Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 565, 13 December 1881, Page 2

Peninsula News.

': Press" Almanac.—We have received a copy of the Press Shilling A'manao. This useful little book is as good as ever, and contains a great deal of information.

Southern Provinces Almanac—We have received a copy of this excellent almanac from t l io local agent, and can safely assert it is in no way inferior to its 28 predecessors. A capital lithograph of the Cathedral at Christchurch is given with the alumnae.

Wharf Committee.—This committee met yesterda} morning and resolved to have the wharf properly cleared up for Regatta day.

The Guthrie Presentation. —Dr Guthrie bas written stating he will be in Akaroa on Tuesday evening, 20th ins 1 :. The presentation will take place at Bruce's Hotel atß p.m. on that day.

Accident.—A son of Mr J. Craw, ot Little Akaloa, while practising gymnastics fell heavily and dislocated his arm. Dr Singleton was c died in, and the boy is now going on favorably.

Earthquake.—An earthquake sufficient to shake windows as if a cannon had been fired was felt a few minutes after midnight on Sunday, or in other words Monday was ushered in by an earthqnake followed by a window-quake.

.Telegraphic.—As often happens when news is anxiously looked for, we were unable to publish an extra on Saturday containing the result of the election, because the wretched driver of a load of hay had stopped communication between Duvauchelle's Bay and Christchurch.

EIGHTEEN-HUNDEED AND EIGHTY-TWO.— It may not be unworthy of note that as next year will begin with a Sunday it will also end with a Sunday, and will thus have a Sunday more and a business less than most years have. Tho samV thing happened one year when Mr Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and had a deficit in his revenue, and he attributed a part of his deficit to the extra Sunday depriving him of one day's revenue. It is quite possible that many persons will be out of their reckoning as to their income next year if they do not take into account ihe fact that it will consist of 53 Sundays and only 312 business days and holidays.

Akaroa Industrial Exhibition.—A meeting of the committee of the above was held yesterday evening. Mr Stocker read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. The following judges were appointed : —For needlework, Mesdames Stocker, Jacobson, Citron, and Meech, Miss Rowe, and Miss Walkden ; of paintings, Messrs McGregor; Welsh, Alexander, and Farr; of writing and mapping, Messrs Wilkins, Adams, and Westenra ; of essay, Messrs Stocker, Garwood, and J. Aylmer; of horticulture, Messrs Reid, Nalder, and John Tosswill ; of dairy produca, &c, Mr Bowron. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Stocker. Westenra, and Billens, wore appointed to award the prizes on the morning after the Anniversary Day. It was decided to keep the Exhibition open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, the 16th and 17th. The meeting then adjourned.

Akarca Sports Committee.—A meeting of the above was held at Mr Grange's Hotel last evening, Mr Garwood in the chair. Mr Grange, the Secretary, read the minutes of the last committee meeting, held on the 24th May—(confirmed.) The new committee appointed were —Mr Adams (chairman). Messrs Garwood, Watkins, Stocker, Billens, Meech, Kissel, G, Armstrong, Robinson, 11. C, Jacobson, and Noonan. The Officers appointed were—Mr Stocker (judge), and Messrs Kissel and Meech (starters.) Mr Billens (entry taker,) Mr S. Watkins (general supervisor,) Mr F. Arming (clerk of the course,) Mr Noonan (collector.) Mr Watkins kindly offered to supply the committee with any stakes they required, and offered to lend his paddock for the sports to be held in. Both offers Were accepted. The programme was then gone into, and last year's was adopted with some few alterations and additions. Messrs Kissel, Stocker, and G. Armstrong were appointed handicappers. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, the 27th inst. The meeting then adjourned.

The General Election,—The results of the election appear elsewhere. The Wellington correspondent of the Press says :—According to a local calculation the restdt of th_j_uropean election gives the Government 45, Opposition 34, doubt - ful 12; but counting the Maori voters, and allowing for the Ministerial leaning of the Independents, it is computed that an early division on a no-confidence motion would show — Ministerial 52, Opposition 42, the Speaker of course making up the total of 95. The Wellington Post classifies the new Parliament as follows • —Certain supporters of the Government 44, certain opposition 34, independent or doubtful, mostly with leanings towards Ministers 13. The Lyttelton Times on the contrary calculates that 35 Ministerialists, 38 Opposition, and 18 Independants have been returned. There are no less than 46 new European members elected out of a total of 91. Mr Ormond and Mr Ballance are the most prominent opposition members that have been defeated, and Sir \V. Fox and Mr Wakefield the most able ministerialists which find themselves in the same position.

Aboriculture.—Messrs Aylmer, Westenra, and S. Watkins, the gentlemen who were forwarded olive truncheons for experimental purposes, have received the following communication .— " Christchurch, December 9, 1881. Sir,—l have the honor to request you to be good enough to let me know at your convenience how the mulberry trees, which were distributed by the Government, are progressing, aiul also the olive truncheons. I am glad to say that those in the public gardens here have surpassed }uite our expectations and are looking remarkably well. I believe out of the 200 truncheons planted here six or seven hundred plants will be obtained. The olive shoots require now to be moderately but frequently watered. I beg to call your attention to the fact that hares and rabbits are extremely fond of the olive tree, and especially when young, therefore the necessity of protecting them if that danger exist in the neighborhood. The has imported some silkworm grain from Japan and another supply is expected by the next mail. When tho silkworms are hatched I will forward to Akaroa some for distribution, and I tru-t all those who haver the necessary food will endeavor to rea ' them for a start.—Yours, etc., G. Fkdisrli.o It is gratifying to record that the oliv s truncheons are doing well. The shoot from them are several inches long, bu arc not yet above tlie ground, though sure to he in a day or two. With regard to Ihe silkworms we understand it is the intention to advertise, asking those gentlemen who have mulberry trees and Jare willing to take silkworms, to make immediate application.

Ten Nights in a Bar-room.—The Peninsula Dramatic Club had a considerable number of difficulties to contend against in giving their representation of the above sensational drama at the Side School, German Bay, and considering the disadvantage of playing a heavy piece like this in so small a building they are to bo congratulated on the performance. The barroom scpne'was well arranged, but in Act 4, where the curtain is supposed to rise and disclose a country lane, the ingenuity of the scenic artist was evidently baffled, and the andience must have been credited with a large amount of imaginativeness, for three large tussocks placed at the footlights a yard apart, and the removal of the bottles of grog was the only transformation from the bar-room scene. Nevertheless the audience were de'ighted with an amusing little scene between Sample Switchell and Harvej r Green (bushranger), which went very well. The caste was the same as when the piece was given at Le Bon's Bay, a full account of which appeared in our issue of the 6th inst. The characters were well sustained, and the drama went smoothly throughout. The Akaroa drum and fife band played at intervals during the evening, and at the conclusion of the performance a dance took place, at which there was a good attendance. Tne entertainment was given in- aid of the sports and pic-nic, and thanks \Mre due to the ladies and gentlenlen, who took partdn the performance. *x