Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 623, 4 July 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

PLANTING —One is glad to nolice thai there is a good deal of planting going on in Akaroa. Not only are a great many small fruit bushes being put in, but apples, peaches, and other larger varieties are also being planted in considerable: numbers. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. — The usual quarterly meeting in connection with this Church was held in the Church, Lavaud street, last night. Mr Dalglish occupied the chair, and Messrs Bruce, Black, and Roulston were also present. The minutes o£ the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, a number of accounts were passed for payment. The contributions and collections for the quarter were handed in, and it was resolved that they and the Wainui subscriptions should be placed in Mr Black's hands to give to the minister. Mr D. Fyfe's name was added to the committee, and several matters of interest having been discussed, the mieeting terminated. THE HOSPITAL.—Tliere are several inmates of the Hospital just now, but we are glad to say that the patients, with the exception of one man. are doing well. The exception is a poor fellow named Johnson, who has bean working for Mr Narbey, at the Kaik. It appears that news was yesterday received by the police that he was lying in a whare in a bad state, having eaten little or nothing during the past week, and suffering from terrible shivering fits. Sergeant Willis, with comjmendable promptitude, lost no time in getting the poor fellow into more comfortable quarters at the Hospital, and one is glad to hear that tbe removal did not appear to be prejudicial to the unfortunate sulferer.

AKAROA STATISTICS.—The vital statistics for the district of Akaroa, for the quarter ending June 30 are—Births 26, deaths 5, marriages 3. PRIZE TERRIER.—Mr A. Husey's toy terrier " Clio " was the winner of Messrs Mason and Struther's special prize at the late Dog Show at the Exhibition. THE JETTISONED WHEAT.—The Petrel arrived on Saturday with 65 bags of the damaged wheat jettisoned by the Westport. We hear that Messrs Snow & Anson have got some 200 bags ashore at Peraki. and that they are drying and re-sacking it. The Petrel has been employed landing this wheat. She returns to-day to Peraki for another cargo. THE CHRISTCHURCH SPREE.— "Our members " arrived by the steamers Hinemoa and Penguin on Saturday. They visited the Exhibition on Saturday, and yesterday they went to the School of Agricul ure at Lincoln, and to-night attend the Citizens' Ball. They inspect the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory to-day, so that no one can accuse them of having an idle time of it. FLORAL.—One is glad to remark the improvements at the Manse in Balguerie Street. A very nice flower garden has been laid out and planted and a pretty rustic fence erected . At Mr Westenra's farther up the road more extensive improvements are taking pia<:e. By the Penguin has arrived the frame of a conservatory which lie is about to have erected, in.l !n j . i-salsn having ft large piece of ground- i-eiiehed for fruit trees, and is |)i:niling iii-iiiy choice trees and shrubs. FENCE BURNING.—Some of the gorse fences on German Bay Hill have been destroyed by fire, and it is thought that they were designedly lighted. As far as we can learn, Mr Joseph Sunckell either saw or heard last Friday night that his brother's fences on the German Bay Hill were on fire. He immediately proceeded to Mr John Sunckell's house, and gave the alarm, and the men proceeded to the place with billhooks, etc,, to cut down the fence and stop the flames. They found the fence had been lighted in two place, at Mr Phillips' and at Mr John Sunckell's. and by cutting away a part of Mr Phillips' fence they stopped it from going in that direction. Mr Sunckell's fence was burnt to where another kind of fence commences. The fires appear to have been lighted about 11 p.m. It is to be hoped that, if not the result of an accident, the offenders will be caught, and punished as they deserve. THE WESTPORT ENQUIRY.