Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 510, 3 June 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

The English and American Mails via San Francisco were delivered in Akaroa last evening. There was a fair attendance at tbe Waimato Steeplechases on Wednesday, and the racing was good. The Agent won the Handicap.

Tuesday next at noon is the time, and the R.M. Court, Akaroa is the place appointed by Mr Aylrrior for hearing, and determining all objections to the Electoral Roll for 1881-2 for the County of Akaroa. At the same time and place the Licensing Court will be held. Only one notice of application for a new license has been lodged, and that is by Mr Firmston for a wine and beer license for his refreshment rooms at Pigeon Bay.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of two pamphlets. One is entitled " University Reform, the Inaugural addrcssfor 1881, delivered at Canterbury College, New Zealand University, by Professor A. W. Bickerton." The other is a paper on the New Zealand Public Works Policy of 1870 considered specially with reference to the settlement of the Crown Lands and tlie incidence of taxation. The author is aMr 11. J. Scaly, aud the paper was originally read before the Timaru Debating Society. We hope to be able to notice both publications at length in an early issue. The latter especially opens up questions of the most vital importance.

Rather a good story reaches us concerning a roadside hostelry not a hundred miles from the boundary of the County of Akaroa. One morning lately while the andlord was meditating sadly on the scarcity of swaggers with substantial cheques and the cruel practice indulged in by some horsemen of iiding past without stopping to refresh—their steeds, there suddenly appeared upon the scene the Christchurch coach. There was a fair complement at' passengers and on the box sat a gentleman not unconnected with the sheep trade who can put himself outside a whisky straight as promptly as here and there one. Boniface'hastened to the side of the coach to receive and execute orders. " Bring us a jug of water aud four clean glasses" cried the shoepist. Boniface hastened to obey expecting a further order for something to qualify the water. Judge of his disgust, however, when his customer produced a flask of whiskey from his. breast pocket and proceeded cooly to help himself and friends. ■' Well, I am blowed," said Boniface (only he spelt the word with a D) "if that isn't as cool a bit of cheek as ever I heard tell of." However, he saw he was had, and made the best of it, joining in the laugh against himself, and accepting a drink of tlie smuggled whisky. Some few days afterwards three wayfarers, intent on road business, entered the same hostelry, sat down in the parlor rang the bell, and also asked for "clean glasses and a jug of water." For a moment the host turned, as if to execute the order, when something seemed to strike him, and he exclaimed—" No I'm d d if 1 do. I don't mind obliging but this is hardly the cheese." A roar of laughter convinced him that his guests had simply been taking a rise out of him, and a bona fide order being given harmony once more prevailed. But we understand that up to the present time it is hardly safe to breathe a word to that publican about "clean glasses."

Concerning North the champion sweep and consultation man of tho Colony a telegram from Auckland gives the following information. A young man named Carlton, who arrived by the mail steamer, and went on in her to Sydney, related to Mr Fisher of the Occidental Hotel, an accouut of a conversation he had at San Francisco with North, the Wellington levanter, shortly after the former arrived there by the last mail boat. He said that the first Sunday ho was at San Francisco ho visited Woodward's Gardens, in order-to see some sports going on, when he was surprised to perceive North there in company with a man named Street, who runs a large saloon. Ho went up and shook hands with him, and after the interchange of the usual commonplaces, North enquired, what was thought of him in New Zealand when Carlton replied that he had completely ruined tho Sweep business there. North appeared to be very jocular, and ho several times remarked in a tone of great glee, "Didn't I give them a start. I intended some clay to do it." lie professed his willingness to pay anyone whom he should drop across, and said that his wife and family were 100 miles up the. country, that he had cleared out of Wellington with £4000, and that he was then on bin way to tho Cape. Ho intended, howover, in going through the States, to lecture on the evil consequences of gambling, and the disastrous results entailed upon young men by a weakness for sweeps. Carlton drew attention to the slightly pock-pitted appearance-of his face, and hi explanation North said that on reaching Honolulu he went ashore ami intcviewed the King, v\ i. - : .;.;■-•;■ gloriously drunk with him and caught the small pox, which was raging there at the time. He was put into a pest-house and kept confined there for. a month. He bade Carlton goodbye, after desiring him to tell his New Zealand -friends} that ho intended coining hack and giving them another turn some day.

We havo to thank the purser of the Penguin for files of northern papers. The judgment of the Court of Enquiry into the wreck of the Tararua will be given to-day. It is understood that it will be very exhaustive. By our telegraphic advices appearing elsewhere it will he seen that a French horse has again seemed the blue ribbon of the English turf—the Derby. Ma Montgomery, the member for the. district, »vill deliver an address at Pigeon Bay this evening, and at Little Hiver tomorrow. We understand from the Mayor that he has received a letter from the Council's agent at Ashburtor, containing an offer for the lease of the remaining portion of the Ashburton Reserves. We understand that His Worship took immediate steps to call a special meeting of the Council to consider tho proposal. The meeting will take place on Monday evening.

We rejoice to iind that the Cruelty to Animals Act is not to be allowed to remain a dead letter. The other day an inhuman wretch was sent to goal for two months by the Bench in Christchurch R.MCourt for cruelly illtroating a horse. He had spurred and flogged the poor animal till it dropped dead. By way of defence (?) the brute suggested that the liorse was ill when he started ! Whether the Magistrates considered this an aggravation of the offence we are not informed, but the result was as already stated. It would be well for persons inclined for this pastime to remember that they lay themselves opoen to six month's imprisonment by its indulgence.