The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 31.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 509, 31 May 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 31.

Owing to the necessary length of our reports of Mr Montgomery's meeting, and Mr Bowron's lecture, several items of interest are crowded out, including editorial matter, Resident Magistrate's Court, communication from a Little Akaloa correspondent, Melbourne letter, etc.

We find from the Age, that Drake, a bookmaker well-known in New Zealand, from his participation in the recent prosecution against the totalisator, has been arrested in Melbourne. The alleged offence for which he was " wanted " was assisting with some other knowing ones in easing a certain Verdant Green of some money and a cheque some years ago. Truly a nice young man to set the Vagrant Act in motion !

According to advertisement and public notice, a meeting of the ratepayers of Pigeon Bay Road Board District was held in the schoolroom, on Saturday the 28th inst., for the purpose of electing another member in place of Mr T. Mcintosh. After the notice calling the meeting had been read and the ratepayers present invited to nominate candidates, there were nominated, —Mr W. Paton Jan., by MrG. Cossar, seconded by Mr J. Pettigrew; Mr 11. Firmston by Mr Hay and seconded by Mr Hunt; Mr A. Knudsen by Mr Budua, seconded by Mr G. White. As only one member was required, and as besides a poll was demanded for one of the nominees, a poll was taken. This showed a large majority in favor of Mr Paton, who was accordingly declared duly elected a member of the Road Board in room of Mr Mcintosh. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer closed the meeting. Immediately thereafter was held another meeting of ratepayers, to take into considertion an offer by Mr Holmes of a free grant of land for a road through Holmes Bay, as as against a different route proposed by the Board. The Chairman of the Board presided, and after a somewhat lengthy discussion, Mr Hay of Aiinandale, moved, that the Port Levy road as surveyed by the Board's engineer be taken. The motion was seconded by Mr \V. Hay, In opposition to this, Mr Pitcaithly moved that, as the Board could not meet the expenses which this undertaking, must entail the matter for the present be left in abeyance. This was seconded by Mr Hunt, and on the vote being taken was found to have a majority in its favor.

The Okain's District Road Board were to have had a meeting on Saturday last* The meeting, however, fell through for the want of a quorum. The only members present were the Chairman and Mr Thacker.

Ma J. D. Garwood, Chairman of the Committee appointed to enquire into the practicability of fostering the cultivation of the silkworm, has received a letter from the Chairman of the Industrial Aesociation, Mr Robert Allan. Mr Allan expresses the warmest sympathy with the project and encloses some correspondence which'he has had with the Government on the subject. Elsewhere appears a notification convening a meeting of the Committee tomorrow at the R. M. Court.

The " Loafer" relates the following incident. It could only have happened in Canterbury : —A party here who keeps a select private school came into a Christchurch stationer's shop recently wanting some copy books with the usual head lines. Tho attendant showed him some which were specimens of a good commercial band? and mentioned the fact to the intending purchaser. "Oh no," replied the gay tutor, lt anything commercial would be most unsuitable in my establishment. You see I have none but gentlemen's sons there."