—At the Westport enqu'ry on Satuiday, Captain G-ibbs, after desciibing the accident in Akaroa, said that on arrival at Lyilelton, he repeated the request previously made to the agent that he might be allowed to retain & portion of the wheat on board to st'ifen the vessel, but the agent said it would be against t'.ie law as it was intended for Lyttelton and must be discharged. The presence of the wheat would have made the vessel much more workable in boisterous weather, besides enabling the pomp to petiorm its duty much better. Before leaving the vessel the following day, Captain Dunst'ord gave him a certificate, slating that tho whip was in a ill staie to go to Wellington or Dunedin for further repairs, there being no dock for repair at Lvttelfon. Mr Travars, who appeared for tiie Insurance Compaiiie-*. o'wervert that Ci|>tnin I'itmmford gave the certificate conditionally on the wlioat l> ing allowed to . remain. Mr E. Shaw, who appeared for Captain Gibbs, pointed out that tin's was not marked on tiie certihVate. Mr Travers: No doubt, but there n'iis an to that ellect. Captain Gil>b.s said the surveyor (Captain Dijnsford) <iM not survey the ship.after the caryo was nit. Notwithstanding the certificate, witness thought it necessary to have, some rcpaiis executed at Lyltelton, which was accordingly don?. On Sunday, June 18, witness left Lytfcelton for Wellington, Hβ then proceeded to detail the circumstances connected with the foundering of that vessel at F!ax ! bo,urue, the facts of which have already been published. Witness accounted for tht; accident at Akaroa by the strong inset caused by noith-onst winds, which ho had never experienced before, and which was not explained in the charts. Ho was also of opinion that the vessel would not have foundered imd he been allowed to take 400 or 500 bags of wheat with him as bi!kst< etc. When Oiptnin Uunsford gave him tho certiil.-ato, ha knew that the damaged cargo of wiieat was being landed. VVitness , on'y reason for going to Lyttelton was to land lu;r cargo, lie wis offered ten tons of noal as ballast at Lyiteltnn instaad o'c the wheat, but this he declined >m c>:il would have i.ecu no goo:l. The engineer i;i charge of the pump warned him of, the danger of. the pump becoming choked, owing to the want of fresh water, sea water being liable to clog it up. As the blade of the propeller was out of the water and the ship was settling down by the head, Ik , , considered it his duty to try and save life, and he aen-rtiingly gave, orders to leave the ship, which was done all of them losing their clothes and effects. Captain Dntieford, marine surveyor for tlio Underwriters' Association, Canterbury, said that on .the way from Akaroa to Lyttolcon Irsh water was made than ho anticipated, andthe centrifugal pump worked fairly well. The \essel went to Lyuelton with a cargo of wheat for Hasseli there, but the cargo was discharged against his approval. The certificate produced stating that the Woatport was in a fit condition lo go to Wellington or Dunedin had been given by him. He had a conversation at Akaroa with Captain Gibbs and Captain Doylo, \a the course of which he spoke of the necessity or! having tho wheat on board, which witness said would be worth a great deal more in Wellington than at Lyttelton. He named this again to Captain Gibbs on the voyage to Lyttelton. On handing the certificate to Captain Gibbs in Lyttelton, witness said " You are perfectly safe as you are, and don't allow any body to come on board tinkering with your vessel," He was in a very great hu-ry at the time in order to eaten a train, and not a word was then said about tho wheat. He took it for granted thai the wet wheat was to remain in the hold, and he should have considered it tho acme of i'oiiy to land it, aa if the vessel were empty with that engine on deck she were not seaworthy. Ho did not learn till the Monday following that the Westport had landed her wheat and left for Wellington. By Mr Shaw—Witness considered the vessel was lost owing to the discharge of the wheat. Had tho wheat remained in her he considered she was not perfectly seaworthy but safe for a trip, and he would not have hesitated goiug in her himself. The enquiry was adjourned.

