The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 533, 23 August 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23.

The attention of intending shippers or passengers is called to an alteration in the date of sailing of the U.S.S. Company's steamer for the south this week. The Hawea was to have sailed on the usual day, Thursday. Instead of this, the Penguin will leave on Wednesday, as will be seen by advertisement in another column.

On Friday evening last about fifty gentlemen met in Quill's Hotel, Ashburton, where a complimentary dinner was given to Mr Howard C. Jacobson to testify the esteem in which he is held, and the regret which is felfnt hia contemplated departure from the district. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, Mr Hugo Friedlander.

A correspondent informs us that the concert held in tho schoolroom, Duvauchelle's Buy, last Friday evening, for the purpose of raising funds for the purchase of a harmonium for the church in that district, was a complete success; in fact it is generally allowed lo be the best that was ever held in the Bay. Shortly before eight o'clock the people poured in till the room was full from end to end, and many were obliged to stand in the passage. The Rev.'Mr Stack kindly took tho chair, introducing the performers to the audience by a short but effective speech, in which lie expressed his plensure at being able to meet so many at one time of those with whosfc in the future hie duties would bring him into contact, and also expressing great pleasure in seeing that such a great interest was taken in forwarding the object for which tho entertainment had been got up. Under the management of Mr Spurr, of Robinson's Bay, the business of the evening then commenced, Mrs Hewer kindly presiding at the piano. The lady performers were the three Miss Hhadbolts, Miss Hewer and sister, Miss Birdling, and Miss Coop ; the gentlemen, Messrs H. Wallace, W. and A. Shadbolt, and four of Mr Spurr's scholars. The two duets, "Matrimonial Breakfast" and " Very Suspicious," sung b}' Miss Shadbolt and Mr Spun , , elicited great applause. Miss Birdling's song, " A Belle Smiles," and " Remember or Forget," rendered by the Misses Hewer, were very effectively sung, and were evidently well appreciated by the audience. Taking into consideration the fact that none of the young lady performers had ever sung in public before the manner in which they got through tfleir parts deserved the highest praise Mr Spurr's scholars got through thsr..work in their usual successful manner, and were greatly commended by many in the room. The concluding farce, " Advertising for Servants," by Messss Wallace arid Shadbolt, was well done, and drew forth continuous roars of laughter from the spectators. At the conclusion the Rev. Mr Cruden thanked the audience for their kind attention, and had great pleasure in saving that he had never seen a more orderly assemblnge in his life ; he was glad to be able to compliment hie young friends for the manner in which they had conducted themselves, and he now called upon them for a hearty vote of thanks to the lady performers and others who had taken an active part in the evening's work. The Rev. Mr Stack added a few words of congratulation, and the singing of the National Anthem closed the proceedings.

Another fracas oceured at the Liberty offiice on Thursday afternoon. Three residents of Rangiora entered the establishment in quastinn about half past three in the afternoon. They preferred a request ''to see the editor," and demanded the name of the author of a paragraph at which they were aggiieved. The visitors were informed that the editor was out, and they then expressed their intention of "waiting for him." The gentleman sought for di<l not putiu an appearance, and seeing they were denied the pleasure of a personal interview, two of the intruders proceeded to take satisfaction in another manner. They overturned several columns of matter which were ready for publcation, reducing the whole to " pye' , —that is types of all kinds and sizes wixed together-in the utmost confusion. Ono of the men employed on the establishment was struck on the head with an empty " galley " in question, tfee framework being badly broken The noise of the melee attratced the attei - tion of persona passing in the street, and the police were soon on the scene of action. Two of the offenders, Messrs John Tloss.ick and Henry Blaekett, jun., were apprehended and taken to the police station. They were speedily bailed out. On the following , day the two above named and ono John Sausom were brought up at the Police Court to answer for their conduct. The charge was "wilful and malicious damage to type, to tho value of £18," the property of the proprietors of the journal in question. A large number of persona were in Court to witness the proceedings, but doubtless to tho disappointment of a good many, tho case was renianiicd to Wednesday next, on tho application of Air who stated that, as ha had been instructed in (he case only that morning , , ho lud not had time to prepare h > .K.lV;:!. .

A SHORT time .ago we referred to the •intimHy death of one in tho first nnk of Autrnlasian literature, a story from whose

pen is now appearing in our columns. Mr Marcus Clarke. We learn tint it is proposed to issue a memorial volumio, containing selections from his most popular works. The publication will be edited by three brother literateurs of the deceased author, one of whom, Garnet Walch, has also contributed to the columns of the Mail. The proceeds will be devoted to the widow and family of the late Mr Clarke. A subscription list lies at; our office, and we shall be happy to receive subscribers names.

Mrs Fiske, lopresennng the proprietary of the celebrated Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine, is at present on a visit to Akaroa with a viow of establishing a local agency for the sale of these machines. The machines have been shown in every exhibition of note in the world, and have carried off innumerable prizes. It is claimed for them, and we believe with justice, that they are capable of doing more work than any other machine, and at the same time from their simplicity of construction are less liable to get out of order. They will sew any material from kce to lead. The machine in full work formed an attractive feature in the exhibition lately held in Dunedin. Messrs Garwood and Co. have been appointed agents for Akaroa, and the public will have an opportunity of judging of the machine for themselves as it may be seen at work today by Mrs Fiske in their showroom.

