LOCAL AND GENERAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIII, Issue 6522, 31 March 1939, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I School Jubilees.—lt has been suggested Banks Peninsula schools should hold combined jubilee celebrations during the centennial year, 1940. The Okains Bay school, started in 1865, will qualify for its 75th anniversary next year. It stood on the site where the vicarage now stands, and Rev Mr Torlesse, was the first master. Slacks of Cocksfoot Sacks. —It is not often that stacks of cocksfoot sacks are seen on Banks Peninsula these days, but at Okains Bay esterday 1450 sacks, belonging to Messrs Thacker Brothers, in a paddock in front of Mr J. E. Thacker's house made an imposing sight. This seed was harvested on Okains Bay heads and was recently sold at 8d per lb. Jolie Street North, Footpath.— When the Akaroa Borough Council members make an inspection of .the Borough with the idea of tidying up for the Centenary next year the work of forming the footpath on the East side of Jolie Street, Noi'th should be considered. This street is used a great deal by visitors as well as local people and the untidy grass and rough clay footpath practically in the centre of the Borough look very untidy and dilapidated.

Easter Train Timetable Arrangements.—The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train arrangements in connection with the Easter Holidays. On account of i the Addington Market being held on Tuesday, April 4, the usual Wednesday services will operate on that date. A late train has also been arranged on Thursday, April 6, for the late shopping night. Are We Becoming Too Soft?-— When some of the visitors to the Peraki unveiling ceremony on Tuesday complained of the difficult road over which they had brought their modern cars, one member of the party remarked upon the different conditions under which the pioneers travelled one hundred years ago when most had to travel by foot through rough bush tracks. It was remembered also that when Mr Gilbert senr. was very sick his wife, a Maori princess actually carried him over to Little River on her back to obtain medical aid. A Cautious Pupil.—The Hon. Mr P, Fraser, Minister of Education was surprised yesterday at Okains Bay, when, on a vote being taken of pupils that they should celebrate the Minister's visit and the opening of the new school by naving a half holiday that one pupil did not hold up his hand. The Minister questioned this pupil on his reticence to accept the offer and found that he did not wish to lower his attendance record. The Minister was able to assure him that this would not affect the attendance and the boy was quick to accept the Minister's assurance in the matter. Dry Conditions. —The hillsides of Banks Peninsula are as dry at the present time as they have been for many years and Okains Bay is no exception to the rule. Though some parts of the district benefitted with recent rains some areas got veiy little benefit indeed. Farmers are becoming anxious about feed for their stock as most grazing areas are dry and bare of feed and unless there is an autumn growth winter feed will be scarce. Pioneer Work.—Some of those who visited Peralci on Tuesday were of opinion that the early pioneers of the district have not finished all the pioneering work. The road to Peraki is by no means a modern motor road and winds its narrow torturous way up the Okuti Valley and by way of Reynolds Valley and then drops down the northern hillside into the Bay. Two wheel marks define its progress round many § bends and over sundry open culverts and the Hon. R. Semple would certainly not place it in the category of a modern, highway. Some of the sturdy independence characteristic of early pioneering days is required to drive a motor vehicle over such a road with complete confidence. One can more.readily realise the justification of backblock settlers in their demands for better roads after they have travelled over them. The lii-Centenary—At the unveiling of the centennial memorial to Captain G. Hempleman at Peraki on Tuesday Arhdeacon Petrie expressed the hope that at least one person there would be present when the bicentenary was clebrated. In discussing prospects choice fell with Courtiney Webb, the nine-months old son of Mr and Mrs, Webb of" French Farm, a member of a pioneer Lyttelton family as, Mr Webb's parents were among those who came in the first four ships to found the Canterbury Settlement. But with the advance of science who knows what the next century will bring. A very fine example of the last century's enduring characteristics was Mr Bob Gilbert who unveiled the memorial. His upstanding figure exhibiting the best qualities of Maori and Pakeha in stature and understanding he stood the journey to Peraki and the ceremony with splendid fortitude for a man at the mature age of 93 years to his credit: