The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1891.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 1521, 10 February 1891, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1891.

WRESTLING.—Our friend George Robinson, of Little River, wrestles Duncan G. Ross lor £25 and the championship of New Zealand at the Threatre Royal, Christchurch, to-night. Marriage.—We note the marriage at Stratford, N. 1., of a grandson of Mr McKay, of this town (son of Mrs Savage, Pigeon Bay), to a young lady of New Plymouth. BUSH Falling.—Tenders are invited for falling i v 'oo acres of bush at Pahiatua. Plans and specifications can be obtained at the office ol this paper. The Dairy Expert.—Mr John Sawers has returned to the Peninsula, and as will be seen by advertisement, resumes his lessons at Mr Lyall's farm, Pigeon Bay, to-moirow (Wednesday) morning. Borough Licensing Committee.—The nominations for the Borough Licensing Committee take place on Tuesday, 17th inst,, and if an election is needed it will be held on the 20th. On the 26th also the vote will be taken to decide whether additional licenses shall be granted for the next three years. The election of the Committee will be for three years on this occasion, in accordance with the amended Act.

New Gold Field.—The Back Creek rush at Hokitika continues to develop. More claims bottomed on payable gold during last week. Jack and party washed up 30 loads, which gave a return of 10 dwts to the load. They have over 4ft of wash. The " West Coast Times' " correspondent says that twenty claims are on gold which should return £10 or £20 a man per week. The Little River Sheep Stealing Case.—We notice that at the R.M. Court, Christchurch, on Friday, Wm. Levy, a Maori, was charged with having on December 24th committed perjury in the course of evidence given by him in a sheep-stealing case. Inspector Render applied for a remand. Mr Stringer, who appeared for the prisoner, did not object, and a remand was granted till February nth, bail being granted, the accused in and two sureties of £25 each. Board ok Education.—The following gentlemen have been nominated to fill the vacancies caused by the annual retirement by rotation ol three members of the Board, viz.: — Messrs T. H. Anson, Courtenay (retiring member); E. R. Good, Rangiora; W. Montgomery, Christchurch ; J. Tippett Smith, Chrislchurch; W. C. Walker, Ashburton ; E. G. Wright, Christchurch (retiring member). The various School Committees must send to the Secretary of the Board, on or before February" 28th, the names of three of the above candidates for whom they wish to vote, and the election will take place on Thursday, March I2th. Educational.— At the meeting of the Board of Education the resignation of Miss , Ferens, Mistress of the French Farm School, was accepted. Mr Veal reported that 175 pupil teachers had been examimed, of which 139 passed and 36 failed. In our County Frank Penlington, of Pigeon Bay, and Frank I Wight, of Akaroa, passed in the second class for end of second year ; Hugh A. Livingstoue, of Barry's Bay, in second class, for end of third year ; Isabella Armstrong, Akaroa, lin second class, end ol fourth year.

Christchurch Regatta.—The " Press" says ;—Elsewhere will be found a list of some of the business house's which intend to close on Regatta day, Tuesday, 17th inst. In addition to these the grocers, fruiterers, and coal and timber merchants will be closed, and probably the butchers. It is also likely that wholesale houses and offices will be shut for the occasion. This should induce a large number to take advantage of the cheap excursion to the Lake, and make the regatta a success, as the races promise to be well contested. A number of Wellington crews are expected to compete, as well as Kaiapoi, Lyttelton, and the local clubs. We beg to add that Akaroa will also be represented. Who got the Rest?— The following story is being freely circulated in Palmers ton North :—A well knowa farmer residing in that district, who was in the habit of exporting butter, the returns for which were anything but satisfactory, decided that something must be wrong, so with the idea ol unravelU ing the mystery he placed in the middle of a keg a small bottle containing a note, asking the buyer, as a personal favor, to write and tell him the price he paid for the butter. The answer has just arrived, and it is somewhat surprising. The finder of the bottle states that he paid 1 id per lb, while our ltiend the exporter only received <jAd nett. The puzzle now is, where does the difference find its way.

Outside News.—ln the "Refeiee" case the conviction was quashed at the sittings in Banco, by Mr Justice Denniston.—At the Amateur Athletic Championship meeting at Auckland tour records were broken, Canterbury being most successful.—The Hinemoa sailed on Friday for the Auckland, Campbell, and Snares Islands ro make a further search for the Kakanui.—A man named Malcolm Fraser has died in Wellington of the bite of a Katipo spider. Death of Sir Wμ. Fitzherbert.—Sir Win. Fitzherbert died at his residence at Lower Hutt on Saturday afternoon. He was in his eighty»third year, and suffered from Bright's disease. He arrived in the Colony over forty years ago. having given up a good medical practice in England. He emigrated, independant of Associations, and brought his family with him to make a home in the infant colony. He was always foremost in helping his brother colonists, and he was one of the chief of that association that obtained constitutional government for the colony. He was a great believer in the Provincial form of government in the early days, seeing that it was the best manner in which to govern the separated parts of the country, all capable of government. He was the second superintendant of Wellington Province. He was also Colonial Treasurer, and has always been prominent in the politics of his adopted country. He has been for nearly fourteen years Speaker of the Legislative Council.

