Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 516, 24 June 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

A telogrurn lias been received by Mr Cullen from Father Donovan, stating that in the pt'.s.ut state of hi:; lieaKb and tho weather _his medical fYY.ei declines to allow him to come to A.karca, Tho services advertised for Sunday «re therefore indefinitely postponed. i Th. numerous friends of Mr _\ Birdling will bo sorry to learn that he mot with, a severe accident while out pig hunting with some friends on Lake View Suiiior; Lake Ellosmero, one day last week. Tho accident quite incapacitate. SI. Birdling from moving about, and he was hro.ighi: j into Akaroa last Wednesday, and now j lies at WagstatFs Hotel under Dr Guthrie's ,' treatment, '

We are informed that the ballasting and platelaying on tho Little River Railway is to bo proceeded with at once, and completed as far as tho present formation extends. Mr Coates intends to commence the work on Monday next, and Mr Coop is at work cutting sloepeis for the job.

Mn Montgomery has promptly replied to the telegram sent yesterday from tho Joint Committee to the Akaroa County and Borough Councils in reference to " The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1881." He wires to say that the suggestion of the Committee will have his best attention.

The benovolent lampist. have received another rude shock. On Wednesday evening, a little after ten o'clock, when tbe Borough fathers bad got over their evening's deliberation and bad started on their way home in tbe hope that they were to pass the dreaded beach wall in a blaze of cheap kerosene. Their surprise was considerable when they found the lamplighter had paid them the delicate compliment of extinguishing the lamps in question an hour and a half before the specified time, for tbe purpose, it is supposed, of testing the ability of Councillors finding their way home in the dark—a feat which so far as we have heard was successfuly acomplished in spite of tho lamplighters little joke. It would be handy for the public if that functionary would kindly iurnisb them with a registrar of his proposed little freaks.

On Monday last a fair show of drunks were brought before the Court in Christchurch and fined, " the Bench expressing surprise at the accused being able to obtain liquor on Sundays." The Chairman of the Bench was John Ollivier, Esq., and there is no record of bis having moved a muscle of his countenance while uttering the above highly proper sentiment. It was not intended as a joke, and the policemen present did not indulge in loud guffaws at His Worship's innocence. Now what •' genial John" does not know about the Christchurch whisky mill is not woith trying to learn, and among this knowledge is Certainly included the fact that ' surprise " might well be excited ot the discovery of a single one whore a solvent person could not obtain liquors all day long on Sundays. But it is proper to ignoro all this, and endeavor to stamp out Wicked Marks, and impious Forsler who supplies Sabbath feeds. Verily if "hypocrisy is the tribute which vice pays to virtue," tho latter lady must draw such a large supply from Christchurch as to be able to leave the rest o. us untaxed.

Ijimkdiatei.y after tho breaking up of the public meeting in connection with the Horticultural nnd Industrial Society, elsewhere reported, the Mayor, Mr Garwood brought under the notice of those present the great incr.se of sparrows in the neighhood of Akaroa, i. some steps were not taken soon they would develop into an intolerable nuisance, and it would be impossible to cultivate gardens or grow fruit. Tho same evil results would no doubt be found to exist in the outlaying districts of the Peninsula. He bad heard a farmer say that it required twice the usual quantity of seed to sow a given ait a of land. At tbe same time it was only by united efforts that they could hope to eradicate the evil. It was no use ono person laying poison and his neighbors not doing so. The published results of the Tai Tapu Sparrow Club were rather surprising, no less than 52,000 eggs and GOOO young b'rds having been destroyed during the past season. A suggestion was made that a largo quantity of poisoned wheat should be ordered and those having crops gardens make use of it before the sparrow hatching season in spring. Several other gentlemen present expressed themselves as in dread of the sparrows and hoped steps would be taken to form a club havfor its object the dealing with the small bird nuisance in a systematic manner. The Mayor said be had been induced to make the above remarks in the hope that by publicity being given to them the attention of tbe public would be drawn to tbe subject.