Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 682, 26 January 1883, Page 2

Peninsula News.

Sir John Hall.—lt is reported tint Sir John Hall intends purchasing the Holmes estate in Pigeon Bay, and is therefore about to become a resident on \ite Peninsula. Little River Railway,—The following tenders have been received for the Lake Forsyth contract of the Little River and Akaroa railway : —Accepted— J. Coate.s, Palmerston,£34Bo. Declined—Stocks and Wallace, Christchureh,£39ll; P. O'Malley £39831 J. Scanlan, £4166; W. Ware and, Co., £4258 ; W. M. O'Gilvee, Sydenham, £4947 ; T. Guckloy, Little River, £6046 ; Mathoson Bros., Dunedin, £6570 ; P. Dey, Mosgiel, £7962. Harvest Prospects. — The cocksfoot harvest appears to be likely to be an exceedingly heavy one, and the quality ia, we understand, excellent. The weather has been all that could possibly be desired, indeed, as one gentlem&n said, it seemed made on purpose to oblige tha grass seed cutters. Cloudy days have prevented the seed being shaKen out. and given time to cut a much larger area than could have been saved had the weather been hot and dry. The pasture land lias also kept in splendid order, and stock are looking wonderfully well, and the cows milking splendidly. Fruit too is very abundant, and taken altogether the early part of 1883 is a season to which nearly every farmer o:i the .Peninsula will be able to look back with pleasure. Hands, however, are very scarce. They want good wages, and that we do not grudge them, lut wo do object to seeing good croDS lost altogether, because there are not enough people to harvest them, and we are afraid thit will be the result in a good many cases this year, though not nearly to such an extent as we at first feared, thanks to the magnificent weather. We believe the shipment of a few ions of cheese in the British King would have a good effect on the market bere, and commend the idea to farmers.

Farmers' Club,—We again call attention to the fact that the annual meeting of this club tnlces place to-morrow at the Head of the Bay, and that no business can be done without a quorum, of 2(Lare present. It is to be hoped that all those who can will attend. Charitable Aid.—The; following shows the summary of receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending December 31st, 1882 : — Receipts—Christohurch Hospital, £187 4s Gd; Akaroa Hospital, £4 Us; c:isiii»l ward, £7 7s ; Canterbury Orphanage, £45 4s 4d ; charitable aid, £4 12s. Total, £249 Is 10d. Expenditure—Christchurch Hospital, £2533 8s lid ; Akaroa Hospital, £238 Od lid ; casual ward, £35 12s 10d; Canterbury Orphanage, £1061 2s 8d ; Ashburton Home, £667 16s 4d ; charitable aid, £4435 8s 7rf. Total, £8971 10s 3d. Akaroa Horticultdral and Industrial Association.—A meeting of this committee was held on Tuesday evening. PresentMessrs J. D. Garwood (chairman), Bicknell, Lee, Newton, Jacobson, and S. Watkins (hon. sec). The minutes of the prior general and special meetings were read and confirmed. The hon. sec. stated that the total receipts so far had been £77 19s lid, and that there was still some money to be collected. The accounts, which left a balance of about £20 to the good, were passed for payment. The chairman pointed out it had been the custom to vote an honorarium to the secretary. It had been omitted last year, because the funds were so low, but he thought they might do something this year. Mr Newton said that Mr Watkins had certainly done a great deal of work, and begged to move that a sum of four guineas be presented to him as an honorarium, aa a blight recognition of his services at the two last Exhibitions. This was unanimously agreed to. The hon. sec. pointed out that the prizes given for the collection of birds' eggs had been very small indeed, whilst the labor of collecting them had been great. It was resolved to give an additional 5s to the boy who had collected the greatest number, and 2s 6d to the other lad. Votes of thanks were then passed to the judges, the ladies and gentlemen halping at tho concert, and the school committee for the use of the room. This concluded tho business, and the com mittee adjourned till the second Tuesday in Ju'y, at which date it was agreed that the annual meeting should be held. Sister Mary to tub Front Again— Not to be Beaten. —Dear Mr Editor, —I observe the green eyed monster has done his work, his dreadful sting is keenly felt; the yellow flag of jealousy is daily unfurled. The public cry is, " Support opposition, encourage competition." Now, dear Mr Editor, my first feeling upon reading Betsy Prig's (by the bye, Betsy, change your name as soon as you can) beautiful poetry about spid rs and flies was to comb her hair with the leg of a chair ; but then my old man says, " Mary, my dear, keep calm ; treat Betsy with the contempt she deserves." " But," says I, "do you think it's right for any freedom Englishwoman to hold her tonguu where a good cause is at stake ?" No, Mr Editor, certninly not; I will be heard, and the man is not born who can keep my tongue quiet. Now, I am very sorry to see poor Betsy has no discernment, for if she had. her common sense would soon enable her to see thnt if some poor unfortunate speculators launch out in an undertaking they know nothing about, bad times come upon them, heavy expenses crueh them, and consequently their final act is the Bankruptcy Court, or, as Betsy says, they go "up the spout" (I dont't know what she means by such vulgarity). It really does seem hard lines for them to lose their little all, but tho clamorous cries of creditors must be satisfied, their stocks are thrust into the market for sale, and the highest bidder gets them. Now, Mr Smith, the Cheap Draper, informs me (and I should be very sorry to doubt his word, having found him a very truthful young man) that the stock of goods he is daily offering for sale was purchased for cash at the enormous discount of 33 per cent, off actual landed cost, so now even poor deluded Betsy will be able to see how it is Mr Smith sells a shilling article for sixpence, and also how Mrs Dowell obtained £14 worth for a £10 note. Now, Betsy my dear, don't get cross ; you may have the same opportunity some day, and if you will kindly tell your friend Sairey to favor Mr Smith with a call, she, like all other right-minded persons, will come to the unanimous conclusion that the Great Bankrupt Sale of Drapery and Clothing now going on in those premises opposite the Wharf, Akaroa, ia an exception to the rule, and does not contain rags for her to weep over, but first-class goods of every description, that will gladden her heart and revive her drooping spirits, for tho prices are so low that even " old stagers " are not able to compete with them. Mr Smith tells me he will remain in our midst for two or three months longer, if required, and I feel sure he will be, for I intend telling all my friends to take their grass seed cheques to him and recommend his goods all over this beautiful Peninsula. Well, Mr Editor, you are really a nice man to insert these overflovys in your valuable columns, but I must not crowd you out, and will send further news when required ; and you might tell Betsy, when next you see her, that the smoke and dust have passed away, but the frightful opposition and competition she so much likes remain triumphant. —Yours very truly, Sister Mary. P.S.— Good gracious me! what an energetic young man Mr Smirh is. to be sure ! He really does deserve the immense amount of patronage bestowed on him, for just as I was passing by his shop with the above billet doux for you, out pops Mr Smith, and says, ''Good morning, Sister Mary ; would you like a photograph o£ me and my shop?" '' Yes, that I would," s.-iys I. So, liko a dew creature th.it he ia, iio presents mo with a real beautiful liuie picture, showing any quantity of bargains hung outside the door for sale, and, says he, '• Mary, I intend giving every oiidtouiir purchasing goods to the value of tea shillings one of these valuable mementoes .is a keepsake." Now, isnt't that good of him ? —Advt.

