AKAROA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 241, 10 February 1860, Page 2

AKAROA.

(From the Lyttelton Times, January 25.) We have some interesting items of intelligence from Akaroa.

On Monday, the I9th instant,.Mr. Robert Close launched in Robinson's Bay, a fine craft, built on the centre board, or sliding keel principle, which has of late been generally adopted by the coasting trade of this province, and is likely to become universal on the coasts of these islands, wherever at least bar harbours and shallow estuaries prevail. Our correspondent claims particular attention to this vessel, as a thorough good specimen of a faithfully built, well-designed, useful coaster, likely to possess in an eminent degree the three money getting features of light draft, large carrying powers and good sea-going qualities. Her dimensions are —61 feet on the keel, and 75 feet over all, with a depth of 6 feet 5 inches and breadth 16 feet 6 inches which will give about 75 tons, builder's measurement. Her frames .are well selected crooks of black pine, with which timber she is planked in 3 inch, and lined in 2£. Indeed, as her keel, kelson, stem and stern posts are all of that material, and only her decks of white' pine, she may be called an entire edition of that useful timber. While her main hatchway is 12 feet by 8 feet, she is also constructed with a timber port forward to enable her to carry balk stuff. Her combings are also of a much greater height than in general, an improvement that will be recognised at a glance. Her iron-work, from Mr. Kirby's forge, is very creditable—and superior to that of most bush built craft: she is fastened with iron; and a profusion of Kowai treenails and knees inserted wherever the craft could lodge or hang those useful supports. She is to be schooner riggedi, with a short-standing bowsprit; her sails are from Mr. Reed's loft in Lyttelton. Her launching draft was 2 feet 6 inches giving promise of a load-draft under six feet: she will stow easily two tiers of wool bales, and of market cut timber some 38,000 feet. Great care has been displayed in the construction of the case for the centre board or sliding keel, to ensure against the bare possibility of leakage. Our correspondsnt further goes on to state that it may be fervently hoped that this vessel will satisfy the most fastidious among our cognoscenti that there is no occasion to send money out of this province to purchase vessels which may quite as well be. built on our shores, and receive their baptism in our own waters. Mr. Close, having given hostages to fortune, called his maiden effort, Mary Elizabeth after certain olive branches, whom, with their mother, he hopes soon to welcome by an early ship to the land in which he has made such a success-! ful debut as a builder.

On Monday, the Rev. Mr. Frazer opened the Scotch Church at. Akavoa, which is,nearly- completed, with an evening service. During his lec-j ture lie expressed with great warmth the pleasure he felt at being-at last in a position to strengthen the hands of the resident Church of England minister, alluding feelingly to the many accounts of revivals in various parts, such as the Uuited. States, Ireland, Scotland, and "Wales; and the duty of all uniting in prayer that the Sun of Righteousness may in very deed arise on this land with healing on his wings. In conclusion he gave something more than a glance at the many signs with which the times are pregnant, that we are arrived " at the times of the end."

The committee appointed at Akaroa by the Bishop of Christchurch, held their first meeting on Tuesday to consider the question of affording by means of a new building increased accommodation to members of the Church of England. We have been requested through the medium of our columns to inform the numerous absentee proprietors of land in the Akaroa district, that Captain Greaves has been appointed Secretary to the Committee, aud that they are earnestly solicited to lend their aid by liberal subscriptions towards the consummation of so desirable an object as the erection of a fitting edifice for the worship of God. * We are requested by Captain Greaves, the subcollector of Customs at Akaroa to lend him a hand by our columns, in impressing on the inhabitants 'of that district the monstrous and suicidal folly shown in aiding and abetting runaways from whalers. Having received letters from the United States and France from owners, and masters speaking of intended departures, all of which have been instructed or advised to make Akaroa their Southern rendezvous, and keeping up as he does, a considerable ■and active correspondence with a view of fostering this great resource and ready money market, in which he can have neither direct nor indirect interest, it seems to him and really is most incomprehensible that a whole district should submit to jhave such exertions paralysed and negatived by

countenancing the half-dozen vagabonds who seem to enjoy the secreting of deserters better than the payment of their own debts. To show the worthless character of some of the runaways, and their spendthrift ways, it is a fact that during the late depression in the timber trade, they were crawling about, craving: humble permission to be allowed to"take the pit-end of the saw, to earn, if haply they could, their grub. If the ordinary arguments reach home, let all who have either from morbid sympathy, thoughtlessness, or pure mischief, in any way, however indirect, countenanced desertion reflect that it is sheer nonsense to import men, women, and children with the country'st reasure— and then encourage competition—and such competition against it.