Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 493, 5 April 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

In response to advertisement in tbe Mail a largely attended meeting of The Banks Peninsula Farmers Club was held at Brooks' Somerset Hotel, on Saturday last. The President, Mr C. McDonald j occupied the chair, and after the minutes of last meeting ware read and confirmed, briefty stated that he was lglad to see such a large gathering, which was a convincing proof of the deep interest taken by farmers and others in their organisation and its object, They bad met that day to arrange matters of detail in regard to their first shipment of dairy produce, and in response to a telegram received from Mr Coster, which had already appeared in the Mail. He hoped that notwithstanding the very short notice given them and which precluded large producers like Messrs Narbey and Rhodes Bros, from availing themselves of the present opportunity) that a very large quantity might yet be got ready and sent home in the specially provided compartment of the good ship " Orari." A letter was read from W. Montgomery, Esq., showing the result of a conference held in Christchurch on the subject of reducing temperature, and explaining ProfessorJl-ickerton's plan thereof. Letters were also received from Messrs Jas. Daly and B. Shadbolt, promising tbeir support and regretting their inability to be present. Reports were handed in from tho members of Committee for the various localities, from which we gather that the quantity ready for shipment next week would be—from Le Bon's Bay, 11 tons ; Pigeon Bay, 1\ tons ; within the basin surrounding Akaroa Harbor, 20 tons ; and a quantity from Port Levy and Okain's Bay. A member pointed out that these qunntities were by weight, whereas by measurement they would appear more. Each person was requested to brand his own cases and number them from one upwards consecutively, also giving the weight on each box if found practicable, A reoolution was also passed that only tbe nett weight as received from home would be paid for. The s.s. Akaroa had been chartered to convey the Le Bon's Bay portion on Monday, and the Hon. Secretary and Messrs Goodwin and Hunt were empowered to charter a steamer to convey the Akaroa portion, which will have to be ready on Wednesday night or early on Thursday morning. Members of Committee were appointed to superintend the shipment at tho Government jetty, Head of the Ba}', Wainui, Robinson's Bay, and Akaroa. The Hon Secretary was empowered to attend to the shipment in Lyttelton. An account for printing and advertising was passed for payment, after which the meeting adjourned till Saturday the lGth inst., at the same time and place. In the proclamation defining a shooting season for native game quail are mentioned among the birds which may be taken or shot. It should be distinctly understool that the native quail only are referred to. The imported Californian quail arc protected under the Act of 1880. As will bo remembered some of the latter birds were procured and liberated on the Peninsula some two years ago. The native quail are extinct, at any rate in the eastern part of this Island. It is hoped that a chance will be given to tbo Californian birds to establish themselves thoroughly, when they will afford capital sport.

A Christchurch weekly is responsible for tho following. The trick related is aD old one, and if the barman in question is a fair sample of his professional brethren, he must be a touching specimen cf the survival of faith in human nature through a career tending to shake such charming confidence :—" An ingenious fraud was perpetrated on one of our well-known publicans the other day. A seedy-looking gentleman with a big coat walked into the bar, looked all round him, and asked for half-a-pint, putting down the necessary spangle. Presently he pulled a glass brandy flask from his pocket and requested the barman to fill it with whiskey. This done, tho seedy individnal replaced the bottle iv his pocket, and made for the door, merely saying,' I'll cnll in the morning and pay you for this!' But the barman wasn't ' on,' and replied that if he didn't bring tbat whiskey back at once he'd give him in charge. The seedy one sorrowfully returned, pulled the bottle from bis pocket, put it carefully on the counter, and remarked in an injured tone, ' Oh, very well, if you won't trust me, I'll leave the stuff here while I go home and gel th c money.' A few moments after the barman was heard talking English in a horribly expressive manner. The seedy one had palmed off a flask of water upon him, having bad two flasks alike, one full and the other empty, in his pocket."

A vessel called the Sydenham has lately arrived in Auckland. Iho local " Jeames " thus gushes about her passengers :— " Many of the Sydenham's passengers are members of the Wesleyan Church. The passengers are most respectable, being principally persons of more or less capital." Members of tho Wesleyan Church and possessed of capital ! Could the Cockney ideal of " respectable" farther go?

Tiie returns of the Registrar of Births Deaths, and Marriages for the quarter ending March 31, 1881, are as follows:—, Births. 38 ; Deaths, 7 ; Marriages, G.

Says "Touchstone " ia tho Saturday Advertiser:— A now edition of " Great Expectations " has come out in Dunedin. Some of tbe subscribers to the Athenseun. expected for ninepence a month, or tioopence halfpenny a week, a comfortable hall, fire, and gas, with a profuse supply of magazines, scientific journals, illustrated papers, and ordinary newspapers, English and American, and called a meeting to consider the matter. These twopence halfpenny expectations have been very properly disappointed.

Another sweet little turf swindle has just been perpetrated at Auckland. It is a little more bare-faced than the usual run of Hich transactions in that the horse tbat ought to have won bad to be pulled up into a walk to allow the other to pass him! Here is the local account of the affair :—At Panmure (Auckland) races there was a scandalous scene in connection with the Handicap, of 25sovs. Before the race came off, rumors that "dark riding " would be attempted in the case of Golden Crown, were freely circulated, and considerable interest was, therefore, taken in it. A fairly good start was effected, and Magician quickly took the lead followed by Flora, Golden Crown being last. At the back of the course Golden Crown being let out, assumed first place, but immediately afterwards he collided with a post, which was knocked down by liia shoulder. Magician and Flora went ahead, and it appeared to spectators that Golden Crown was being pulled. At the corner of tbe last round Magician would not turn, anu ran some distance off tbe course, followed by Flora. Golden Crown continued alone, but after proceeding nearly 100 yards he was pulled up into a walk until Magician had passed. He then started off again, and the crowd expressed their disapprobation by hooting and hissing Magician led during the remainder of the distance, and won with about two lengths to spare. The conclusion of the race was the signal for the commencement of a most exciting but disgraceful scene. The matter was brought before the stewards, when it was decided that Magican should take first money, Flora second) and Golden Crown be disqualified out of the race on account of dark riding. It was the opinion of the stewards, that all bets on the event should be declared off." The last clause of this decision is the best thing we have seen. If honorable men would determine not to pay bets when a proved swindle had been perpetrated, the days of the ring thieves would be numbered.