Outsidu News.—ln a case which is now proceeding at tho JDulilin Police Court startling disclosures have been made by informers regarding the history and movements of what is known as the "inner circle " of assassins in Dunlin. Evidence his also been given of the fact that at different times three attempts were made by members of this organisation to assassinate Mr W. E. Forster when he was Chief Secretary for Ireland. —A political panic has occured at Paris. Prince Eugene has arrived and challenged his expulsion.— More arrests of assassins have t>eon made at Dublin. A man named 0 ;, ;C y CO n-

fessea to having directed a shot at Judge Lwson.— The officers of the steamer Sultan have been arrested in Germany it being alleged that they deserted the Cimjbri/i,. after the- disastrous collision of the vessels had taken place.—A Russian force in marching on Merv.—'Some scoundrel entered Sir Jsunee Prendergasfs stable on Tuesday night and delitierately cut the tongue out of his favorite pony. No clue has been foundto the perpetrator. —The Eveiling Star of Tuesday contains the following paragraph ;• —" On d'd, that the seqjel of yesterday's election proceedings was that a well known M.H.R. and a leading member of the successful candidate's Committee, allowed their political feelings to so far overmaster them as to endeavor to settle their differ vices by a resort to physical force, Rumor adds that the Opposition cause again suffered material damage, which will very likely prevent its champion putting in an appearance in public for a day or two."—Tho murder case against Beattie is still pro ceeding. The only new evidence on Tuesday was given by a Maori named fimaru, who stated that on the night of May 27th he prevented Beatde striking the deceased with a stick by getting between them. The deceased, who was the worse for drink at the time, was on her way to Beattie'a houae, for the purpose of getting her clothes.—The English eleven won the match against the Australian eleven in one innings, with 27 runs to spare. The Englishmen made 294 in their one innings, and the Australians 114 and 153 respectively.—The Peninsula Election resulted in the return of Mr Larnaeu by a large majority. He received 667 votes, Mr Donnelly 182, and Bishop Moran 138. There was great excitement.—The Hamil - ton case continues. The evidence for the defence is concluded, with the exception of the evidence of Miss Annie Neilson, the sister of Mrs Hamilton, and as she is ailing, the Court adjourned till to-morrow. No evidence was called by counsel for Mrs Hamilton. The gallery of the Court was crowded by well-dressed women daily.