The Somerset Hotel.—As will be seen by ;i glance at our advertising columns the Somerset Hotel at the Head of the Bay has been closed and a sale will be held there shortly. Head of the Bay School. —The trip of the children attending this School to the Exhibition was a very great success. The scholars enjoyed themselves most heartily, and thanks to Mr and Mrs Lee and Mr and Mrs Maelintock a delightful day was spent. Before tho youthful sightseers separated, three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Lee aud Mr and Mrs Maelintock. Regular Sizes fob Cuessb.-—Mr Webb representative of Messrs Proctor. Jones, & Co., of Dunedin, who are among the largest dealers in cheese in this Colony, was in Akaroa last week, and Mr Henning had a long talk with him regarding the best method of retideiing cheese saleable, lie is of opinion that it would greatly add to the popularity of Peninsula cheese if certain fixed sizes were adopted. He suggests the use of three different sized chessetts and five different sizes of cheese. He would make the largest sized chessetts 15in in diameter and 7in in depth. This is the suze of Mr Narbey's cheese, which Mr Webb says is the most saleable size in the market. No. 2 chessetthe would have about 12in in di uneter by 10in in depth. In this chessett he thinks two different sizes of cheese might be made—o ie the full size of the chesaett, and the other 7in instead of 10in' deep. No. i chessett he proposes should be 10in in diameter by 9in in depth, and in this also he thinks two different sized cheeses might be made— one the full size of the chessett, and the other only sin deep. To recapitulate, he proposes there should be three chessetts, one 15in in diameter by Tin in depth, another 12in in diameter by 10in in depth, and a third lOin in diameter by 9in in depth. In these tliree chessetts he would make five sizes of cheese, No. 1, 15in diameter and 7in deep, weighing about 501b ; No. 2,12 in diameter by 10in deep, weighing about 451b; No. 3, 12In. in diameter and 7in deep, weighing about 351b; No. 4, lOin in diameter and 9in in deptii, weighing about 301b ; and No. 5, lOin in diameter and sin deep, weighing about 161b or 171b, He proposes these cheeses should be ordered by number, so that dealers might order so many of No. 1 or No. 5, as the case might be, and be sure of getting the weights they wanted. He thoroughly believes in the shallow cheese, No. 5 on the list, which is only sin deep, as lie says it is by far the best size for the diggings aud for cutting in Bto»es, for being shallow a light weight can be cut which has both top aud bottom rind. There are also advantages to the dairymen in making this sizod cheese, as it does not require binding, and is not so likely to bulge. The Stilton shape is not liked so much by the majority of dealers in Dunedin, as people say they have to cut the top off, iimi there is more waste with it than with shadow cheese. No doubt a system like that indicated above would be productive of good both to farmers and dealers, and if those getting new cheaset.s would confine themselves, to ordering these staled 9izw. a uniformity might eventually bo established. It i.s at any rate a matter which .no Fa.iiwrs , Cln*> migtit furihur dihouss at one oi their meeting. Littlk lllViiß.—Thursday being the day appointed for the children's t.ip by rail to the Exhit>iiioii at Ohii.-n'churoh, our population were early astir. The morning could not ha*'e been finer; the sky was clou.l lens, and the winds were with the clouds, and a frost, made hard the soft piace-s. Thin state of things could not tie bettered. The School Committee had appointed Mr Coop's saw-mill as a place of rendezvous lor all those living north of the school, and the Post Office as that for those living south. About 8 o'clock faint cheers were heard in tho diiection of the Akaroa road. These by degrees became louder and more frequent, and their effect was most inspiri'ing. As conjectured they were, the morning ailution of the fiii! Iron from Dαvaudidle's Bay. on the other si le of the lauge. Mr Lee's large coach, drawn l>y four horse.-;, a , i<l driven by Mr B. Barker, took the lead. This took the l.ids and lasses. The litter were closely packed inside, and the former hb closely clustered outside on front, rear aiii! roof. Tno journey over the range so e.'iiiy in the morning must have been a cold one, but it. hy no means dispi-ited, as tho ringing cheers of tlie little fellows abundantly testified. Mr Lee followed with his carriage and pair, the iutrer vehicle of ooursj e<ainmed lull. All now was animation. Mr Coop !rid his buggy and two other vehicles at the disposal of his neighbors; and others found their various traps —envied possessions. The lake Forsyth road had never before been ' traversed by so many wheels or so many j persons at one time. On reaching the Htalion, Mr Prondiock, (he master of the Little iiivcr school, and Mr McLintook, of the Ouvauohdie'e, musterci their respective corps, ami put them through their facings, an intimation that though on pleasure they were bent, discipline would be enforced. Thoir seats wtsre taken. OJ : these there were many to spare. One carriage was well filled with an excited and haopy looking,troop of Maoris. All being seated, the whistle blew, tho steamhorse snorted, and the train was oil. All thu members ot : the school committee went in the train. Inside the line off Pace's Flat the lake was covered with a Him of ice, while outside hundreds of swans leisurely pressed through the Jake waters. The train seemed to cause them but slight alarm, as it sped puffing along. They simply steered their course at riglu angles to the line, and somewhat increased their propelling powers, one pair only lesorting to tlight. At the time appointed the Exhibition was reached. During tho day this was pretty well traversed. The Musemn was also visited, and soon after 4 o'clock tho signal of departure was given. Three children were left behind, but as several members of tho committee remained, ihe missing ones were soon looked up, and rGLurned by Saturday's train. The happiness of the children, and the satisfaction of those who weie no longer children seemed to be complete. Amongst the latter Mr Lee's liberality and constant solicitude were subjects of general comment.