Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 574, 13 January 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

Coach Accident.—Mr McParlane had

the misfortune to upset the coach from Christchurch on the Little River Hill, on Tuesday. He was driving a rather restive horse in the team, which shied badly, the off wheel of the coach going into a rather deep waterway on the inside of the road, and the coach toppled gently over. There were live passengers in the coach, including a lady and Mr Coop, of Little River, but, thanks to the presence of mind shown by Mr McP.irlane, no damage was done except some slight bruises, and the coach was speedily righted, and went on its way rejoicing.

The Borough Election.—Very little interest was taken in the election of a Councillor for tho borough on Wednesday. Mr Libeau, one of the candidates, did walk about a little, but Mr Waeckerle was not visible, and one noticed no excited citizens. Shortly after 6 p.m. Mr Sims announced the result to a crowd of seven or eight people. It was—Waeckerle 27, Libeau 8. The result was received with extreme calmness, and there was no address of any sort made. The English Cricketers, —The Dunedin Star states :—" Shaw's Eleven arrived at the Bluff on Tuesday morning by the Arawata. and went up to lnvercnrgill, but did not play there, as expected, on account) it may I c presumed, of the lateness of the vessel's arrival. They come by the Arawata to-night, and are expected to reach town by the 9.25 a.m. train fiom the port. The members of the Cricke 1 Association will meet them at the railway station, and accompany them to their quarters." Mr J. P. Spring was elected Captain of the Otago team at a meeting held on Tuesday evening. The two Friths will play, and in place of Taiaroa, who is absent, J. Leith will make one of the team. Little River Library.—A meeting of the Little River Library Committee was held in the Library on Saturday evening last, the 7th inst. Present—Messrs A. D. Allan (chairman), Jas. Reynolds, E. Head, Jos. Smith, and T. Holt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that he had not obtained a legal opinion as to the right of way, and explained why he had not done so. His action was approved. A letter was read from the secretary to the Oddfellows, asking for a reduction of rent for the use of the Library. The requsst was acceded to. An account from the Akaroa Mail was passed for payment. Mr Allan stated that he had received the amended balance-sheet, that he had carefully examined and audited it, and found it correct, and that it was now open to the inspection of members of the Library. The meeting- then terminated.

Dignity and Innocence.—At the sitting of the R.M. Court on Tuesday, in the middle of the (hearing of a case, there walked into Court a gentleman who was evidently from the country. A. broad smile was on his features, and a broad hat on his head, and in his mouth was a pipe of the real •• shaggaroon " type, from which issued clouds of powerful tobacco smoke* Evidently utterly unconscious of his crime this unsophisticated creature advanced towards the seat of justice, in the hope of picking up what was going on. The police wore conducting a case, and did not notice the intruder till the Magistrate called their attention to his presence. On viewing him, Constable Scott's features lost their usual placid smile, and assumed an expression of outraged dignity, which perfectly appalled the wretched offenden whose heart sunk into his boots as he fled from the Court, pursued by the indignant eye and fleet foot of the indefatigable guardian of our hearths and homes.

I The Mail.—The Press ct rrespondent telegraphed on Wednesday night:—•' The following are the English mails for the South which the Penguin is bringing:— Wellington. 4 bags; Christchurch, 4 ; Dunedin, 3 ; Nelson, Hokitika, Westport, Picton, Blenheim, Patea. Sydenham* Akaroa, Waikouaiti, Palmerston, Temuka, Oamaru, Port Chalmers, Ashburton, Rakaia* Lyttelton, Invercargill and Waimate, each 1 bag, all the above being letters. The Penguin also brings one bag of newspapers each for Timaru, Geraldine, Rakaia, and Kumara, but no letters. The Penguin crossed the Manukau bar at two o'clock this afternoon, and is expected to reach Nelson to-morrow evening, and Wellington on Friday morning, proceeding to Lyttelton immediately, so as to catch the Dunedin express. The first portion of the mails, therefore, is likely to be delivered in Dunedin by Saturday night. The balance of the mails leaves by the Te Anau to-morrow, reaching Wellington on Sunday, and Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin on Tuesday," Scaly and American Blight.—Mr, McKay of Pigeon Bay has been experimenting for somo years to discover the best means of destroying scaly and American blight on bia apple trees. Five years ago his trees were infected and he tried kerosene ; four years he tried whale oil ; three years ago whale oil and kerosene; two years ago kerosene and lime. All these experiments failed, but last year Mr McKay succeeded in completely destroying the blight by the use of a compound — -| coal tar and whale oil. The time of year for operation was the early spring, and the process adopted was, to open the ground 2ft all round the ioots of the tree, and clear the roots as much as possible of the blight then using a mop for the purpose, spread the compound right round the roots and stock of the tree, and up the trunk as far, as the branches. Mr McKay also cut al the lumps, formed by the blight, off the tree with a saw, and well soaked the parts exposed ; he also brushed with the mixture any higher branches on the trees that were infected. The two trees that Mr McKay experimented on had both scaly and American blight, they were 12 or 14 years old, and both now look healthy and are quite free from blight, one bearing fruit. -*

Chess Club.— : A meeting of those interested in the formation of this club is called at the Library for Tuesday evening next, at 8 p.m.

The U.S.S.Co.—The attention of all those thinking of taking a nip, is called to the reduction of fares during the excursion season, which is advertised by the Union S.S.Co. under their usual notice on the front page.

The English Mail —The San Francisco mail per Penguin will arrive in Lyttelton early on Saturday morning. The Akaroa portion consisting of letters only, will be forwarded by the same day's coach ; the balance follows by the Te Anau, whiclv leaves Wellington on Sunday night or Monday morning. Fumigation has caused the detention, there having been two cases of small-pox aboard the mat! steamer.

Okain's School Committee.—A meeting of the Okain's School Committee was held in the Library on Monday, the 9th inst. Present—Messrs Moore (chairman), Priest, Harris, Mason, and James. The minutes and accounts of previous meeting were rend and confirmed. A letter from the secretary to the Board of Education was read, notifying that an election of three members to serve on the Board would take place in March next. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr W. Montgomery and Mr C. C. Bowen, asking them to allow themselves to be nominated for this district. A tender received for cleaning of school for the ensuing year, from Mrs Coffin, for £7, was accepted. An account of £2 10s, secretary's salary for half-year, was passed for payment. It was resolved that tenders be invited in tbe Akaroa Mail for the renewal of roof to schoolmaster's house, the Board having authorised the calling of tenders for an iron roof for same. The meeting here adjourned till Saturday, the 21st inst.