Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 594, 24 March 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

Iroren Game.—The Penguin had on board two grouse and two blackcocks which had come from England in the Mataura. They had been brought out experimentally under the new freezing process and were as hard as bricks and perfectly sweet. The birds were consigned to Mr A. C. Begg of Dunedin. A great many people went to have a look at them and several took a feather, a proceeding which so alarmed the cook that he hid them from the public gaze altogether.

Tiie Exhibits for the Christchurch International Exhibition.—As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, Mr Chnppell will meet the Wainui and French Farm people, sending cheese, grass seed, or other produce to the Exhibition, on the 28th, between 10 and 1 o'clock on the wharf. It has been deJded to ship by the U.S.S. Co.'s boat on April 4. Ex hibitors from the Barard side must send to Akaroa by the 31st, so that all the exhibits can be properly branded and stored before going on the 4th April. As before stated, Messrs Hawkins and (10. of Lyttelton have kindly consented to store all Peninsula exhibits free of charge, so that persons sending independently should send to them, as Mr Chappell can then take charge of them in Lyttelton, forward to their Christchurch destination, and arrange in proper order. Casks from Mulberrt Wood.—Mr Federli, who leaves Akaroa for Christchurch to-day, takes with him a two gallon cask, made of nmlberry wood by our local cooper, Mr Holding. It will be shown at the coming I-xhibition in connection with the silkworms. The wood was procured from the Chinamen's garden and judging from the rings in the root of the tree, it must be about 26 years old. Mr Holding has turned out a capital piece of workmanship, but could have even improved on it, had the wood been more seasoned. Mulberry wood casks are used largely for wines, there being less resin than in other woods, and in Italy they are valued at double the price of oak when used for that purpose. Tho cask for Exhibition is nicely polished and quite apart from its utility is attractive from an ornamantal point of view.

Telegraphic.—The mutton ex Protos realised s|d per lb in London. The meat had sintered from tho temporary stoppage of the refrigerating machine, and was a trifle soft. Mr Labouchere has announced his intention of opposing the Quean's message to Parliament, asking that provision should be made for Prince Leopold on bis approaching marriage. On Wednesday afternoon the seal of the colony was affixed to the contract between Government and tho West Coast (North Island) Railway Company. The document has been posted to Christchurch for His Excellency's signature. It is understood that it has been finally decided lo call Parliament together for the despatch of business on Thursday, the 18th May, and that a proclamation to this effect will be forwarded to tSlr Arthur Gordon by this afternoon's steamer.

Mr Catlin, surgeon dentist, from Christchurch, is now in Akaroa, and may be consulted at Wagstaffs Hotel.— Advi,

Excursion.—As will be seen by advertisement, there will be an excursion trip from Pigeon Bay to Lyttelton and back on Tuesday next, March 30.

Earthquake.—-A sharp shock of earthquake was felt on Wednesday morning about 10 minutes past nine. It travelled from N.W. to S.E.

Parliamentary.—lt is rumored (says the Press correspondent) that when Parliament meets on the 18th of May, that, after the preliminary trial of strength on the question of the election of Chairman of Committees, the Opposition will probably move an amendment to the Address in Reply, or rather an addition censuring the Government for not calling the new Parliament together at earlier date, or at any rate expressing the rbgret of the House that this had not been done. I believe some of the leadiug Opposition members are very sanguine of making a catch victory on that point, and so embarrassing the Ministers at so early a stage, even if no immediate practical result should accrue This of course may be mere gossip, but it has an air of truth, so I give it for what it is worth. Ministers will assemble early next month, and will oe closely engaged during the following six weeks in preparing measures for introduction. At present it is not contemplated to attempt any very large amount of legislation oiuside the Bills abandoned last year. The new loan and public works scheme, the local government Bills, and the reform of Parliamentary procedure are likely to be the pieces de resistance.

Okain's Bay Assessment Court.—This Court was held at the Library, Okain's Bay, on Wednesday last, before J. Aylmer, Esq., Judge. The following objections were heard:—R, Zachariah Davis stating that he had been rated for section 34.111 by the Okain's Board, whom he had always previously paid, but that this year he had also got notice from the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board for a part of the same property. The question arose in consequence of the disputed boundaries between the Boards. There being no appearance of the objector, no alteration was made. A. H. Mcintosh claimed to have his name inserted on the roll (granted). IT. Mcintosh made a similar application, which was disallowed, Alexander Mc Intosh's name * being inserted instead. Charles Marshall objected to his name being placed on the roll for 81 acres, as he only owned 41 acres, the other 40 belonging to G. Marshall (alteration allowed). Robt. J. Rix applied to have the number of acres for which lie was rated placed as 125, instead of 30, as he owned that quantity of land (application allowed). T. Mcintosh applied to have his name placed on the roll (granted). A similar application from W. H. Pawson was refused, applicant not being in attendance. Air Barker was in attendance, and handed in the following letter:— '• I, John B. Barker, do hereby object to the valuation roll for the above named district under section 15 of the Rating Act, 1876, and I do hereby ask the Court under section 27 of the said Act to amend the same. Ist. That there are omissions of several names which sho.ild be on the said roll, viz :—Thomas Pawson, 80 acres, leasehold, Little Akaloa; William Pawson. 20 acres, leasehold, Little Akaloa ; Ebenezer Mcllale, 2 acres, leasehold, Rapua Bay; John B. Barker, Jun., 16 acres, leasehold, Little Akaloa ; Thomas Mcintosh, 4 acres, leasehold, Little Akaloa ; Henry Mcintosh, house and garden, Little Akaloa ; Alexander Mcintosh. 160 acres, freehold, Little Akaloa ; J W. Menzies, 38 acres, freehold, Little Akaloa. The Jndge said that the application ought to have been lodged at the Court House, Akaroa, for his inspection not later than the 15 Feb., and as this was the first he had seen of it, it could not be considered. The Judge said the roll had been very badly compiled, comparing it unfavorably with those of the other Road Boards. He advised that steps should be taken to have the line boundary fixed between the Okain's Bay, Pigeon Bay and Akaroa and Wainui Road Boards.