Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 494, 8 April 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

The date of sailing of the Union Steam Shipping Company's s.s. Hawea, advertised in our columns to leave for Lyttelton and the North on Tuesday nest, has been postponed, in consequence of her having to go into dock at Port Chalmers. She will sail on Wednesday next, the 13th inst.

Tiie Auckland Observer is responsible for the following paragraph :— " The Lyttelton Times believes that the defeat of the Australian Eleven at that hole-in-the corner place Wanganui was a genuine affair. The Times is verdant — very verdant. If the writer of the Times paragraph had been in Auckland when the Australians were here he would have known that one of the team had a slip of paper in his cap on which were tho names of the Auckland men. This paper, which was shown to several persons before the match commenced, indicated the men who were to be put out for duck's eggs, and also those who were to be allowed to score. Amongst the latter was Buckland, with the exact number of runs he was to make. There is but little doubt that the i.sue of many of these matches depends a great deal on how tho money is placed."

Taking 1000 well-to-do persons and anothur 1000 of poor persons—after five years there remained of tho prosperous, 943; of the poor, only 655. After 50 years there remain of the prosperous, 557 ; of the poor, 283 ; at 70 years of age there remained 235 of the prosperous, and of the poor G5. The average length of life among the well-to-do was 50 years, and among the poor, 32.

We observe that the Akaroa Lodge of Oddfellows intend celebrating tlieir anniversary by a picnic to be held on Monday next on the reseive behind Mr Leprous forge. The day's sports will wind up with a ball in the evening.

The Akaroa wharf presented a lively appearance yesterday morning, when the s.s. Akaroa was alongside taking in the first shipment of cheese despatched under the auspices of the Farmers Club. A larger quantity came forward then had been anticipated, the Akaroa having collected 302 cases and 46 loose cheese fr 'm Akaroa, Duvauchelle's, and Robinson's Bays. From this wharf she proceeded to Wainui where 40 cases wert- awaiting shipment. This with the quantity forwarded from the bays on the eastern side of the Peninsula will make the shipment up to fully 50 tons. Several of the dairy farmers took the opportunity of having a run up to town with their produce, and Mr Gr. Checkley proceeded with the shipment on behalf of the association.

Whatever else is clone, or left undone by the Borough Council, now that body has the charge of the wharves, let us hope that they will take measures at once to provide a light that shall be of some use to msters of vessels coming in at night. The present one is most bewildering and misleading, for as soon as they open out the white light, there is nothing to distinguish it from any of the beach lights. One vessel Was lately making a bee line for Kissel's shop, and we hear of another ancient mariner whose bowsprit came very near making a hole in one of the windows of Brace's Hotel. The mariner in question, however, thought he recognised the 'locality somehow, and managed to take his bearings so as to be able to drop the "hook" in the right place. Then again we hear of a lecal famine in matches caused by the number used by Mat Wight in signalling to the Akaroa on her arrival on Wednesday evening. Seriously, something should be done, and that promptly. '• If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly."

We learn that the freight on the cheese shipped by the Orari has been fixed at Id a lb. Considering (he (rouble and expense the company has gone to in fitting out a special compartment for.the cheese, this must be considered decidedly reasonable.

We havo been shown an extraordinary "murphy" grown by Mr M. Sullivan. This wonderful tuber weighs no less than 31bs 12 ozs. Wo believe it is to be sold in lots to suit purchasers.

The following case should, act as a warning to local bodies and those haying business transactions with them. On Wednesday, at the Resident Magistrate's Court Christchurch, in a case under consideration, a paper was produced, which purported to be a contract made with tbe Avon Road Board for road-making. It was necessary for the party sueing to prove the contract before the merits of his case could be touched. Great therefore, was his trouble, and that of his counsel, when counsel on the other side objected to the document, or any evidence deducible from it, being received. It had three defects. It was not stamped, the specification had not been signed, and it did not bear the seal of the Board. It was submitted that it was doubtful whether or not the first objection could be got over by paying a fine, but there could be no mistake about the others—they were fatal. The Magistrate concurred, and tho case went no further, plaintiff having to pay a good round sura in costs, expenses of witnesses, and solicitor's fee.