The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 555, 8 November 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8.

Modkl Yacht Rack.—Tnia ra<;e takes place at 11 a.m. to-morrow. Entries close at 8.30 p.m. to-nighL

Barry's Bay Store.—Messrs Broderick mill Co. announce they have opened ft general and druggist's store in Bairy's Bay.

He n op tick Bay Ua<;e3.—The prognun u> oL : these nrcs will bo found in auothsr \>\.n o: thn Uv\e. They will be run oa Aij.kUy, Ujjo.n'jvJf 23th.

Tic i)i-:'ts.—T.''iiti'T« ! «iv invited 'iy the (Joii'-tv (1.-iiiPil for 1000 dog collars for Ix- \«.r 18W

/ karoa Plir.H School Board.—Persona !c-ir us of becoming , members of the Akaroa School Bo<rd are requested to i'onvi.nJ their full nnines to the Oh'tk of t c Aksiroji County Council, on or before November 22nd.

Wainui.—Mr Nicholls gave an entertainment, consisting of the exhibition of a number of views with tho aid of a magic lantern, at the Wainui echo .Iroom, on Friday evening "last. Those present seemed uinuli delight -d.

Prince of Walks' Birthday. — The Post find Telegraph Office.", Aknroa, will be dosed to morrow (Wedneshv) on act omit of tho Prince of Wales' Birthday. No letters will be -orteii or given out till tho following uior.iing.

Electoijal.—Mr K. S. Chappell notifies elsewhere thut he will address the electors of the Berard Rising at the Head of the Bay, on Saturday next, and at the Town Hall, Akaroa, on the following Monday. Mr T. S. Baker will address the Wainui electors at the French Farm school, on Monday evening next

Masonic—At a meeting of Masons' held at Bruco'a Hotel on Saturday it was arranged that the consecration of the Masonic Lodge an 1 installation of officers would take place on Nov. 16. The D.D.G.M. Bro. Thompson, assisted by past masters, will officiate. The Lodge is to be called tin P.ioenix. A banquet will take place after the ceremony.

The Contest for Berard. —Mr Wm. Taylor Maseh'eld, one of the candidates for the Berard Riding seat, publishes elsewhere his views on County Council matters. He states th.it he thinks that in doing so they will be more generally known than if he called a public meeting, at which comparatively few would be able to attend. We may point out in reference to the last s ntenc of his address, tint there will be a polling booth for Berard Riding at Mr Waec-kerle's, A aroa, and another at the Head of the Bay.

Aerated Water and cordial Manufactory.—Mr Campbell Brown has commenced business as a manufacturer of sodawater, lemonade and cordials. He has commodious premises adjourning his bakery in Church street, in which he has erected a machine containing all the most modern improvements by the celebrated makers, Hay ward Tyler and Co. The place is beautifully clean, and the specimens we tasted of the cordials mid aerated waters, were excellent. The machine can turn out thirty dozon of soda or lemonade per hour. We wish Mr Brown success in his new enterprise, and have no doubt his cooling drinks will be much sought for in the coming hot months.

