Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 501, 3 May 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

Im accordance with an advertisement a meeting of the Land Sports Committee and others was held on Friday evening last at Druces Hotel, when it was decided to arrange for rural sports to take place on the Queen's Birthday. On a subscription list being opened over £4 were subscribed in the room, and it was also decided to hold an entertainment in aid of the funds on Wednesday the 17th inst. Subscriptions to the Sports can be paid to the Secretary, Mr Tl.os. Grange, jun. Tjik Illustrated Loudon News says a coin over 1000 years old was lecently unearthed in Marsh street, Walthamstow The coin belongs to the reign of Alfred the Great. The milling on it was as clear and distinct as one of George the First's reign which was found near the same place although there was nearly 90Q years dif ferencc in the date of the two coinages. A coitKESPONDENT of a Dunedin paper has the fol'owing re the late tramway accident: —We do things on a big scale in Otago. We have had the biggest mining smash, that at Kaitangata, aud the biggest lire, that at tlu Octagon. We possess the biggest editor (linear measurement) ! and the biggest murderer, Butler • —and now we have fully maintained our reputation by securing the biggest tramway accident. We don't claim any speciaj credit for our pre-eminence. Our greatness lias been thrust upon us. and we boar it with a meekness thai mu-v i:i; ; ir!'. *!:■ j 'illotisy of our less r';i.Vn|-ed 'c i ■:,: i i-.i-1 - , As for the Uoslyn Company, i'm s "»•;• say I've no shares in it, but the i:;:;i;;. holders have my tonderest sympathies What with doctor's hills and actions foj. damages they are likely to lmvo a very lively time of it. Luckily the capital i s ]imited, or we might have a diamond editio. the Glasgnv Bank episode.

A woman aged 104 was arrested in Sydney for vagrancy. She was found wandering in the bush and taken care of by the polic.

