did not turn out, as it w..s tbe Governor's desire to pass through quietly, and leave all ceremony till his return on the 24th to open the Industrial Exhibition. A paper, published in Brisbane in the interests of the Spiritualists, apologises in a late issue tor the absence of Lord Byron's poem fresh from tbe author iv spirit land, saying that ho (Lord Byron) has iota Ily forgotten poetry in the spirit woild. Thk Maoris have subscribed £4,000 to cover the cost of the erection of the proposed Waitangi Treaty Hall,and to defray tbe costs in cotmnection with tho sending of Maoris to England, to lay before the Queen the statement of their grievances, which will be discussed at the approaching meeting. Onk is forced to become somewhat apprehensive of tinned provisions (remarks the Brisbane Courier of Feb. 17), as it appears rtwti the contents of the packages are occasionally contaminated by some violent poison in the process, we presume, of soldering up the tin. Particulars have reached us of the dangerous illness of a whole family from partaking of a tin of jam. On last Monday afternoon, Dr Con cannon was summoned to visit a family of the name of Burgess, living in Brooks street, who, it was said, had been poi&oned. On arrival, the Dr found the father rolling about in great agony on the floor of tbe sitting room, tbe mother exhibiting similar symptoms in tlie kitchen, and three children in the garden in a state of semi-insensi-bility. A man who lodged with them was also very ill. The tin of jam, which it was believed bad produced these alarming symptoms, was taken away by Dr Concannon, and the remander of its contents handed over to Mr Staiger for analysis, who believed that it was contaminated with chloride of zinc. The remedies administered relieved the different members of the family, but Mrs Burgess is still very ill, and the others are much shaken by their severe attack. According to the Melbourne correspondent of the Cornwell Argus, the latest chit-chat it> fashionable circles is that the eldest son of the Marquis of Normanby is to be married at an early date to Miss Blanche Clarke, daughter of the Hon. WJ. Clarke.

An exchange says :—" We have known men who never saw a University, and yet were accomplished, highly-educated men, and we have kpown graduates of Universities who were simply stupid asses." This is not very complimentary, but it is nevertheless true.

HiCNRY Taylou, formerly in the employ of the South Australian Government, bas submitted to the Agent-General a scheme for making the resources of the Colonies better known, by collecting exhihits of wheat, flour, and meats, and showing them in all the principal towns of the United Kingdom.

Tun following is a verbatim et literatim extract from the letter ot the secretary to a local school bo'rd in a country town to a firm in Sydney :—'• I am desirious of Being informed whether you would supply me with four .school desks, to Be Capable of holding 6 (six) children with iron legs and cedar tops and what tlie freight would be v ; also the price of iron legs euch if you would sell them or without tlie wood." The firm replied that they had no children of the kind described, and always sold whole those they had.

The Duvauchelle's Bay Lodge of the 1.0. G.T. propose holding a y ea and entertainment this evening at the schoolhousej Duvauchelle's Bay.

The Assessment Court for the Pigeon Bay Road District will sit to-morrow at the eehoolhouse, Pigeon Bay.

Wis would remind our readers residing in French Farm and Okain's Bay Ihut meetings will be held in those localities on Monday evening next, for the purpose of electing school committees, the householders having failed to perform that duty on the date originally fixed. It is to be hoped'that on this occasion parents will show sufficient interest in their children's education to attend and secure good

working committees.

An accident, which fortunately was not attended with worse consequences, occurred on Wednesday last to Mr George Armstrong, jun. It appears he was driving a horse and cart down the hill from his father's mill, when by some means the animal took fright and bolted. Mr Armstrong managed to throw himse.f from the vehicle, and escaped with a few bruises and a good shaking. The horse, meanwhile, bolted down Balguerie street, and turned into Lavaud street, but its course was arrested opposite Rodrigues' Hotel by Mr G. Fleet, b/jfore any further mischief was done.

AN adjourned sitting of the Assessment Court for the Borough of Akaroa was li3ld >esterday at the R.M. Court. The name of W. Percival was ordered to be inserted on the roll as owner and emipier of live sub-sections of section 39, in lieu of that of T. I. Joynt. With regard to the other three sub-sections for which the valuer sought to have the name of F. W. Moore inserted as occupier, the Court directed tbe word " owner " to be inserted. The various alterations having been initialled, the roll was then signed.

It is rumored that Sir Garnet Wolseley is to be raised to the peerage for his distinguished military services.

The Melbourne Market Committee recommend the acceptance of the tender of the Victorian Electric Company for illuminating the market by tbe electric light.