NOTES FROM AKAROA.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 701, 18 September 1876, Page 3

NOTES FROM AKAROA.

(From a correspondent of the Press.) The near approach of summer naturally suggests pleasure trips and holiday excursions, Having recently had occasion to visit that most pleasant of all pleasant places— Akaroa—it occurred to me that a few jottings might be of interest to some of your readers, so I offer the following for your acceptance, in the hope that you may think them worthy of a corner in your paper. Since last summer many changes have taken place in the affairs of the Peninsula. Commencing with the mode of getting there, the first new feature presenting itself is the steamer Akaroa. This really fine little boat was built in Melbourne to the order of Messrs McLean and Hamilton, and has been constructed with a view to meet the requirements of the trade, particular attention having been paid to the accommodation and comfort of passengers. The Halcyon, though by no means an uncomfortable boat, was found to be too small, so her spirited owners replaced her with the Akaroa. In addition to being larger than the Halcyon, the Akaroa is much faster, and possesses the great advantage of carrying a very obliging steward, whose efforts to minister to the comfort of his guests are of a highly satisfactory character. It is undoubtedly a great convenience to be able to obtain refreshment —solid or liquid—of unexceptionable quality on board the steamer. Very little change is to be found at Pigeon Bay, except that some enterprising individual has erected a—l was going to say shanty—store nearly opposite the hotel. This, and the recent change of landlords at the hotel, were the only alterations which presented themselves to my notice. Bob Main still drives the coach to Akaroa, and, as of yore, accomplishes his task in a manner which leaves nothing to be desired. The road over the Pigeon Bay hill has been much improved, and may now be looked upon as being in good order. Arrived at the Head of the Bay, a very noticeable alteration meets the eye of the traveller. Instead of the quaint old edifice, which for so many years bore the sign of the Traveller’s Rest, a veritable traveller’s rest is to be found in the shape of new and commodious hotel. The old building was, as your readers are doubtless aware, burnt to the ground some months ago ; and has been replaced by one which would not disgrace auy town in New Zealand. The style of architecture is not pretentious, but the manner in which the house is finished and furnished reflects the greatest credit upon Mr Barker’s taste and enterprise. The hotel is very commodiou?, being able to find sleeping accommodation for upwards of one hundred visitors, and also possesses some elegantly furnished suites of apartments for families. I trust that Mr Barker’s speculation will prove a remunerative one, and I have little doubt that if he adheres to his present determination to supply nothing in the shape of refreshment but what is of the best possible quality that result will accrue. A very desirable alteration is also being made in the road, by which the abrupt turning round the corner of the hotel will be obviated.

Akaroa, considering what it was two years ago, presents quite an altered appearance. Landlord Beecher still ministers to the creature comforts of his patrons, and Wagstaff’s Hotel presents its attractions to the weary traveller, but changes have taken place in the proprietary of two other of the hostelries. My old friend Garwood no longer smiles upon his customers a la “ heathen Chinee,” but wanders about the towu cracking jokes for want of other employment. He has erected a neat villa, whose verandah presents such a mass of bloom as to be highly suggestive of a horticultural show. The ricketty old jetty has been repaired and extended, the extensions being run out in a semicircular form. The next addition, if carried out on the same principle, will terminate somewhere not far short of Beecher’s door step.

A roomy parsonage has been erected, and quite a number of new buildings for occupation as dwellings or places of business have sprung up, the new ones invariably being of a style infinitely superior to that which obtained years ago. But, notwithstanding these signs of progress, trouble is brewing, which threatens to disturb the quietude of this once peaceful town. Some mischievous individual (Beecher, no doubt) put it into the heads of the people to go in for a municipality; the idea has been carried out, and a very fine mess has been made of it, and to crown the trouble a limb of the Fourth Estate has started a newspaper. The mesa I refer to is concerning the election of Mayor and councillors, about the legality of which doubts have arisen, The local news-

paper furnishes the opportunity for the disputants to abuse each other in correspondent a’ letters,and reports'their acrimonious speeches at the Council board for the edification of the burgesses. With such a promising commencement I wish my friend Scarbrough luck of his office of Mayor of Akaroa. Another institution has sprung up in Akaroa which deserves a passing notice. I reter to the establishment of a brewery, which not only supplies the local demand, but sends forth its productions to the outside world —Christchurch, Timaru, and other places being glad to patronise the very excellent, brew of Mr Hooper. The superiority of Akaroa beer is, I am informed, attributable mainly to the character of the water used, which is obtained from a spring in the hills behind the brewery, and which furnishes an inexhaustible supply of a quality peculiarly favorable to the production of first-class beer.

I am’ afraid I have already trespassed upon your s pace and patience, so will only further remark that the road over the hill to Little River has been much improved ; that Mr Haines still keeps the “ House on the Hill Top ; ” that Little River is still turning out lots of timber, and is still without an accommodation house ; that Mr Franks still provides refreshment for man and beast at Lake Ellesmere ; Joe Macfarlane, that king of “ whips,” still drives the coach, and I cannot conclude without expressing a hope that he may long continue to discharge that important office which be has hitherto done with such credit to himself and satisfaction to his patrons.