The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 529, 9 August 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9.

By advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that a lecture will bo delivered on Tnursday evoning next, at the Presbyterian Church, Akaroa. Tho lecturer is tho Rev. Mr Nivon, and ho has chosen fur his subject thegre.it Scottish Reformer, John Knox, described on his tomb as " the man who never feared the fsce of man." Tho stirring and troublous limes in which the subject of tho lecture lived and moved should furnish matter for a highly interesting dissco'iivse.

To-moium.w at noon is the time, and the Road I'nfirdJJ Office is the place, for renominations of candidates for a seat on the Akaroa and Wainui Road Poiird, which has been rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Henry Piper.™

We nre gratified to find that Balguerio street las advanced another stage. Elsewhere appears fin advertisement from the Borough Council, Culling for tenders for the woik. Wo hope the Council will not allow the scheme to fall through this time as was the case on a former occasion. It is well to remember that a work of this kind, though undoubtedly costy at the time, is yet ono that will last for a long term of years and prove a source of credit to the town, and promote the health and convenience of the denizens.

Wls are requested to call the attention t.f our readers to tho entertainment to be given next Friday at the Oddfellows' Hall, Akaroa, in aid of the prize fund of the German Bay Side School. A highly attractive programme has been provided, one feature of which should alone prove sufficient to enlist a considerable amount of support, and that is the dance which is to take place after the performance. We observe the prices of admission have been reduced, and now two shillings and one shilling for front and back seats respectively. Arrangements have been mode to provide for the comfort and convenience ef, those visitors remaining for the dance.

Mr J. D. Garwood has placed at our disposal a letter from Mr Montgomery M.H.R., having reference to the proposed High school at Akaroa. The letter states that the Bill for the establishment of this school has passed the Local Bills committee, and that the second reading will come on on Thursday nest. Mr Montgomery does not anticipate any difficulty in getting it passed. The provisions of the Bill are briefly as follows :—A Board of Governors is constituted to be composed of seven persons, of whom the Mayor of Akaroa for tbe time being shall be one; and two shall be elected by each of the following bodies—the Akaroa County Council, the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and the Board of Education for North Canterbury. The endownment provided for the school in the Bill consists of one half the reserves for secondary education in Canterbury, not yet selected and set apart for any other High school, The annual income derivable therefrom is estimate! at £245- This with the amount derivable from fees should be amply.sufficient for the maintenance of the school.

On Friday last a pleasant dramatic and musical entertainment was given at the Oddfellows' Hall, tbe proceeds of which were devoted to the funds of the Roman Catholic Church in this town. The performance commenced with a sparkling comedy in one act entitled " the young widow." This brilliant little drawingroom piece was excellently rendered, praise being especially due to the versatile valet) and the lively waiting-maid, whose excellent action and spirited repartees elicited considerable applause from an appreciating audience, which reached its height in the dancing lesson ab y improvised by Splash (Mr W. Parsons) and obediently mimicked by Lucy (Miss Burbury). Miss Dilely as Aurelia, showed herself a very charming young lady, whose vagaries and di guise might well provoke tho jealousy of Mandeville (Mr J. Roberts), who proved himself equal to the occasion by insisting first upon blowing out bis own brains, and then upon experimenting on those of his supposed rival. In the second piece, a laughable farco entitled "The two Mrs Whites," three of the performers appeared again, ably supported by Mr Parsons, sen., and Mr Wiggins. The former as Mr Peter White convulsed the audience by his facile contortions and comic byplay ; and us the peppery old uncle, widower of three wives, Mr Wiggins left nothing to be desired, while Mi s Burbury proved herself as much at home in the role of the fascinating young widow as in that of the piquante aoubrette. Miss Cidlen as Kitty Clover, was the very beau-ideal of a shrewd country girl. The singing, which formed a kind of entr'acte between the two dramatic pieces, was very well received, and most of the singers being already favorably known in Akaroa, they were most warmly welcomed. Mrs Stocktr sang '-When tho quiet moon is beaming," and " Her bright smile haunts me still," in a very pleasing manner. Mrs Barry gave the Scotch song, "Caller Herrin " with much feeling. Mr Billens gave us a nautical ditty, and Miss Grange sang "The blue Alaatian Mountains," but without doubt the gem of thee\emng was Matteo's exquisite romance "Non c ver," which was perfectly rendered by Miss Ivey. The performance began punctually at 8, and did not close until nearly 11, and during the whole time there was no hitch or contretemps of any kind. The actors and singers one and all did their best, and there can be no doubt that the audience thoroughly appreciated their exertions, and spent a most enjoyable evening., Unfortunately the larrikin element wa as u.-ual present in the ball. The whistles, cat-calls and frantic encores which proceeded from the. bock, were in as baJ taste

a-i it in |>..-ml> c to i oagoie. though we will ch.Liil.d'y th L lie:}' were tiK'iv.'y inie-i';■ 1a- v.v ■'.;.■: y;,i.tulii eiui;i.isi;l:jm.

A isoat race took place at Pigron Pay on Saturday last, which was the result of a challenge between J. S. Savage and D. Mulholland. The distance was two miles and a half, from Holmes' Bay to the Government jetty and back, and the stakes wore £2 10s a side. The same boat was used for the competitors on each side, and che result was to he decided by the time occupied, Captain Sinclair acting as time keeper. The competitors were 11. Morgan and D. Mulholland against J. S. Savage and 11. White, the former pair winning by ten seconds. The time of the winners was 18min. lOsec, and that of the losers 18mii). 20sec. Great admiration was expressed at the plucky way in which Morgan pulled, he being a youth of only about seventeen years of age. The losers appear not to be satisfied with their defeat and we learn that another challengo is likely to ensu9 in consequence.

With the nest issue of the Akaroa Mail will bo issued the first of a series of supplements to be continued weekly from that. Tho supplements jwill contain exclusively literary matter of high class, eminently suited for family reading. In the first issue will appear the commencing chapters of an original talo by Mr Marcus Clarke, entitled " The Mystery of Major Molineux." Apart from the highly interesting nature of this novel, a special and melancholy interest attaches to it as being a posthnmous work. Since its completion its talented and gifted author has gone the way of all flesh. We hope that our subscribers and friends will kindly recommend to their friends and neighbors the efforts which the proprietors of this journal are making to render the Mail a first class family journal.