Laxb Cable News.—Mγ Justin McCarthy promises to- make known the terms of settlement with Mr Parnell on February 12th.— The " Standard " says Mr Gladstone will also shortly reveal the pledges he has given with regard to Home Rule.—lt is reported that the concessions promised by Mr Gladstone to the Home Rule party in respect to the settlement, of land and the control of. police in Ireland are considered satisfactory by Messrs O'Brien, Dillon and McCarthy, but Mr Parnell is also claiming the control ot the militia.—Professor Hanken, of Cambridge, has made successful experiments for the cure of anthrax in with an injection extracted from the spleen of rats mixed with 50 per cent, of glycerine.— Sardou's play, " Thermidor," which has been prohibited in Paris owing to the Radicals objecting to the criticisms in it on Robespierre,

will shortly be produced in London, New York, and Australia.—The Canadian elections will be fought entirely on the trade issue.— The Government favor reciprocity with the United States for tfatural products only, while on the other hand the Opposition advocate unrestricted reciprocity.—Mr Cecil Rhodes, the Cape Colony Premier, repudiates the statements that concessions have been made to Portugal in Manicaland. and he refuses to grant the Portuguese Government a strip of territory across the continent.—A local auctioneer at Brisbane claims to have discovered a cure for consumption and cancer, and he intends to erect a plant capable of treating 10,000 patients. He has offered his specific to the Queensland Government for £25,000.—Mr Parnell has paid another visit to Mr O'Brien. There is some hitch in the negotiations with the Liberals, who refuse to give any assurances as to their future policy with respect to Ireland.—ln the House of Commons, Mr Gladstone's Religious Disabilities Removal Bill was rejected on a division by 256 to 223. In moving the measure Mr Gladstone contended that the present disabilities under which C atholics suffered were unfair, , since their loyalty had been proved to be untainted. Mr Smith, speaking on behalf of the Government, who opposed the Bill, said there was no necessity for the Bill, and the present time was inopportune, as the mass of subjects regarded the proposed change with alarm.— During the debate on the Religious Disabilities Bill, Mr W. H. Smith pointed out that in the event of Home Rule being granted to Ireland, the Viceroy would be the only link connecting the country with the throne, and it was essential he should be a Protestant, as the Catholics regarded their allegiance as due to the Pope before the Queen. It is, however, considered certain ih political circles that the measure will pass latei on—Mr Stanhope, Secretary of War, maintains that the British magazine rifle is the best in existence, and refused to allow the House of Commons to appoint a Committee to inquire into the merits of the weapon.—The Dublin University has conferred the honorary Doctorship of Laws on Mr Balfour.—A contract has been let for lighting the city of London by electricity.— Tippoo Tib intends to pay a visit to England next summer.—The United States will coalesce with the Powers in petitioning the Czar to moderate the treatment of the Russian Jews. —Mr J. Morley has given notice to move that the action of the Executive in arresting the members at Tipperary violates the rights ot Irish citizens.—Mr Parnell claims the right to the nomination of the majority of the candidates in Ireland at the general election. Over fifty of the followers of Mr Gladstone, who are dissatisfied with Mr Parnell, fear that the latter's retirement is a subterfuge and will be only temporary.—A fearful accident happened in the Melbourne harbor. Two of the crew of the steamer Elingamite were in a boat alongside their vessel. When passing the steamer jammed them against it, and one of the unfortunate men was crushed into a shapeless mass. His remains presented a horrible sight, while his companion, though not killed, was seriously injured.-The insurgents are losing ground everywhere in Chili.—Terrible floods have been experienced in districts in China and thousands ot people have been drowned.—China is about to issue a seven million 4.V per cent loan with a minimum of 95. Congress" has voted £1,000,000 towards Ghicago world's fair.—Two of the Australian cruisers, the Boomerang and Karrakatta, are being equipped at Chatham Dockyards. The KatOjmba, Mildura, and Wallaroo will not be ready before April.—Lord Sheffield is arranging for an English cricket team to visit Australia in the autumn.—A. report, which, how* ever, lacks confirmation, is in circulation to the effect that France has agreed to buy Portugal's rights in South Africa, and to abandon her claims on the Newfoundland fisheries on the corVdition'that England admits French sovereign lights in Portuguese Africa.