Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 539, 13 September 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

Borough Council hold their fortnightly meeting to morrow evening. The nor-wester that blew on Sunday had a considerable effect on vegetation but the heavy showers on the same night were most beneficial. The improvements in Balguerie street are beiug rapidly proceeded with, and pro mise to be a gieat benefit to the inhabitants in that locality. At present, however, the mud is rather unpleasant, and wayfarers seem to think the Borough Council are doing evil that good may come.

The Hunt Club Steeplechases at Dunedin were well attended on Saturday. Katerfelto won the Handicap from a field of seven, including Quainby and Win field. For the Maiden seven started, Mr Lang's llona pulling off a capital race. Mr Hart,H Kobin Hood won the Hunt Club Steeplechase, and Mr Perk's Chief, the Hunters' Flat Race- This last race was a complete boil over, there being , £159 in the totaiisntor, out of which only £7 was on Chief. Hβ did the distance, 1| miles, in 2mins 57secs.

Saturday last was the day appointed by the Returning Officer for receiving nominations of candidates for a seat on the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, caused by the resignation of Mr Williams. At the hour appointed, however, no nominations had been received, and the election lapsed. Notice of a fresh election appears in our advertising columns, and nominations will be received up to Wednesday, the 21st inst. It is somewhat inconsistent that, while so many persons are in the habit of complaining of the action of the Road Board, so little interest is taken in tho question of choosing members to fulfil the duties developing upon it. We hope that on this occasion there will be no further failure, and that a man will be selected who will do his best in what we are free to admit is a somewhat thankless office.

A meeting of the Little Akaloa Dairy Farmers was held in the school at that place, on Thursday last. Mr George Bennett, who had been acting as tbeir secretary re the shipment of cheese per shipOtaki, occupied.the chair. The Chairman read correspondence between Messrs Hudson and Ridley, Christenureh, and the cheesemongers in London, in reference to tho shipment of cheese fiom Little Alialoa per Otaki. The correspondence was most interesting : and minute, giving the namos of the purchasers and their remarks regarding the packing and quality. Some of the cheese was pronoimced to be equal to any English cheddar in quality and flavor, but some had sweated a little. The Chairman then read account sale of: cheese. Each ease had been sold on its merits, anil prices had ranged from G2s to GGs per cwt. The Chairman next proceode.l to hand round to each person who had sent cheese, their cash according to their sale note, and all appeared delighted with the amount they had to receive, as they had been expecting a far less pleasant.ending to their enterprise. A long discussion then took place as to the made of packing, from which it seemed very clear that packing in sawdust was the best. Some of the cheese that was tinned did not turn out so well as that packed in sawdust, and the only thing required is to wrap the cheese in sacking to protect it from tho dust. After fur titer discussion those present expressed their determination to send a much ohip-hK-nl; thirf Huunnei , . Aflora vot:. , of thanks to the Chairman for tho very able and painstaking manner in which he had managed this shipment the meeting terminated.

Ouu legislators will lose the reputation they have gained of being the most orderly of Australasian representatives if they eontimie to indulge in discussions like those that took p are in the lloll*o on Friday night, a report of which oppears elsewhere. Few nioint.eisof the House wmiid agree with Mr Seddun's final remark that he was '• agroeiMe."

Mr Hugo delivered an amusing lecture on the Philosophy of Love and Marriage at the Town Hall on Friday. No donbt attracted by the alluring title of the lecture, there was a very aitendance, and the laughter was loud and frequent The phyeioguomies of several gentlemen, including a few well-known citizens, were then examined by the lecturer, many of whose delinentiens of character were considered peouliaaly pertinent by his hearers, though considerable differences of opinion appeared to exist in certain instances. It will be seen by advertisement;elsewhere that Mr Hugo lectures at Pigeon Bay on Thursday and in Akaroa for the last time on Friday evening next.

A meeting of the committee engaged in getting up a testimonial to Dr Guthrie held a meeting yesterday afternoon at Mr Aylmer's office. There were present the Key H. Stocker, in the chair, Messrs Tosswill, Garwood, W. Masefield, Citron, and Wiggins. It was reported that the preparation of the address was in progress. Mr Tosswill stated that he should be shortly visiting Christchurch, and he was requested to select some article suiable for presentation, and to arrange with Dr Guthrie as to time and place for its presentation. From the responses received it was feared that it would he impossible to carry out the original intention of haying a dinner. This decision was arrived at with considerable regret, but was considered uuavoidable under the circumstances.

