Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 1520, 6 February 1891, Page 2

Peninsula News.

Cricket.—Members of the Club are reminded that the usual practice takes place on Saturday next.

S.S. Akaroa.—Mr J. Vangioni has been appointed the local agent for this steamer. He notifies she will leave for Lyttelton at 6 a.m. toitnorrow instead of 8.30 a.m, and all cargo must be on the wharf this (Friday) night.

Insect Pests.—We have received a copy of a valuable work on the " Destructive Insects of Australia," published by Quibell Bros., Newark, England. It is creditable to this enterprising firm to supply the want so long and keenly felt by those devoted to fruit growing and agricultural pursuits in these colonies. Books on the subject are scarce and dear,, but Messrs Quibell offer without cost a concise, interesting, and valuable book on insect pests, written in plain language, to be easily understood by anyone, well printed and fully illustrated. We feel this book will have most important results, and do very much toward ridding the country of many pests that make fruit growing now a precarious industry. It treats of all classes of insects, and maybe had free from Messrs McLean Bros, and Rigg, Melbourne.

Dissolution of Partnership.—Attention is called to Messrs Recce & Sons' advertisement, which appears elsewhere.

Matriculation.—We notice that Mr A. Sims, formerly pupil teacher at German Bay school has matriculated at Canterbury College,

St. Peter's Church, Akaroa. — As notified elsewhere, the Yen. Archdeacon Lingard will hold morning and evening services in St. Peter's Church, Akaroa, on Sunday next.

Borough School Committee. — The nueetiag of the Borough School Committee was> not held on Tuesday evening, owing to Hie absence of the Chairman. It will be held on Tuesday next.

Cocksfoot.—The weather yesterday was very welcome to the grass seeders. It was the first threshing day since Friday last, and there was along interval of unfavourable weather before that, A week of dry sunny weather would see a great deal of the seed paited from the straw.'

The Band.—We hear that there is a probability of the band starting afresh, and that members are stirring in the matter, several new recruits having offered their services. We sincerely that such is the case, and that the band will meet the encouragement it deserves.

The Lyttelton Yachts.—A private tele* gram states that the yacht Mascotte lett Port Underwood on Tuesday for Lyttelton. A telegram has been received at Wellington from the captain of the yacht Pastime claiming second money in the first class yacht race there on the ground that the Mima shifted ballast. It was disallowed, notice not having been given within the proper time.

Mr Whitefoord's " Locum Tenens."— A Wellington telegram says that Mr Alfred Greenfield, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson, and Resident Magistrate for Collingwood, passed through Wellington on Tuesday on his way to relieve Mr Caleb Whitefoord, Resident Magistrate at Kaiapoi, who has obtained six months' leave of absence.

Outside News.—An Auckland telegram says that amongst the passengers to Auckland by the Mariposa was Mr C. A. Longfellow, a son of the poet Longfellow. He is on a pleasure tour of the colonies.—Archbishop Carr of Melbourne, Bishop Moore of Ballarat, and Dr Higgins, auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, arrived by the Manapouri at Invercargill on Monday. They were met by Bishop Moran and a large number of Catholics, who cheered as the dignitaries drove off.—The Christchurch grocers hold their annual picnic at Little River on Tuesday, 17th February.—The adjourned annual and ordinary meetings of the Lyttelton Harbor Board were held on Wednesday. At the former the accounts audited by the Auditor-General were passed. Business of a routine character was disposed of at the latter.

Australian Cable.—At Adelaide a painter named Lowenthall shot his wife three times, and a fourth shot struck a baby she was nursing. The woman died, but the child has recovered.—Five injections of Dr. Koch's consumptive lymph have been given to a patient suffering from consumption at Brisbane, and no bad results have been felt,—The captain of the Tekapo reported that when sixty miles east of the Sydney Heads he passed the barque Sharpshooter, from Noumea, with six feet of water in her hold. Offers of assistance were made to her, but these were declined, the crew stating that they could hold out for another forty-eight hours. The Sharpshooter arrived safely in harbor. She sprung a leak on Monday. The pumps becoming swamped, the water rose almost to the deck, when all hands took to baling with buckets. The sea going down about the time the Tekapo was sighted enabled the crew to partially block the leak, and the water was reduced.

