The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 645, 19 September 1882, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882.

Rise in Crossbred Wool.—We call Peninsula sbeepfarmers' attention to the pleasant fact that crossbred wool bas risen £d to Id per lb in the English market. ONUKU School.—Mr Welsh has been surveying the site of the school ground and vicinity during the past fortnight. It is the intention of the Native Department to enlarge tbe school as soon as a proper lease bas been obtained from the Maories.

Educational. —Mr Granger having been requested to continue bis evening classes through the summer months, has consented to do so. As will be seen by advertisement in another column, the days have been altered, also the hour of attendance for men's class, which commences an hour later, viz., 8 p.m. We trust that those who are in any way- <i fi«i«;nt will avnil themselves of tbe opportunity offered to them by Mr Grangei

Cricket.—A general meeting of the Akaroa Cricket Club was held at Wagstaff's Hotel on Saturday eiening last, when the following officers were elected : — Captain, P. E. Granger ; sub captain, W. Parsons ; bon.sec. and treasurer pro tern , P. E. Granger, working committee. Messrs V. Masefield, Hamilton, W. Mascfield, T. H. Giles, J. Hayward, 0 Watkins, and J. Sunckell. Captain, and .-'ib captain, and treasurer to be ex officio members of committee. The secretary was instructed to write to W. Montgomery Esq., M.HR., requesting him to become patron of the Club. It was resolved to proceed with making the pitch without further delay. The secretary was requested to employ a man to level tbe ground and lay clown fresh turfatonoe. The meeting adjourned to Saturday, 3Hh inst., at 8 p.m. A meeting of tho committee is called for Siturday next, 23rd inst.. at 8 p.m., both meetings to be held at WagstaiFs Hotel. We are glad to say that this club is an established fact, there being from twenty to thirty active members' names on the list, besides a number of honorary members. We hope all those who hive held back through being doubtful of tlie su 'cess of of tho Club will now come forward and enrol themselves menders.

Mr Lawkenoe Watkins. —It is known to many, &nd has been already published in these columns, that for the last two years Mr Lawrence Watkins has he*>n ;;n----remittin-.: in hi* z v.! for tbe cm ir at St. Peter's Church, where he has acted during that time gratuitously as organist. Friday night was the last practice of the choir be could attend, as he is leaving the district, and the Rev. H. Miocker took advantage of the occasion to speak to him as follows :—" Mr Watkins, lam certain that I represent the members of the choir present and the members of the congregation that are absent, when I ask you to accept our thanks for your services as organist during the past. It was our wish and intention to offer you this evening something more substantial than thanLs, hut the time has been so short, and so many liave been occupied at tho enquiry ahout die fires, that we have had to put that off for a few days. lam not going to thank you so much for any skill you may have shown—good playing or bad playing is not the question—nor am I going to praise you for your perseverance and regularity, though 'hey h-.ve been great and worthy of praise. What we have felt has been the good will you have shown, and the modesty with which you have done your work. We have had as a rule to rely on you alone, and had you chosen to give yourself airs we should have been at your mercy. Very few felle ••; of your age would have given so much time to tho work as you have. Very many would have been disposed to show their importance. You have never grudged the time, and have always been obliging and forgetful of self, and believe me, we think ten times as much of you for so doing. Let me now thank you very sincerely, and in a few days I trust you will receive something more than- thanks." It is almost unnecessary to state that al! that had fallen from Mr Stocker was thoroughly endorsed by the choir present.