Under date Oamaru, August 18, the following cose of brutality is reported :— A case of brutal treatment of a wife has just come to light here - Briefly stated the facts are as follows:—On August 3 the unfortunate woman, whose name is Isabella Augustus, wife of a Swede named Charles Augustus, a laboring man, was confined. Augustus ill-treated her, for several days refusing to permit her to call in a doctor, or to allow her any assistance. This conduct, coupled with threats upon her life, was continued until Tuesday last, when the case of the unfortunate woman became known, and she was removed to the hospital. She waß then found to be in a critical condition. An information was at once laid against Augustus, and he was arrested yesterday on a charge of assault. As serious doubts were entertained of the woman's recovery, her depositions were taken at the hospital last evening, and disclosed a course of brutal illtreatment. Augustus will be brought up this afternoon. The woman died this evening from the injuries inflicted by her husband.

The dramatic entertainment given on Friday last in aid of the funds of the Akaroa Library was a highly successful effair. A capital house assembled, the front seats being , filled shortly after the doors were opened. This is the more noticeable from the fact that no less than three entertainments had been given at the same place within a fortnight, and one took place on the same evening at the Head of the Bay. The performance commenced with a piece in one act entitled "JohnDobbs." The lion's share-of the work in the piece fell upon DrGuthrie, as Peter Paternoster, a retired button-makeer "on a large scale." He infused any amount of go into the part and kept the audience thoroughly amused from first to last. John Dobbs -was impersonated by Mr Wilkins, and his perfect coolness was a very good foil to the superfluous vehemence and energy displayed by his rival, Paternoster. Mr llobinson appeared in a new role, that of an elderly sporting squire, the father of two charming daughters. He was quite at home in the part, and his get-up was capital. Mrs Stocker and Mrs Wilkins were ladylike and interesting as the two daughters aforesaid, and two minor parts were excellently rendered by Mr M. Daly ami Mr W. Parsons. A musical interlude followed, in which Mesdames Stocker and Barry, Misses Grange and Ivey, and Mr A. Lyon assisted. Mrs Stocker and Miss Ivey sang a duet, Miss Grange and Miss Ivey each contributed a solo, while a hunting song, given by Mr A. Lyon, with an invisible chorus, was very well received. The entertainment concluded with the farce " Cool as a Cucumber." Mr Sims's getup and acting as Old Barkins v/as capital. Mr Wiggins essayed the somewhat ambitious part of Plumper, and to judge by the laughter elicited was fairly successful. Miss Cullen deserves ciedit for the piquancy of her acting as the pert housemaid, and Mrs Stocker and Mr W. Parsons made all that could be made out of the somewhat insipid characters they personated. The prompter's aid was called into requisition rather more than is desirable but this was no doubt owing to the Bho'rt time, less than a week, in which the two pieces were got up. On the other hand we must give all concerned credit for not keeping the audience waiting, th. difierent items in the programme following one another with commendable promptitude. Wβ hope our local amateurs will not let their talents lie idle, but will shortly give the public another opportunity of seeing them ; and we would suggest that as their efforts hitherto have been so well received they should attempt pome loftier flight, and give us an opportunity of witnessing their efforts in some of the charming modem comedies which aro delighting numerous audiences in all parts of the British Empire.

Elsewhere appears a notification of the sale by anction olthe furniture imd effiect-s of Dr Gutbrie which takes place to-day. The juiic'es to be off-red include all kinds 01~ furniture and arc of a superior desciij - tion. Mr McGregor will wield the hammer, and we are requested to mention that n consequence of the great number of lots to be offered the sale will commence at eleven sharp.

Mr L. Fan de Salis recently wrote in the S. M. Herald that thero aro " communes in Switzerland where each citizen, so far from paying taxes, draws an income from the public property, and so should it bo in this Colony." " Happy Switzerland!" (exclaims an Opposition paper.) "No property or dog tax, no Major Atkinson, no Dr Wallis, no other form of trouble. Nothing to do but shoot the bounding chamois, call on the Mayor of the commune for the State dividends, and swindle the tourists in miserable hotels.

We regret to have to chronicle a fatal accident which took place in our harbor on Friday evening last. The particulars as far as we have been able to gather them, are as follows :—Four Maoris, namely, Charley Tikau,; Big Jem, Billy Billy, and one named Hipeh, left the wharf in a boat about six o'clock on the evening in question. They were returning to Wainui, having come over lo attend the funeral of Mr J. Thomas. When somewhere about half way across Billy climbed up the mast to fix the sprit, with which something had gone wrong. Those below not keeping their places very carefully, tho boat lurched and filled, two of them, Tikau and Hipeh, being thrown into the water. The two remaining in the boat paddled her towards the shore, when suddenly Big Jem said he was exuausted, and fell over into the water, apparently carrying Billy

with him. The two sank, and were never

seen again. The two remaining in the water retained their hold of the boat, and after a time their cries attracted the attention of some Maori women at Wainui, who put off ,in a punt and succeeded in rescuing them. The assistance arrived onjy just in time, as Tikau was losing his hold when the women came up, and was taken ashore quite insensible. They were taken to the Red House, where everything possible »vas done for them. Both survivors desire through our columns to testify their gratitude to Mrs Tolley and Mrs Tosswill for their great kindness on the occasion. These ladies spared no pains in procuring blankets, hot water, wine, beef tea, and everything that could be thought of as a restorative. They consider they were immersed for two hours, but this probably exceeds the reality. It can easily be imagined that the time would appear interminable to men in their unfortunate position. A melancholy featnie of the sed occurrence is that the cries of the unfortunate men were heard by several persons in Akaroa, but attributed to anything but their right cause. Some thought they were singing, others that

they were quarreling, and others that they were holding a sort of impromptu tangi over the friend whose funeral they had just attended. It is not probable that any action would have been in time to avert the sad catastrophe, but it would have been satisfactory that' every attempt should have been made. One of the victims (Billy) leaves a young wife and family. We understand that a party is being organised among the Maoris to drag for the bodies.