The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 549, 18 October 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18.

Crowded out. —Leader matter, corres. pondence, the report of the Inspector on the borough school, and other interesting items, are unavoidably kept over till next issue, owing to the pressure on our space. Supiikmk Coui'.T.—The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, Christchurch, commence this morning. The calendar is not a heavy one. The libel case brought by Mr J. Ivess against Mr F. P. O'Reilly appears to excite much interest. Wainui School Cojimiitei..—A meeting of the committee was held on Friday evening last. Present—Messrs Wright (chairman), Walmsley, McDonald, Bullock, Barrett and Perham. Tenders were opened for several works, and the following were accepted : —For repaiiing fence and making road, T. Brough £1 10s for fence and £4 9s for road. For cleaning school, lighting fire, nnd carrying water, T. Allen £10 per annum.

Akaroa Regttta.—As will be seen by our report, the Regatta promises to be a great success this year. Though few people have yet been communicated with, there is already some £35, either in hand or promised, so that the cammittee will probably have the power,if the rest of the inhabitants respond in an equally liberal manner, to offer such prizes as will induce numerous visitors to attend. Attention is called to the fact that tho first meeting of the committee, which is a most important one, will fie held to-night at the Borough Council Chambers, at 7.30 p.m.

Irish Affairs.—Mr Parnell, the celebrated head of the Irish National Land League, was arrested on Thursday last at Dublin. Numerous meetings are being held in Ireland, at which proposals have been made by various speakers that tenants generally should refuse to pay any rent until Mr Parnell has been released. A special " Gazette " has been issued by the Irish Executive, in which "boycotting" and coercion to join th c League are proclaimed criminal acts. Several further arrests of prominent agitators have been made. Among those now in custody are Mr Arthur O'Connor M.P. for Queen's County ; Mr J. O'Kelly, M.P. for Roscommon; Mr T. Sexton, M.P, for Sligo; and Mr Quinn, Sec. of the Land League. A warrant has been issued for tne arrest of Mr Healy, M.P. for Wexford, and other arrests are known to be imminent.

Not Pleasant. — A correspondent writes :—On Thursday last os Mr Shaskey and his son, residents of Robinson's Bay, were travelling on tbo Okain's Bay Road, on tbe way to their work, their course was stopped by a small white bull, who, although only a yearling, attacked them most savagely. He commenced opera - tions on the senior first, and it was not before he had been severly scratched about and drawn a considerable quantity of blood from tbe animals nose, that he succeeded in beating him off. Finding the elder man too tough for him, the bull next turned his attention to the younger, who up to that time had been busily engaged helping bis father. In return the father helped him, and together they succeeded in making him beat a retreat. It, would be as well for the owner to get him in as soon as he cm, or possibly next time he .ies it on, he may come grief.

The. San Franc-sco M_.il.—This mail arrived on Sunday evening at Auckland* per City of Sydney. Moody and Sanker.—These celebrated American revivalist preachers are making another tour through England. Berard Riding.—Mr E. _?. Chappell announces himself elsewhere as a candidate for the seat for the above riding in the County Council. The Bank of New Zealand.—Mr W. H. Hargreaves has been sent down to take temporary charge of the Bank of New Zealand, Akaroa. Borough Rate.—We understand that a number of the Borough rato defau.ters have been sued, aud that another batch will be summoned in a few days. It is our sincere advice, therefore, to tho-e who have not yet paid, to do so at once to avoid additional expense. Mrs Barry's Concert.—Our reader B are reminded that this entertainment will take place to-morrow evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. Judging by the rehearsals, the preforn_anec promises to be very successful, and \\ ojiear that a great many tickets have been sold. The object is so good that we hope to see every inch of space in the Hall occupied.

Wainui Wharf.—The attention of those interested is called to the necessity of having the lauding stage at tho Wainui Wharf put in a better state of repair. Two of the steps have gone altogether, making it a difficult matter to land at low water. This is especially inconvenient to ladies* and very unpleasant for everybody, and it is hoped no time will be lost in remedying it. Election Rujioks.—There is likely to be a contest for the seat in the County Council for the Little Akaloa Riding. We understand that an requisition is about to be presented to Mr James Boleyn of Stoncy Bay, requesting him to come forward as a candidate. Mr C. McDonald announces that he does not intend to seek re-clcclion for the Wainui Biding.

Obituary.—lt is with regret we recoid the passing away of another old resident. Mr Funnell senior died on Friday night after a short illness. He was working all day on Thursday, and in the evening was light beaded, and it was thought he was suffering from the effects of tho hot sun. On Friday he was seen by the doctor who informed his friends he was suffering from an apoplectic seizure, and he died the same night. At his funeral yesterday there was a large attendance. Deceased has resided hero many years and was much respected.

Mh R. McKay.—On Friday last news was received by the police that Mr R McKay was dead, and Sergeant Willis at once went over to Wainui to take his brother, Mr W. McKay, the news. Mi W. McKay started that same evening, for Christchurch, on his way to tho Bealey, where his brother was lying dead. No news has yet reached us as to the cause of Mr Robert McKay's death, but the Kowai Pass correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes —'• I learn that a. death, supposed to be of a sudden nature, occurred at the Bealey on Friday last* It was that of a man named Robert M'Kay, who has for several years been a drover on the West Coast road, in connection with Mr Andrew Curie, but latterly was engaged as roadman at the Bealey t He was an old soldier, and was formerly a Sergeant in the 93rd Highlanders, and served under Sir Colin Campbell during the Mutiny. He was one of the first at the relief of Lucknow, where he was dangerously wounded. For his services during the Mutiny, he received promotion, and was in possession, on his retiring from Her Majesty's service, of several medals and clasps. No particulars of his death are yet to hand."

Polling Booth yon Okain's Bay.—A meeting of ratepayers was held at the Library, Okain's Bay, on Saturday the 15th inst., to consider the action of tho County Council in debarrieg the rate, payers of tbat district from the privelege of a polling booth at Okain's Bay. Mr Thacker on being called to the chair, said that he was not very well acquainted with the purpose of the meeting, and asked Mr Moore to inform the meeting of their business that evening.? } Mr Moore said that as Chairman of the Road Board, he had taken upon himself to convene the meet-, ing, having observed, as doubtless mos of those present had done, that it was the intention of tho Com.ty Council to have no polling booth at Okain's Bay at the ensuing elections, and he steps should be taken to prevent the ratepayers from being put to this inconvenience. Mr Thacker said that the injustice of this proceeding must be apparent to everyone. He considered it a mere political dodge, and that the effect would be to deprive Okain's of all voting privileges. If only two booths were to be held, they should be held in Okain's, as tbe centre of this district, otherwise ratepayers bold, ing property in both ridings would be precluded from voting. The following resolution was then put and carried unan. imously:—"That the Chairman of the Okain's Road Board write to the County Council, pointing out to them the inconvenience accruing to ratepayers of these districts having no polling booth at Okain's Bay, and asking them to have this wrong adjusted."