A meeting of the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club was held on Saturday at Brooks's Hotel, Head of the Bay. There was a moderate attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr W. Barnett, of Lβ Bon's Bay. ' Correspondence was read concerning the late shipment of cheese per Orari, but as most of it as has already appeared in our columns, it is unnecessary to reproduce it. The following report, however, differs somewhat from one already to hand, nnd we therefore publish it. It is from Messrs S. Page and Sons, dated July 11, and runs as follows : —" Wβ have examined 719 cases cheese ex Orari, and tound them to have been very badly damaged by heat. We consider that tl»ere is no difference in the - market value of t'e various marks —valuation 18s per cwt. ,. It will be seen that according to this report the cheese was all in the same condition, whereas a former one spoke of some of it as being '' in a liquid state, etc."' Considerable conversational discussion ensued as to the manner in which the Shipping Company had fulfilled, or failed to fulfil, their, engagements, but it waa agreed to tnke no steps in the matter pending receipt of communications from the company. Mr Chappell moved that the accounts be audited with the view of appointing a pnid secretary. Mr Duxbury said he had no objection whatever, but it seemed to him that Mr Chappell had come there for the purpose of finding fault. Mr Chappell repudiated any such intention, but thought the club was likely to assume such proportions that would necessitate their having a paid officer. The motion was carried. The Chairman thought there" were other industries which the club should do its best to encourage. It was evident that the farm ere on the Peninsula must turn their attention to other things besides cheese and grass seed. He was glad to see that the Government appeared to be willing to give them every encouragement. There was the cultivation of the mulberry for silk, the olive, and other thinge which were being introduced, and which the Government were assisting. Besides these there were other things which he thought the club might assist. For instance, there was the sugar maple. Again he had been shown the seed of a plant, ;i kind of ilax, grown in Norway, and which the people in that country used to make linen from. The club could collect information about these various industries and procure seeds for distribution among the members. Mr Checkley brought the subject of co-opera-tion under the notice of the meeting. He thought they should take some steps in the matter, and would iike an expression of opinion as to whether it would be better for them to start an association of their own, or join tlie one forming , in Christchurch. It was agreed to let the matter stand over till further information was before the club. Advice was received of the arrival in Lyttelton of a shipment of renett, and arrangements were made for it being received.and distributed among the members, Mr Checkley offering to tako charge of and distribute, the Akaron, portion. Same small accounts were passed for payment. In passing- one for Mr Bovvrou's expenses tho meeting expressed its appreciation of the kind manner in which Mr Checldey had ontertaided that gentleman. A resolution was passed that no member of committee should leave tho room without the permission oi :: ■• Chairman, Tho meeting then adjourned, the Secretary being instructed to convene the next meeting in Akaroa, when further advices and accounts ha;} been received as to the cheese shipment.

Our readers will be glad to perceive I thnt the Aloiroa, High School Bill has passed its third reading in the Legislative Council. On a former occasion the second reading was rejected by that body, but it appeared that the forms of the House.allowed it to be brought on again, and yeslerday their Lordships read the Bill a third time. In thus according to Akaroa a share of the small remains of the Canterbury endowments for secondary education, the barest justice has been done. No locality is more unfortunately situated with regard to educational advantages than the Peninsula. In other parts of ths country children can and do travel long distances by rail to attend school, and for these journeys a very low fara is rightly charged. But of course any such convenience is entirely out of the reach of the Peuinsula people, and we therefore think it only reasonable that opportunities for educational purposes should be afforded them to which it might be urged that according to population and importance they were as yet not entitled. The Bill originally provided that Akaroa should get half the endowments as yet unappropriated, the " other moiety being appropriated to Rangiora. "Waimate, however, put in a , claim which was recognised by the House, and the consequence is that the *hare coming to Akaroa represents a present value of about £160 a year, instead of £240. This, however, is sure to increase in value, and is a valuable assistance in any case. It now remains for parents to take advantage of the oppoitunities offered them, and by their hearty co-operation to make the school a thorough success.