Peninsula News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 1522, 13 February 1891, Page 2

Peninsula News.

•Peninsula Racing Club.—A meeting of members will be held at the Lake Forsyth Aims Hotel on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Cocksfoot.—The weather for the past week has been excellent for threshing. A great quantity has been bagged, and should the sunn} dry weather continue a week or two longer the greater part of tbte seed will be in. In Little Akaloa the seed is not half threshed out, and this is one of the Bays that feels the dry weather most. There is a splendid yield, and indeed, reports are more favorable now as to the amount and heaviness of the seed, than before the heads were cut, all over the Peninsula. There is some seed in Okain's that has not been cut yet, and it will be a fortnight before it is ready Most ot the seed on the hill-tops is, however, being reaped, and the yield is surprisingly good. Knowing that there is a scarcity of cocksfoot everywhere except on the Peninsula, as Mr Moritzson's letter to the farmers informed us last week, growers should expect a much better price than they have had for some years. The seed that has been grown in the North.lsland this year is far inferior to the usual crop, and that never approaches to the quality of that produced here. It is curious , jto learn that the reason for the failure of the Northern crop is owing to heavy raias, \vben we here have had drought.

Borough Licensing Election.—Nominations for the election of five persons to form a Licensing Committee will be received up to noon on Tuesday, 17th inst., at the Borough Council Chambers.

Wedding.—On Wednesday morning Mr George Penlington, son of Mr W. Penlington sen., and Miss Anna Armstrong, daughter of Mr Charles Armstrong, were married at St. Peter's Church by Archdeacon Lingard. There were a good many of the friends of the bride and bridegroom present, and the bride looked charming. The happy pair went by the s.s. Jane Douglas the same morning, the boat displaying all her bunting in honor of the occasion.

Political.—Mr Thomas Mackay, Land Purchase Commissioner for the Public Works Department, has been appointed to act with Messrs Rees and Carroll in inquiring into the Native land titles. The Hon. Mr Ward, Postmaster-General, attends the Postal Conference in Sydney. The Premier has received a telegram stating that Epari Timutu Kupu, a Government supporter, has been elected for the Northern Maori District, vice Sydney Taiwhanga.

Lake Forsyth Regatta.—-The Akaroa Boating Club have entered the same crew, Messrs .Noonan and Penrose, for the Maidens at the Christchurch Regatta on Tuesday. They have been practising regularly, and are in splendid form. There are only five crews entered for this race, as against seven at Lyttelton. A notice re train arrangements, appears elsewhere. A Committee meeting of the Christchurch Regatta Club was held on Tuesday evening. There was a full atten» dance, and Mr J. O. Jones occupied the chair. A communication was received from his Lordship the Bishop, expressing regret at , his inability to attend the Regatta ; also, from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, offering the Club the lease of a reserve at Lake For* syth for seven years. The conditions were thought to be satisfactory, and it was agreed to take up the lease. The Rev. J. Hoatson was appointed umpire, while the appointment ot official timekeeper was left in the hands of the Secretary to arrange. The tender of the Garrison Band was accepted, as were those ot Mr J, Minchinton for confectioner's booth, and Mr S. Nutt for publican's booth. The Secretary reported that a large number of tradesmen had signified their intention of closing on the 17th, and a general holiday would be observed. The following entries were received :—Maiden Double Sculls, five ; Senior Fours, three; Maiden Pairs, five; Junior Fours, five; Senior Pairs, three ; Maiden Fours, four; Junior Pairs, five; Senior Double Sculls, three; Ladies' Plate, three ; Junior Double Sculls, four ; Single I Sculls, three. The draw for places was made, the hillside ranking as No. I Messrs Hyman and Evans were commissioned to weigh the clinker boats for maiden races. The meeting then terminated.