Madame Lorn Wilmott, lecturer, spiritmedium, etc., is fond of notoriety, or profane newspaper men call " cheap ads." Lately she horse-whipped an editor in Napier. Now she demands an apology from the Saturday Advertiser and threatens in default criminal proceedings against the proprietors. The editor confides his dilemma to Frank Fudge, who writes thusly thereanent:—At his earnest solicitation I bave burst into song, and the following effusion can bo warbled to the air of that sweet Scotch gem, " Sly Boy Tammy " :— Won't you let us out on bail ? Do, dear Lotti; Do not send us all to goal ; Don't, deaf Lotti. The Tiziut long has boldly stood As guardian of the public good ; Arid folks musl have their mental food, Eh, dear Lotti ? Winks are quite as good as nods, Eli, dear Lotti ? Printers gets enough of Quads, Eh, dear Lotti ? Call us ugly, wicked names, Say we must give place aux dames, Spurn us all, but spare our frames, Do, dear Lotti. Jails arc diamond-cracking schools, Eh, dear Lotti ? And though we're up in metal rides, Eh, dear Lotti ? And often have to use the stone, The (jalleys too, to us are known ; We don't want dungeons dark and lone, Dear, dear Lotti. Surely this affectionate appeal will melt " dear Lotli's" heart. A mkkting of the Banks Peninsula Fanners' Ciub was held at Brooks' Hotelj Head of the Bay, on Saturday, the 30th ulc. ; the president (Mr C. McDonald) in the chair. Considerable discussion took place on Mr Bowron's lecture, the genera! opinion being that the factory system could not be advantageously worked on tbe Peninsula, owing to the want of suitable roads to outlying dairies. At the same time the meeting desired to acknowledge tbe liberality of the Government in pro- ■ looting tbe development of local industry, and wished to impress upon them the desirability of extending the privilege already held out to others to I he -Farmers' Associations ; and in view of giving practical effect to the foregoing view Mr Barnett proposed—"That the Government be communicated with, wiLh a view of ascertaining whether they would extend the operation of the bonus offered to Farmers' Associations, owing to the impracticability of the factory system being adopted on Banks Peninsula, and to allow competition as to values obtained !o be the basis of success." This resolution, on being seconded, jjwas carried unanimously. In regard to the above matter, it was .stated by one of the members that a conmiunica- | tion had been received by the County Council relative to the promotion cf local industries from the Royal Commission, and the reply thereto it was feared would leave doubts as to due consideration having been given to so important a subject. The secretary was therefore requested to communicate with J. Dalglish, Esq., Chairman 1 of the County Council, to ascertain wha had really been done in tbe matter. At this stage of the proceedings a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Montgomery aud Coster and Professor Bickcrtoii for the kindly interest taken by them in the shipment of cheese sent Home in the Orari. The vice-president (Sir W« Barnett) reported that whilst in Lyttelton ho had called upon the agents of the s.s Durham, which was expected to arrive about the end of May, and from them he had gathered the information that instructions had been sent to London to have a compartment specially fitted up for the carriage of cheese aud butter. He considered this to be a grand opportunity, and one which be hoped the farmers would avail themselves of to the fullest extent. No doubt the shortness of the notice given by the agents of the Orari had precluded many large, producers from sending any thing, ami as this vessel would offer such a splendid chance, there being ample lime to get ready, he would therefore move that the secretary communicate with the Agents with the view of obtaining the" fullest information as to the nature of the accommodation and charges. This resolution was unanimously adopted. It was also resolved that should a favorable reply be received from the Government relative to extending the operation of tho bonus to Farmers' Associations, tho secretary be empowered to call a public meeting in Akaroa, due notice of time and place to be given by advertisement in the Mail. A copy of circular rrom the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company was read relative to butter shipments, from whisb it appeared that the cause of the successive failures in the transmission of that article to the Home markets was ascribed to defective package, the heat of tbe tropics, and the composition of the outward cargoes; and it was generally admitted that to the same causes mi.-'bt be \ 111' HltT.:-::, A sfU'IT -il :■':;■■■■.■;>!! -II: '!!:,] U!I j the piovisioTii? ol.' '.h<- ""•'•' V-u■ \i\c Pdll,' ):\>- i! :>."ing th' l ;:'■ nora: i- I '-; i.',at siie-i an j imporii.tiiL measure was not h'keiy to pass ! in the last session of the Assembly, the j further consideration of the subject was postponed. Act oints to the amount, of £5 were passed for payment, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business. I

From Auckland we learn that a tailor at Riverhead stabbed a young girl aged about 19 years, of prepossessing appearance, who had been on a visit to that place. Jealousy appears to have been the cause. When arrested, he confessed to having committed the deed, saying, " I stabbed the girl through love. Koss caused me to do it." The young woman is stabbed in two places, and the sufferer's condition is considered very serious.

Tim Annual Meeting of subscribers to the Akaroa Literary Institute was held in the Library last evening, Justin \yliner, Esq., in the chair. The Cemmittee's report for the past year was read, and was of a highly satisfactory nature. It showod a balance in hand of over £11. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : —President, J. Aylmer, Esq ; Vice-President, Dr Guthrie ; Committee) Messrs Westonra, Bruce, Tosswill, W. 11. Henning, Penlington, C. M. Henning, and the Rev 11. Stocker. At a committee meeting held afterwards the Rev 11. Stocker was unanimously re-elected Secretary.

A "Globe-trotter" in the Saturday Advertiser thus describes his first landing in Dunedin :—" It. was late in 18G1, or early in 'G2, that w r e came down to Dunedin in the barque Mary Scott. Two of our passengers were drowned c "getting ashore at the little jetty at the foot of Stsfford street. We slept on the floor of the Provincial Hotel that night, and Wissenden, Jones's manager, came round with a lantern aud collected three shillings each for the privilege. Some fellow stole my blanket during the night, but I got up and stole some other fellow's, so I was quits." The naivete ot the latter confession comes up to Pepys. A case of " lambing down " is reported from the Hinds, and for once it has been possible to secure a conviction against a publican for supplying liquois to a drunken m.m. It appeals that on Saturday the lGth April, one Robert Cole went to the Hind Hope Hotel, kept by Robert Sittle. He then had £12 in money and a swag. When he came to himself on Sunday he had no money and his boots were gone. He was told he had sold them* Finally he had to sell his clothes to the landlady to enable him to get away. After hearing the evidence the Resident Magistrate said :— '■ There can he no doubt in the minds of the Ben.-h that the case is proven to its satisfaction. It is one of the most disgraceful cases of wdiat is called in slang language "lambing down" that has ever come under my notice, and is a case which ought to be brought before the notice of the Licensing Bench. I shall fine defendant £5 and costs.- It is no excuse that because a man will make a blackguard of himself, you should aid and abet him. It is a disgrace the expense the country has been put to in tbi s man's case, for doctor's ex; ensos in attending him for the last week. I can only say that if the doctor had been produced, I should have added the sum of his expenses to the cost." Bravo, Mr Wood l It is evident, that you have not the fear of the licensed victuallers before your eyes, power though they be in the land.