Late Cable News.—The United States Supreme Court has decided to hear the Canadian appeal against the seizure of a sealer carrying on its calling in Behring Sea.—The Prussian Government is hesitating to take over the responsibility of Dr. Koch's remedy. —Professor Bardenheur treated 100 surgical cases in six weeks without effecting a perfect cure in a single instance.—The German Southwest African Company, with a capital of one million pounds, has received a charter for the purpose of exploring German territory in South-west Africa.—The French press is jubilant at the defeat of Signur Crispi. which is regarded as an indication of the probable failure of the triple Alliance.—Sir A. Sulli» van's grand opera " Ivanhoe " has been produced at the English Opera House with great success.—Lieut. Schwatka, who commanded the Franklin search expedition in 1 78, and who explored the Yukon river, in Alaska, has been killed by a fall.— The " Standard" declares that the Liberal leaders, with the exception of Sir W. Harcourt, are willing to agree that an Irish Parliament shall have control of the police and the settlement of the land, but insist on the right of the Imperial veto. —Mr Parnell, speaking at Ennis,, said that in a few days they would know he had secured a really independent Parliament for Ireland, having power to settle the land question and full control of the police.—The Spanish elections are proceeding. The Republicans, Socialists and independents have been defeated in Madrid by large majorities.— Dr. Plumptre, Dean of Wells, is dead, setat 69. —Dr. Schroetter, after many tests, denies that Dr. Koch's lymph will even enable a correct diagnosis of consumption to be made, and on the other hand it often extends the operations of tubercles. He admits, however, it will cure lupus and intestinal ulcers.— General Booth intends to open a receiving* house and building to serve as a probationary institution, where persons of both sexes will be trained for employment in factories, and afterwards assisted to emigrate.—A gentleman named Fleming, who has subscribed £1000, died suddenly while congratulating the Salvationists. — The funds now amount to £100,000. —It is rumored that the English and Italian fleets have made a demonstration before Valparaiso.—The loss to British commerce by the interruption of trade in Chili is set down at £1,000,000. —The American Minister to Chili has been ordered to with* draw if satisfaction is not given. — The Government have re-captured Piragua.— Twelve thousand of the Ghilian army have joined the rebels.—Mr McCarthy, speaking at Liverpool, said it was necessary that the Irish Parliament should have the control of the land and the police. The Irish party was united on this question, and would soon present an unbroken front.—Steamers with an aggregate of 450,000 tons are lying idle in the ports of Great Britain.—Mr Justice North, in the Chancery division, decided that Dock Companies have the power .to compel shipowners to discharge their own vessels.—Messrs W. L. Murdoch and Dr Barrett, two of the last Australian cricket team, have been selected in an All England team which proposes to make a tour of the United Kingdom. Mr Murdoch. is captain.—Lord Salisbury has refused to permit Arabi Pasha, now in exile in Ceylon, to return to Egypt.—A Baron was detected cheating at cards while in company with the Prince of Wales, and he has fled the country. —The sentence of death passed on Eyraud for the murder of a process server named Gouffe was not commuted, and Eyiaud was executed. —The funeral of the late Mr C. Bradlaugh was attended by labor delegates from the principal towns. Mr Morley was also present besides many other members of the House of Commons. — Information is to hand that Valparaiso has been retaken by the President's troops, who defeated the insurgents. The country is now reported to be quiet.—Professor Mostig, of Vienna, alleges he has discovered a cure for cancer.—Mr Gladstone's Religious Disability Bill is causing, many Nonconformist members to desert.—There are indications ot an Opposition cave being formed if the reported agreement with Mr Parnell is confirmed.

Outstanding Rates.—By the report of the Borough Council meeting it will be seen that the Town Clerk has received authority to sue for all outstanding rates at once.

Frozen Butter Tests.—Some six weeks ago (says the " Press ") a couple of boxes of butter weie placed in the Islington Freezing Works, with a view to testing the relative merits of placing butter in the freezing or cool chamber of the steamers. The period selected was that taken by the steamer to perform the voyage from the colony to England. Yesterday morning the boxes were opened foi inspection by Mr M. Murphy, Secretary of the Canterburj A. and P. Association. Mr Munnings, and the Directors of the Tai Tapu Dairy Factory. The test was not quite so satisfactory as could have been wished, for two reasons. One was that, owing to alterations, &c, being carried on at the factory, the temperature in the cool chamber got as low as freezing point, so that the butter was actually frozen for a time. The other was that there was an unequal quantity ot salt in the two parcels of butter. Both parcels opened splendidly, but the experts were unanimous in classing that in the cool chamber as first quality, and that in the freezing chamber as second quality. As has been said, however, it can hardly be considered a perfect experiment for the reason mentioned. Another one is now contemplated which will enable the experts to judge properly of the relative merits ot the two systems. It is intended to weigh two lots of butter so as to ensure the same quantity of salt, and to place one in the cool chamber and one in the freezing chamber. Then a quantity of fresh butter made up into rolls will be also placed in the freezing cham* ber, and all the butter left until May next. Then four days before the fresh butter is taken out some butter will be made at the factory and tested with the frozen butter after it is thawed out. It is intended that all the samples shall be on view at the Association rooms, and those interested will be invited to sample them.