This Frisco Mail.—Thia mail arrived ' in Auckland on Sunday. _ I Bonouon Council.—Messrs C. A. Rich and W. J. Eruce were the only persons nominated yesterday to fill the vacancies in the Borougn Council. There is therefore another extraordinary vacancy, nominations to fill whioh will be received up to noon on September 27th. General News.—The frozen mutton per Austral advanced id per lb in price on first s;des—Parliament was prorogued on Friday.—Mr Dugald MeFarl ne, the Waterloo veteran, died at Christchurch on Friday, aged 93.—The Thames Volunteers burnt Mr Bryce in effigy.—The Sydney Football team won the match against Wellington by two goals and two trios against two tries. Okain's Bay Oddfellows.—Cn Friday evening, the 15th inst., the seventh anniversary of the Loyal Hand of Friendship Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., Okain's Bay, was celebrated by a dinner and ball. About twenty couples sat down to a capital spread, catered for by Bio. P.G. E. W. Harris in a manner very creditable both to himself and the managing committee. The usual toasts having been given and responded to, Bro. C. Moore, permanent secretary to tlie lodge, wis presented with a Past Grand certificate, beautifully framed, in acknowledgement of his painstaking duties in the lodge. During the evening several songs weie nicely given, and at about nine o'clock the dancing commenced, and was pursued with the accustomed vigor till morning. Larceny at Little River. —At the R.M. Court on Friday, a man named Divid Rowlands was charged with tho larceny of a maul and wedges from a lad named Wil'iam Brownell Constable Ryan of Little River deposed to arresting the prisoner, and the prosecutor who was quite a lad said be had been working for accused who had taken a maul and wedges which was .'eft in his eh <rg& by his father, now absent, and sold them to Mr Brooks of the Hill top hotel. In cross examination by defendant, prosecutor acknowledged that he had been engaged for a month to work with defendant but had only been eight days employed out of that time. Thomis Brooks said he had bought the property, giving 2s Gd for the maul and 10s for four wedges and an old axe and £1 for a tent. Ho understood the wedges were defendant's property. Defendant deposed that he had purchased the wedges and produced an old pocket book with the entry, wedges, 5s The Bench said that the evidence produced was not sufficient and dismissed the case.

Akaroa Rowing Club.—The annual general meeting of the above club was held at Grange's hotel last evening. Mr Westenra took the chair and read the minutes of thelast annual meeting which were confirmed. The Captain read tbe report for the last twelvemonth, which shewed the Society to be in a sound position with the prospect of a good season in store. The report as read with the balance sheet was dopted. A vote of thanks to the winners of the race in the regatta was unanimously carried, als'» a vote of thanks to retiring ofli-ers. The following officers weie elected for the ensuing year : Mr Montgomery, (President), Messrs Westenra and Henning, (Vice Presidents), Mr W. Jacobson. (C'jptain), Mr G. Black, (Deputy Captain), and Mr 0. Watkins, Secretary and Treasurer. The following gentlemen were elected as a commit ton: Messrs Garwood, H. C. Jacobson, W. Stewart, J. McGregor, A. NichoUs. 11. Aylmer and W. Hargreaves. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded tbe proceedings.

Pigeon Bay —Our correspondent writes : —An amateur concert was given here on tbe evening of Thursday, the 14th, in aid of a fund for the purchase of a new harmonium for tbe church. Mr Robinson occupied the chair, and Mrs Marshall presided at the piano. There was a very fair attendance of the public, among whom might be observed some strangers from a distance. The.entertainment opened about 7.30 by the chairman's address, explaining the o> ject of it. There was a good programme in two parts, concluding with the farce of the '" Haunted House." Instrumental pieces were performed by Mrs Marshal), instrumental duets, by Miss Sea ley and Miss A. Hunt, and by the Misses Checkley, of Akaro-i, and vocal duets were given by Miss Sealey and Mr R. Pitcaithly at! well as glees <-y the choral company. Song's and readings and recitations and the final "farce" varied the programme. Several of the performers were heartily encored. Having passed votes of thanks to the School Committee, to Mrs Marshall, the Misses Marshall, the Choir, the Misses Checkley and tbe chairman, the concert came to a close after an enjoyab'e night. The choral company beg to tender their thanks to Miss Sealey for painstaking efforts to make the matter a success. whose proof w-ss the pleasure afforded .md the pounds obtained. The weather in the c'-cing was propitious, but it changed before tbe close of the concert, and if the high spirits of the audience wore not damped before reaching home I am sorry to say their garments must have been. But those who stayed behind to-'chase the glowing hours with flying feet" were more fortunate, as it was nearly fair when they wended their way home in the morning. '• Many returns of the occasion " will, no doubt, be a very general wish, and till then let hope be cherished.