Sir Gkorgk Gis icy addressed his constituents on Saturday evening. The meeting was held at the Theatre Boyal, Grahamstown, and is described as being a crowded and enthusiastic one. We regret that our sp;.c>; docs not permit us to lay a resume of Sir George's speech before our rcadeis as, like most of the honorable gentleman's utterances, it is well worthy of attei tion. He attacked the Government for tho increased taxation which they had imposed. The Government had promised a mmibtr of measures, and prominent among thorn were Representation and Licensing Bills but he had no faith in the sincerity of the Government m respect of their Representation Bi/1, which they would not go on with, and the Licensing Bill meant nothing, for there had been one every session s-ince he entered Parliament. U.ilcsthe people united to make a great determined effort, (hen be must say the outlook was not hopeful, for in a few years there would be diminished revenue, a decreaso in wages, and less material comfort. They should rigidly insist on equality of rights, and some equality also in their acquisition of land. Under the treaty of Waitangi power was given to sell land for the public good, but it was acquired instead by mdi. vidual greed and rapacity. Land would yet represent the people, and every block meant so many of their fellow r -mcn shackled in practical serfdom, people wdiose destiny would not be their own. There should be no procrastination or faltering with such an important thing as land tenure. Tear up their chaiitable and pauperising Bills and insist on land reform. Why have nominated Laud Boards and workhouses ? No, rather insist upon breaking up estates, such as had been done with those in England, and follow in the wake of France with its admirable peasant proprietary system, in place of creating starving men, famishing women, and half. ;V! ohiliireii. 'iou gave wealth for the

support of tin: n.ce to go in jum.l possess il. am! land must not be locked up. He a:-ked them to aid those who were fighting (heir battle, for the time of election was drawing nigh. Let them do their dn.ty as honest men, ashamed to look no one in the face, and resolved to discharge their functions as citizens and free men. Sir G. Grey concluded] amidst loud, prolonged, and enthusiastic cheering.

At the annual Church meeting at, Little River tho following officers were elected : —Minister's warden, Mr Tyson ; parish icners warden, Mr Coop , vestrymen, Messrs J. and G. Reynolds, and G. Stanbury.

Another murder is reported, this time from Eeefton. A man named John Bell was found in his cowshed with his brains knocked out. A lengthy investigation took place befoie the Coronor, resulting in a verdict of wilful murder against one McGahey. Jealousy is tbe allged cause of the crime, as McGalley's wife had left him and was living under Bell's roof at the time of the tragic occurrence.

At the annual meeting of the parishioners of Prebbelton, Mr J. N. Tosswill generously presented the Church Property Trustees with three quarters of of an acre of land for the use of the Incumbent. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the donor.

YiiSTKiiDAY evening Mrs Burns gave her interesting lecture on " Tom o' Jack's Lad " in the Congregational Meeting-house here, and for the benefit of the funds of the congregation. The lecturer, without any pretensions to literary finish, was terse lo the point, showing how it was possible to make the best of both worlds. Tom o' Jack's lad, the Lancashire pitman, after knocking the colonial seven bells out of all his mates, embraces Methodism, opens a store, succeeds in business, and dies Mayor of his native town, worth £9000. There was a moderate attendance