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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 87, 18 May 1877, Page 2

The vagaries of the ocean at Little Akaloa on Friday were remarkable. At eight o'clock in the morning—dead low water—the water suddenly rose about twelve feet, causing some of the inhabitants to leave their houses and take refuge on higher ground. This was only the first of a series which reached a climax between twelve and one o'clock, when an immense wave rushed in on the land smashing down fences and destroying other property, the debris of which was carried out to sea by the reflux. A quantity of timber was, by this wave, carried in a very short time out to sea, and has not since been recovered. An estimate may be given of the height reached by this wave from the fact that the mooring piles at the jetty were at one time invisible, i.e., about six feet above high water.. We regard it as a fortunate occurrence that the first wave, which was undoubtedly the highest, rose at low water.' This must have had a range of about eighteen feet, as the water afterwards receded about six feet below low water mark. At high water on Saturday morning the range was much leys than during the previous tide, but the irregutarities continued till the afternoon of that day with lessening extent. For the cause of this unusual phenomenon we must seek at the bottom of the Pacific, where some volcanic upheaval similar to that of Arica, in 1868, has occurred, it is to be hoped with less destructive results.

Some slight amendments have been made in the programme published in our last --issue of the Akaroa Steeplechase meeting.

The vacancies which for some time past existed in the Trust Board for the Ellesmere district, have at length been filled.by the nomination of Dr. Aaron. Frankish and Mr. John Rennie, whose appointments were gazetted on Monday last. The Trust Board will meet at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Akaroa, on Tuesday next, the 22nd May, at noon.

A writer in the Christchurch Press yesterday, signing himself " A Pensioned Artilleryman," states that there are now in Canterbury a respectable body of pensioners and time-expired men, from Her Majesty's Army, at least 150 ablebodied men, who have done good service in every quarter of the world, and many served in the Royal Artillery. What Government should do is to enroll all such in the colony, and appoint an officer in command at euch port. In the meantime, men could be employed in erecting batteries, laying down platforms, or other Government work,.until guns, ammunition, and stores could be obtained from England. These could be sent from Woolwich by one of the fast steamers trading to Melbourne, and in about two months after shipment, guns would be in a position, ready for any emergency.

The Okain's Bay and Little Akaloa mail days have been altered from Monday and Wednesday, to Monday and Friday. This will be an advantage to residents in those districts.

The usual meeting in connection with the Akaroa Mutual Association was held on Tuesday evening last. Mr. Nicholls occupied the chair. The subject set down for discussion was whether trial by judge or trial by jury was preferable. Strong advocates were found to favour both methods, but the strongest arguments adduced were decidedly in favour of trial by judge. On being put to the vote, the supporters of the jury were found to be in the majority. The meetings will in future be held weekly. The programme for Tuesday's entertainment will consist of readand recitations, to be followed with criticism from members. The entertainment will be open to the pulslic.

A meeting of the Committee of Banks Peninsula Pastoral Association is convened for Monday next, at 2 p.m., at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, for the tiansaction of important business.

As will be seen by an advertisement in another colmmn, a meeting of the business people of Akaroa is convened for Monday next, at 3 p.m , at Beecher's Hotel, to take steps to form a Trades Protection Society, and to adjust the credit system at present prevailing in Akaroa.

The adjourned perjury cases were resumed on Tuesday last, before Messrs E. C. Latter, G. H. Saxton, J.P.s, and His Worship the Mayor, and the Court throughout the hearing was crowded. As the greater portion of the evidence elicited at the trial has been anticipated in the report of the civil case—Watkins v. Adams—published by us in Tuesday's issue, we have purposely curtailed the evidence, as a repetition would be likely to prove an infliction to our readers. Both accused were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed.

One of the most novel catches that has ever been made on a cricket ground, the Hamilton Spectator, Victoria, states was that which disposed of Mr. Chandler on Saturday, in his second innings at Cavendish He was batting in splendid style, doing pretty well as he liked with the bowling, when Captain O'Connor sent him in a slow one. This he got hold of very well, and sent it.away to long on —a low skimming hit, that but for a strange accident must inevitably have been the means of adding «ix to the score. One of the Cavnedish players (Mitchell), who was standing at mid-on, made an attempt to catch it, but missed the ball travelling altogether too fast for him to hold it. Suddenly the leathern sphere disappeared ; none could tell where it had gone, those in the field were nonplussed, the spectators wondered, and the batsmen continued to run. Then Mitchell recovered from the shock he had received, felt a lump in the body of his shirt, put in his hand, pulled out the ball, and joyfully cried " How's that ?" " Out!" said the umpire, and Chandler had to retire, very crestfallen at his bad luck. The ball struck Mitchell on the wrist, run up his sleeve, ripping it up as it went, and safely logged itself in the body of his shirt.