Wrestling Match.—A wrestling match for £25 a side (says the " Press "j took place at the Theatre Royal, and resulted in a draw. The contestants were Duncann C. Ross, champion of all styles, and George Robinson, champion heavy weight wrestler of New Zealand. Mr Martin Taylor was selected referee, and Mr Mullholland timekeeper. Prior to the first round the Sydenham band entertained the audience, which was agood one, with a little music, and during the interval before the last style a few minutes fencing was indulged in by Corporal-Major Moore and a visitor. The latter was not successful. Upon the wrestlers appearing they were warmly applauded, and after the toss set to work at catch-as-catch-can. In this as in subsequent styles Ross exhibited a great amount of agility and relieved himself from the leg grip of his opponent, with a quickness much too smart for Robinson, who threw moie weight into the affair. He was hardly in condition for the hard work to which he had to submit, and this was acknowledged by Ross ere the battle was drawn. In the first style Ross secured the fall—the winner having to obtain three out of five—in rather an easy fashion, but quickly succumbed to his heavier opponent in the Cumberland style. The visitor proved victorious in the Greek and Roman, but sur* prised his audience when he lost the American side hold, in which it was supposed he would be the more proficient. The intervals of rest spun out the time, and when the final bout (collar and elbow) commenced the evening was well advanced. First Robinson then Ross would apparently have the advantage and just as rapidly lose it, and frequently Robinson forced Ross to his knees. But both failed to place the other on his back, and Robinson proposed a compromise. It was to declare a draw, give him fourteen days to train and then he would wrestle the same man for double money. Ross demurred to this, as he was anxious to catch the Auckland boat, and offered to wait ten days. This failed to suit Robinson, and the two caught each other's collar and elbow with no better effect. This time the local man agreed to the terms of ten days and £50 aside, the referee declared the match a draw, and the crowd separated.

Late Cable News.—Shipowners at London are now discharging their own vessels.— The excitement at Cardiff has not abated, and troops are being despatched to preserve order. —The Shipping Federation is determined to supply men, and a blockade of coastal traffic is threatened in consequence*—A Conference between the United States and Canada on the subject of reciprocal trade relations will be held in March.—Sir Juhn Macdonald has issued a manifesto declaring the Government will develop the resources of Canada as an integral part of the Empire, and that unre- ' stricted reciprocity is veiled treason.—Baron Hirsch has given twelve million francs to promote Hebrew emigration to A merica.—A Russian Jews Colonising Society has been formed in San Francisco, for the purpose of bringing over men to engage in agri» culture.—Rudini, the new Italian Premier, adheres to the Triple Alliance.—Lord Salisbury has thanked Signor Crispi, ex-Premier of Italy, for the friendship he showed towards Great Britain.—Madame Adelina Patti has been arrested at Berlin for breach of contract to sing in St Petersburgh. She was admitted to bail. Patti's jewels were seized when she was arrested, and the prima donna had to deposit the amount of the claim to get them back.—Sir William Cumming, who was alleged to have been detected in cheating the Prince of Wales at cards, has issued five writs for slander. Sir C. Russell has been retained for the prosecution. His Royal Highness has been subpoenaed as a witness.—Mr Parnell declares that the prospect of the settlement of the dispute respecting the leadership of the party is less promising! Referring to the question, the " Standard " asserts that Mr Parnell reiuses to abandon the leadership beyond the present Parliament.—C. Rhodes, Premier of Gape Colony, has given in his ad. hesion to Parnell, and has promised monetary assistance.—A picture, which is believed to be Titian's " Venus and Cupid," lias been discovered in Melbourne. It is to be sent Home for identification. — The stevedores at the Albert Docks have struck. Tom Mann states it is intended to block the steamers of the British India, Shaw Savill, and New Zealand Shipping Companies.—Mace, a private banker in Paris, has absconded, leaving liabilities amounting to twenty-one million francs.— Bismarck asser.s that the policy of the Government is causing his handiwork to crumble away, and creating friction between Northern and Southern Germany. He believes the Emperor will soon realise he is wrongly advised.—Three of the Chilian rebel cruisers have gone over to the President.—Signor Crispi has refused a; title, and returned to his practice at the Bar. — The New Zealand Shipping Company has ordered a steamer I from Dennys, the shipping builder, of 6300 tons, to carry 70,006 carcases of frozen mutton. —It is proposed to enlist 2000 Indians in the American Army.

Outside News.—An important sale of sheep takes place at the Horsley Down Homestead Yards on Friday next, February 13th, on the arrival of the morning train from Ghristchurch.—There was shipped from New Plymouth during January 149 tons of butter. This does not include a great quantity which goes to Wellington by rail.—An attempt was. made to wreck the down train to Brunnerton by placing a heavy sleeper across the rails. No cine as to the delinquents has yet been obtained.—A splendid equatorial telescope has been presented to the Canterbury College by Mr James Townsend, of Christchurch, for astronomical purposes. — Lord Knutsford, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has cabled to the iate Sir W. Fitzherbert's family expressing his regret and that of her Majesty's Ministers at the death of so distinguished a colonist, and conveying their profound sympathy.—Sir Harry Atkinson and Captain Russell, two ot the New Zealand representatives to the federal convention leave for Melbourne on Monday.