Destruction of the "Reach Arms by Fiue.—lt is with regret we record tlie total destruction of the Beach Anns by fiie on Friday morning last. As nil travellers by coach between Ak>m>,i and Christehurch know, the " Beach Arms," commonly called '' Wascoe's," was an hotol, situated at the head of Lake Kllesmere. It was an old fashioned comfortable looking Inn, with greit gum trees in front, and capacious stables mid stockyard adjoining. The hotel was originally built by Mi Bird ing, whose property it was at the time of the fire, but Mr Franks was the licensue for a, long time, and latterly it has been kept by Mr George Wascoe. On Thursday night Messrs Hugh Buchanan, Kihvard H<iy, Wright, and another border, two hawkers, and the landlord, were the sole occupants of the house, as Mrs Wascoe had gone to Akaroa to get a woman servant. When they retired to reft everything was quiet, and at two o'clock Mr Wascoe was called up by a traveller, had a diink with him in the bar, and then went back to bed. About an hour or an hour and a half afterwards Mr Wascoe's dog, a black and tan collie that usually slept on a mat outside the door, came to his bed-side, having forced open the door, which had providentally not been closed tightly. Mr Wascoe was at first vexed with the dog and rcpu'sed him several limes, but this only made the animal more persevering in his attempts, and at last in spite of blows and remon stances, he succeeded in thoroughly awaking his master, who getting out of bed was horrified and astonished to find (limes proceeding from the kitchen. The holism was old and burnt like tinder, and Mr Wascoe had bare Iy time to arouse his lodgers before the whole building was a sheet of flame. No one had time to save any clothes, and Wright was so hard pressed that he could not get through the door, but had to sinish the window frames and leap out. The unfortunate persons thus rendered homeless in a few minutes, and with hardly a stitch of clothing would have been in a bad plight indeed, had it not been that the two hawkers, who were stopping in the house, had left most of their goods outside, and so were able to furnish them with a temporary supply. When it was ascertained life was safe, an effort was made to rescue property. An attempt was made to batter open the bar door, but thanks to Mr Wascoe's secure fastenings, and top and bottom bolts, ir was for a long time unsuccessful. However, at last, by means of using a form like a battering ram, the panels were smashed in, and Mr Wascoe succeeded in snatching , out «. little oasU box which contained tlmt day's takings. The moment after, however, the place was a sheet of flames, and had to be abandoned, and in about 20 minutes from the time the alarm was given the Beach Arms Hotel with its fourteen or liteen rooms was a heap of ashes. The fire is a heavy loss to all concerned. Mr Birdling had the building insured for £500, and Mr Wascoe had insured his furniture and stock for £500, but this is calculated at not being more than a third of their value. Besides this, Mr Wascoe states that there »vero some £200 in the ca>h box, and it is reported Mrs Wascoe had a box containing £80 under a cheffonier in her room. Those staying in the house are also great sufferers ; all lost their clothes, and Mr Buchanan a gold watch which cost £55, and a heavy gold chain. He discovered them in the form of a shapeless lump of metal some hours after the fire. The hawkers too lost some £22 worth of stock, which was slowed away in the liar. Had it not been for tho intelligence of the dog, there would have probably been a loss of human life, for the flames spread with such rapidity tlmt death would have almost instantly followed awakening, if the alarm had been given a few minutes later. The stables and yards escaped. The heat was so intense that the water in the tanks was si-ading hot when the coach passed the following d.iy.

Crowded Out.—'lbis pressure on oiu , advertisement •'pace co r pels us to leave out inn h interesting matter.

Okain's Bay.—A meeting of ratepayers was held in tho Library, Okain's Bay, on November 3, in accordance with advertisement in this paper, to consider the question of stoppage of the old road from Mr Callaghan'e house to Hill Top. After considerable discussion it was resolved to apply to the County Council to have this road stopped, as it was considered of no pervice to the district. There was only ore dissentient.

Tun Regatta.—There is a prospect of good coir.petii on at the ensuing Regatta. There will probably be four yachts entered one of which will be from Wellington. Representatives of the Canterbury Rowing Club, Union Rowing Club, and Lyttelton Rowing Club will probably go for the two principnl pulling races. Support hag been very freely accorded, and given fair weather, a great success may be anticipated. The Penguin s.s., will be laid on from Lyttelton, and theie is a chance of a boat i'romT'imaru also. The next meeting of the committee takes place on Friday evening at the Borough Council Chambers, and it is hoped there will be a full attendance as the business is most important.

Akaroa Minstrels.—These minstrels gave an entertainment last night in aid of the Rowing Club. There was only a moderate attendance, but those present laughed very heartily at the fun provided. The first part consisted of the usual chair business. Some of the songs were excellent, and many of the jokes were much applauded. After an interlude in which Mr Te White, as the Japanese jugglar was immense, a capital farce entitled the " Virginia Mummy " was performed. It is intensely amusing, and kept the audience in excellent humor, several of the parts being very well taken. We are sorry that owing to the pressure on our space we cannot give a longer notice, but wo shall have more to say regarding it next issue. The Bohemians. —A dramatic troupe bearing this title, and officered by that veteran dramatist—we hope he will excuse us—Johnny Hydes—open to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall. The company consists of Miss Bessie Vivian, Miss Madge Herrick, Miss Hetty Lambrette, and Messrs Hydes, Kennedy, Martin, Lova, _ and Alexander. They play for four nights. To-night they will give the comedy of " Worth a Struggle ; " to-morrow, " Euchred " and " His Last Less ; " Thursday, " Miriam's Crime '' and •' Who Speaks First;" and Friday, "The Irish Emigrant " and " Kow- Wow, or the Invasion of Parihaka." With such bills they should draw good houses, and we advise all outcountry friends to spare at least one evening to come in and sea them, as it is seldom indeed that such a good company visits Akaroa.