Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 673, 27 December 1882, Page 2

Peninsula News.

The Holidays.—ln consequence of the holidays, the telegraph line was closed yesterday, and the mail remained unsorted, and never reached us, so that our readers got no outside news this issue.

A Prolific Picnic.—One usually hears, in connection with children's picnics, that one or two are left behind, but tbe opposite was tho case in ono from Gebbie's Valley to Rabbit Island lately, where one of ladies had an addition to her family during the day. Mother and child are doing extremely well.

Akaroa and Watnui Road Board.— There was no meeting of this Board on Saturday, Mr Checkley being the only member that turned up. The letting of the cocksfoot on the roads was mentioned by the clerk as the most urgent business, and he said he would call for tenders at once and lay the result before the adjourned meeting. Mr Checkley then adjourned the meeting till 2 p.m. on Saturday next.

A Day Late.—We must apologise for not appearing till to-day. We intended to let our readers know last issue, but the notification, with other matters, was crowded out at the last moment. Coming out yesterday would have necessitated all hands working on Christmas day, and we know our kind supporters will agree with the editor that that would be ''hard lines."

Ii outicl h'U'ral and Industrial Asr.oc_Ation. —A meeting of the committee w_s held last right, Mr Penlington in the chair. It was agreed thar the sub-committee for preparing the Oddlellows' Hall for the show should meet at 10.30 a.m on Friday to make definite arrangements. It was resolved that Messrs Nalder, Lee, and Northcote he requested to assist Messrs Piper and Saxton. as judges of the Horticultural Show. It was resolved that the Industrial judges should be requested to he in attendance by 9 a.m., and tho Horticultural by 10.30 a.m. It was further settled that children competing for the making of boquets, and the drawing and mapping, should bring their own materials, and meet at 10.30 a.m. on the Ist, at the Hall. The secretary was empowered to let spaces of land for booths, &C, proceeds to go to the funds. Two prizes were acknowledged from Miss Connel!.

Sharks.—Mr J. li Yates caught a shark recently near the Wainui wharf, which measured nearly 6 feet. Bathers should be careful.

The Costume Cricket Match.—This match did not come off, sonrn plajers who had promised would not play, and the management thought it belter to defer it. The decision was hard on the country players, who had come in with cosiumes, and on the spectators also, who had abnegated other fun to be present. School Inspect,.ons.—The following are the Inspector's reports on the German Bay Main and Side Schools:—" Main SchoolAttendance—Number on roll 51, average last week 378, average last quarter 38-2, present at examination 42. Teachers—Mr Roulston. master ; Mr E. W. Watkins, P.T. Results of examination in StandardsPresented in Standard IV., 1 ; do lIL, 3 ; do 11.. 14 ; do 1., 9 ; total, 27. Average age-Standard IV., 12.9 ; lIL, 10.7 ; IL, 9.10; L, 10.3. Passed—Standard IV., 1 ; 111., 3; 11., 9 : 1., 8 ; total, 21. Percentage 77. Percentage of number presented _in standards to number present nt examination 62. General Remarks—This school showed a very considerable improvement on the meagie results of tho previous year. The children presented for examination appeared to be well grounded, and found little difficulty in doing the work that they attempted. Except that singing is not taught, the usual course of instruction is followed, and the teaching is industrious Tho pupils present were orderly and attentive. Side School.—Attendance—Number on 101 l 43, average last quarter 22, average last week 35, present at examination 39. Teacher, Mr Giles. Results of examination in Standards—Presented in Standard V., 2 ; do IV., 1; do 111., 5 ; do IL, 2; do 1., 9 ; total, 19. Average ageStandard lIL. 11.4; IL, 13.3; L, 10.3. Passed—Standard lIL, 5 ; TL, 2 ; L, 9 ; total, 16. Percentage 84. Percentage of number presented iv standards to number present at examination 48. General Remarks—Tho p .pils presented in the fourth and fifth standards failed completely in arithmetic. In the lower standards thoroughly good work has been done since last examination, and, provided a regular attendance is maintained, the children successful in these standards should find little difficulty in passing a higher next year. The instruction is properly regulated, and good order is maintained.—W. L. Edge, Inspector. St. Peter's Chuucii.—TheXmaa festival was celebrated at St. Peter's, Akaroa, mi Monday, by two services, at both of which there was a celebration of the Holy Communion. Tho first was at 8 a.m., and the second at 11 a.m. The latter was semi-choral, the anthem being Whitfield's —" In Jewry is God Known." The To Deum, Venite, and Jubilate were from Jackson's service in F, the chants for psalm, h and responses being taken from Mercer, and the hymns, Nos. 61, 59, and 60, Ancient and Modern. The Yen. Archdeacon Harris preached, taking for his text the first portion of the 14th verso of the Ist chapter of St. John. He was assisted by the Rev. W, A. Davidson. The Church was crowded. We must congratulate those ladies and gentlemen who took part in adorning the Church on the good effect produced. The walls and windows were decorated with fern fronds, laurel, box, ivey, and other evergreens. On the organ w.re two wreaths of bright flowers, scarlet geraniums, and white lilies predominating. Round the organ screen, and on the lower part of the organ was a band of white verbenas, scarlet geraniums, box, and grass. The altar, lectern, and desk were equally well adorned with zonale geraniums of different tints, grass, white roses, lil lies of different kinds!, and other beautiful flowers, set off by a hack ground of staghorn moss, ivy, and other foliage. Round the vestry was a band of holly with scarlet and while geraniums. Tiie font was enwreathed at the bottom with a wreath of ferns, and in the middle was a mass of ivy, box, scarlet and white geraniums, and other bright flowers. Th ;re was also a cross of white flowers placed across the top with colored blooms at the angles. Over the doors and on tho gallery and pillars were different evergreens, interspersed with scarlet and white blooms. Mr Lawrence Watkins kindly acted as organist for the occasion.