Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 603, 25 April 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

Joint-Stock Companies Act—Attention is called to an advertisement of Mr Sperrey's appearing elsewhere.

Farmers' Club.—The nest meeting of this Club will take place on Saturday next at the Head of the Bay.

Licensing Act.—The polling to decide whether or r.o fresh licenses shall be granted in the Okain's District for the ensuing three years will be held at the Road Board office, Okain's Bay. on Saturday, May 13th.

Constable Smart.—-This officer who ha 3 been located for some time past at Little River has been sent to another station. During his residence on tho Peninsula Constable Smart gained the good will of those with whom he came into contact.

Peninsula Pupil Teachers.—Masters J. W. McGregor and Benjamin Penlington, pupil teachers at the Akaroa school, passed very successfully at the recent examination, the first for the end of the third year, and the latter for end of first year. Master Earnest Wat kins, of German Bay school, also passed well for end of second year.

Akaroa School.—The Akaroa School was re-opened yesterday, but, although the school is to be examined by the Inspector next week, thirty or forty children were absent. Such negligence on the part of parents is almost incredible. Let us hope for the sake of the school they will all be present to-day, for it is not doing jnstice to the schoolmaster to keep the children away before an examination.

U.S.S. Company.—This company have been unfortunate with regard to the vessels they are having built in England. Tho Manapouri received serious injuries to tier boiler when on her way out, off Lisbon, which will cause her detention for awhile. This means a serious lofts to the Company, as she should have been by this time trading between Melbourne and our ports. Another vessel that was in course of construction for the company, in consec|uence of a strike, cannot be completed at present. And yet another while on the slips and almost ready for launching, was raised by an extraordinary high tide, and received considerable damage by being thrown against a wharf near at hand.

Meeting of Teaciieks.—At a meeting of the Banks Peninsula Teachers' Association, bed in the schoolroom, Duvauchelle's Bay, on Saturday the 22nd instant, the following business was transacted. In the absence of Mr Nichols through illness Mr Roulston was voted to the chair. A vote of sympathy was passed regretting the cause of Mr Nichols's absence. The first business was the election of officers for the year. Mr Nichols was elected President, and Mr Itoulston was elected Secretary and 'Ironsurer. A debate then ensued as to tii • advisability of discussing the subjects on the paper for this meeting, but owin;-j to the absence of Mr Nichols (who had the minutes and papers* of last meeting), it was eventually determined to postpone that part of the business until the next meeting, which will be. held at the same pi-ice on the second Saturday in May, at 1.2 o'clock. After some further discussion on various matters th-j meeting adjourned.

Gehman Bay Racks.—A meeting of the committee was held on Fridtiy evening at Koderigue's Madeira Hotel, There was a good attendance. Mr Roberts occupying the chair. Mr McGregor, Hon Sec, said that the only entries he had received were Mr Judge's Brown Boy, Mr J. SunekelPs Isis, Mr J, Trueman's Larrikin, and Mr A. R. Fleming's Ada. There being only four horses entered in all for the three races a discussion ensued as to the best plan to be pursued. It was pointed out, tint 7io doubt tilt , - paucity of 'Jhristchnrch entries was owing in a great measure to the fact that the races were advertised for the Queen's i3irthi!p.y, when all interest was centred in the Christchurch races. Arter long consideration it was resolved that it was no use holding the races with the ridiculously small fields entered, and determined that the date of entries should be extended to May 8, the weights to be declared on May 16, and the race tun on June 8. The meeting then adjourned after a hearty vote of thanks to the chair and an understanding being arrived at, that notices of tlie adjournment should be published in the local and Christchurch papers and the matter fully explained to all those interested.

Faumurs' Club.—A meeting of tho conniiittce appointed to Iny before tho club the best means of raising money to defray the expenses of erecting the proposed yards at Duvauehelle's Bay, for the holding of the Agricultural and Pastoral Show, was held on Friday. Present— Messrs Piper, Chappell, .McGregor, Checkley, Bnleyn, and Jacobson. Mr Piper w.is voted to the chair, and a discussion took place on the question. The probable cost was estimated at various sums, about £250 being the amount that it was generally considered would be required. It was pointed out that that sum could be procured from the bank by a certain number of the members of the club signing a guarantee, or that it might possibly be procured from a private individual if advertised for. Mr McGregor then referred to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association Act, which provided for the incorporation of similar societies. He said he thought the fust step the Association should take wis to be incorporated under this act. which would give them the power of raising money, and also of suing and being sued. Ho explained tho process as a most inexpensive one, and the benefits conferred as great. It was then moved by Mr Jacobson—"That in the opinion of this committee it is wiser to form the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club into a liody corporate undor the Agricultural ami Pastoral Society's Act, 1877, which proceeding will be no expens-e to the club, .'did will enable them to sue for nil subscriptions, them power to | borrow money as a .society wilhout nieni--bers, being individu.-iily liable." This having bteu seconded by Isli Boleyn and carried, the meeting adjourned after Air JacobsoM had been authorised to draw up a report to present at the next meeting of the Farmers' Club, which will be hold at tho Head of the Bay on Saturday next.

Through Trip to Lyttelton.—For the greoter convenience of passengers, the proprietors of the p.s. Titan have decided to book people right through from here to Lyttelton, and anybody can now obtain through tickets at Chamberlain's Hotel.

Professor Darwin.—The death is announced of Mr Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S., the well known naturalist and pliilosopher, aged seventy-three. His most celebrated work is the '■ Descent of Man ami Selection in relation to Sex." 2 vols ; a new edition of which was published in 1874, in one volume, with large additions. In this work the author infers that "man is descended from a hairy quadruped, furnished with a tail and pointed ears, probably arboreal in its habits." His most recent publication is " The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals," 1872. Mr Darwin, who has been selected a member of various foreign and English scientific bodies, received from the Royal Society the Royal and Copley medals for his various scientific works, and from the Geological Society the Wollaston Palladian medal. He has been created a knight of the order Pour Iβ Merite by the Prussian Government ; and in June, 1871, he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy o£ Vienna. The university of Ley den confetred upon him the honorary degree of M.D. in February, 1875. Those particulars are taken from " Men of the Times."

Okain's Bay.—The annual Church meeting was held at Okain's Bay on the 20th inst. The proceedings by singing hymn 320, Ancient and Modern. The Rev. Stack, who presided, then called upon Mr Hutt (churchwarden) to read statement of accounts ior past year. Mr Hutt said that he was happy to be able to plnce before the meeting a satisfactory balance sheet, showing to tjie credit of the clergy stipend fund, £20 12s 6d ; incidental, £5 9s. Mr J. Moore proposed and Mr Haly seconded, that the churchwardens statement of accounts ie adopted as read —carried. The following gentlemen were nominated as vestrymen for ensuing year: —Messrs Hutt (Curate's churchwarden), J. E. Thacker, H. Sefton, W. Robinson, C. Moore, E. W. Harris, and H. Haly. Mr Stack wished personally to thank Mr Hutt for the efficient way in which he had carried out his duties as lay-reader. Votes of thanks were recorded to the outgoing churchwardens and vestry, the choir for their services during the year, and to Mr \V. Robinson for his handsome donation of a Glastonhury chair for the use of the Church. The business part of the evening was enlivened by songs and recitations by the school children, Mr Hutt also reading a very able paper on th<3 subject, What makes the wealth of a community. The meeting was brought to a close by singing hymn 136.