POPULAB ENTKETAIHMENXS AT AkAEOA, — The last of the present series of entertain ments given in connection with, and for the the benefit of, the funds of the Akaroa Literary Institute, took place in the Town Hall, Akaroa, on the evening of the sth inst Additional eclat was given to this entertain ment owing to the committee’s and presi dent’s prizes for recitations being competed for; the judges appointed to decide the respec tive merits of the competitors being the Eevds W. Aylmer, and S. D. Green, With Mr W. H. Pilliet, who awarded the committee’s first prize—a gold pencil case—to Mr Thomas Parsons; the second prize—a silver pencil case—was given to Master fierland; Mr C. L. Wiggins being the recipient of a hand somely bound illustrated edition of Shak speare, which was the prize given by the president of the Institute. After the baud had played the first piece on the programme, Mr 8. Watkins, the president, came forward and said—“ Ladies and gentlemen,—The enter tainment of this evening will be the last of the season. I indulge the hope that the chief object of the committee has been obtained— that of fostering a taste for innocent and intellectual pleasure, in place of those which too easily take and keep possession of the unoccupied mind. Amusements of some kind are necessary to keep both body and mind in a healthy condition; and where those of an innocent kind are not readily to be found, the worse instincts of our nature soon occupy the vacant mind. Selections from the works of eminent writers have been impressively read to you by different gentlemen, giving you, as I hope, a stronger desire to make yourselves acquainted with the authors of those works. The musical parts of the entertainments have been of a varitd character, to suit, as far as pos sible, the different tastes of the audience; and 1 venture to express a belief that but few towns possessing so small a population as Akaroa could have placed upon the stage a greater amount of musical talent. 