Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 638, 25 August 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

,l Luke this Lahoiieu."—One hoars that ibis piece is in active rehearsal, and likely to prove a great success. No doubt their will be a big house, as not only is the object good, but the play is one really worth seeing.

AICAItOA HotITICULTUHAL, AND INDUSTRIAL Association.—-A meeting of this Society is called for Wednesday evening next. A pu lie meeting'will bo held afterwards to decide whether'or mot tin exhibition should be held this year.

Quoits. —All interested in this game will be glad (o hear that steps aro be.ng taken to form a club. A meeting is called for Monday next at Rodriguea' Hotel. It ia to be hoped .that there will be plenty of support accorded to tho promoters.

Ball,—A ball was given on the evening of Friday, August 18th, by tho bachelor.-] of Pigeon Bay. The weather about the lime of assembling was all that could be desiied, aud tha result wis a very good attendance. Those who were instrumental in getting it up had spared no pains to secure the comfort of all present, and it was most -pleasing to see 'the maimer in which eveiybody appeared to enjoy themselves. Dancing was kept up with great spirit tiiitil an ear,}' hour, and before the company sop.rated all expressed themselves in a manner which proved they had spent a most enjoyable evening.

A Stuaxgi: Death.—A child named Margatct Howard died at Christehureh on Monday morning. Tho poor little thing wits only three years old, and was supposed to have been ill through eating part of a Duihack's heart, several other ui'Mnbors of the family suffering from the same uckness io which she ultimately succum cd. The poni-mortcm examination, however, made L'r Irving think that an irritant poison had boon swallowed, and the father said there was some precipitate ointment in the house, but out oi the children's reach. Tho inquest wns adjourned, to allow of an analysis of tho stomach being mndo.

Higher Still.—Mr Barwick sends us word that he has been informed by Mr J. Reid of Wainui that the last lot of cheese he sold realised lOd per ll>. Unsafk Road. —The Akaroa and Wainui Road Board advertise cLewhere that tbe road between Barry's Bay government jetty and French Farm is at present unsafe for horsemen or vehicles. Coming Events Cast Big Shadows Before.—lt is rumoured about town that an event, which will doubtless attract much attention in sporting circles throughout the world, is shortly to come off at Akaroa. Two gentlemen not wholly disconnected with breaches of the Auctioneers Act and journalistic etiquette, and who are renowned for the size of—well, out of politeness, we will call them their chests, have been pitted against each other to run a race. The distance is to be 200 yards, and the wretched paper man is to receive five yards start, which the supporters of the knight of the hammer say he will want every inch of, to have a show in it. On the other hand, tho backers of the heavier weight are very confident, saying they have always heard from their earliest years that '• bad news travels fast." At any rate, the stakes, which are of a heavy character, are appropriately deposited in the hands of the portliest landlord in tins town, and the thing is bound to come off. It is to be hoped that all the young athletes of tho county will gather, in order to see once in a while what really good welter weight running is. It is uiulerdtood that the winner devotes his sorrii I gains either to refreshing or charitable purposes.

Political — The House had a most protracted sitting from 11 a.m. on Monday to 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The New Zealand Loan Bill was considered in Committee, and the entire schedule (including, of course, the £30,000 for the Little River Extension*) was passed, with the exception of the .£35,000 'for the Lumsden-Mararoa Brunch, whioh was reduced, through the efforts of Mr Joyce and Captain McKonzie, to £I—that is, practically thrown out altogether. The Native Reserve Bill has been committed. The Press correspondent, writing on Tuesday night, says •—-" It is anticipated that Mr Johnston's steam communication resolution will most likely be agreed to, but I foar very few other measures will get ' through tin mill.' Members say on ail hands that they will not stop here after the first week in September. There aro only seven more sitting days in this month, and the Order Paper has hardly been even abbreviated. From what I can learn as to the probabilities, I am disposed to believe that the Bankruptcy Bill does not stand much chance of coming up for discussion at all, but will be circulated and left to be ' thought over ' during the recess. I fancy the Government Life Insurance, Law Practitioners, Fisheries, Aliens, Members' Expenses, Education Districts, Licensing Committee Act Amendment, Nation*! Insurance, Electric Light, Affirmation, and other Bills will all be dropped. The f.ito of the Lund Bill and Local Government BilA; is still uncertain. The House is likely to be en-raged most of the night in committee on the three Native Bills."

The Church Entert *.inment.—The entertainment in aid of the Church repairs, which was given in the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening, was so exceedingly successful that the promoters may fairly congratulate themselves on the success of their endeavors. Everything seemed to conduce towards the prosperity of the affair. The weather was all that could be desired, and the house was well filled a few minutes after tho doors were opened. A resume of the plot o£ Craven's clever drama of " Milky White," whioh formed the first portion of the programme, has already been given, and we can say without flattery that, considering the performers were all amateurs, the meaning of the author was very fairly interpreted. MrJacobson, as Milky White, had the audience with him. Mr Wilkins was irresistibly funny as Dick Duggs, and elicited roars of laugh-

ter ; his get up was splendid, and the w.y in which he varied the expression of his features was worthy of a professional. Mr Robinson looked the smart young '• vet." to admiration, and was peculiarly success ful in thrf scene with Milky before the operation is performed. It was the first appearance of both the ladies in a dramatic representation, but no one would have thought it. Possessing a powerful and pathetic voice, full of inflections, and thoroughly realising the character of the petted but not spoilt daughter of Milky White, Mrs Hirgrcuves fainy astonished her hearers. Her singing was charming, and in the powerful dramatic situation at tho end of the first act she rose to the occasion, and showed an appreciation of the part which is rarely indeed seen in an amateur. Miss Telford was also excellent. Her part (that of Mrs Siddrip) was a peculiarly dif'li -tilt one for a young lady to undertake, but she went through it from first to last in the most praiseworthy manner, and in the last scene showed an archness that delighted her hearers. Her voice was very distinctly heard, her articulation being, good. The public were most liberal in their applause, and when the curtain dropped finally, all were called before the scene. '• Jarley's Waxworks " were then exhibited by Mr Hombersley. He did the showman business to perfection, transporting the winds of some of ins hearers to the outside of some startiinglgr pictured caravan, on a village green in England, during the annual fair. There were some excellently got up figures to describe. Th y included the Siamese Twins; Mrs Winslow, of" soothing syrup notoriety, and infant; the, Chinese giant, Chang, and a wonderful dwarf; Blue Beard, in the strango character of a philanthropist ; and Signer Squallini. Tbe object of these ) figure? seemed to bo to (contrary to the usual rule) make themselves as unlike life as possible, and they fairly sr.cceodcd, their spasmodic jerks convulsing the audience. The dresses were wonderfully good, and the leading saddler, the representatives of the big verandah and a leading educational establishment, the descendants of a principal merchant, the municipal officer, ami. the scenic artist, are to bo warmly congratulated on tho pains they must have taken. The entertainment as a whole was certainly a great success, and Moh-ts Noonan, L. Watkins, Westenra, Granger, Penlington, jun., and S. and I). Watkins ail deserve tho thank-* of the community, as well us the performers. Of one unostentatious helper who always interests iiimscit in auyihiiig for (ho general good, it is needless to speak. The proceeds were £18 2s Gd, a very respectable tutu indeed, cousHicriiig tho low rales of admission. Between tiie acts tho Re v. H. Stocker informed those present that a performance m aid of Mr 'Pulley will be given shortly.

Football.—The usual match takes place to-morrow in Dr Watkins' paddock. Farmers 1 Club.—lnconsequence of there being a great deaf of business to do at the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board meeting onASaturday, September 2nd, it has been resolved to bold the Farmers' Ciub meeting at It a.m. that day, instead of 1 p.m., as previously advertised. German Bay School Committee.—A meeting of the above was bald on the 23rd inst. Present—Messrs Jolly, Curry, Jones, and Hartington. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Board of Education, authorising the committee to get closet pans for tho Main School, in preference to sinking pits, as they formerly suggested. The Chairman stated he had procured the pans, at a cost of £1 17s 6d. The Chairman informed the meeting that the bell for the Side School had arrived, and drew their attention to Mason Struthei's list, from which they bad selected a bell with wrought iron supports, axle and lever complete : whereas only bell, axle, and lever had been sent. Tt was proposed by Mr \V. Curry, that before proceeding to erect the bell, the Chairman write to Mason Struther's and Co. for an explanation. Seconded by Mr F. Harington and carried. The mastei of the Main School applied for a supply of firewood and certain requisites for the school. It was proposed by Mr VV. Curry, that the Chairman see to getting firewood, and also the other articles asked for. pioposed by Mr E. Harrington, that the Chairman get the hedge round the Main School trimmed. Seconded by Mr A. Jones aud carried. The meeting then adjourned till Wednes -. day, the 27th September.