< PUBLIC NOTICE. WHEREAS a Writ under the hand of His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, in and over the Islands of New Zealand, bearing date the fifth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, and under the Public Seal of the Islands of New Zealand aforesaid, has been directed to me, Charles Simeon, Esq., Resident Magistrate and Returning Officer for the towns of Christchurch and Lyttelton, and for the Christchurch Country District, requiring me to cause to be elected by and from among the duly qualified voters of the before-named districts persons to serve as Members in the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Islands of New Zealand; to wit, for the town of Christchurch, one member ; for the Christchurch Country District, two members; and for the town of Lyttelton, one member: Now therefore I, the said Charles Simeon, in pursuance of the said recited writ, give Notice that the days of Nomination and Polling shall be as follows:— The Nomination for the Town of Lyttelton shall be at the Reading Room, at Lyttelton, at the hour of noon of Monday, the Isth August following; for the Town of Christchurch and the Christchurch Country District, at the hour of noon of Tuesday, the 16th August following, at the Land Office, Christchurch. Polls shall be taken : For the Town of Lyttelton, at the Resident Magistrate's Office, Lyttelton, between the hours of 9 o'clock, a.m., arid 4 o'clock, p.m., of Wednesday, the 17th day. of August following. For the Town of Christchurch, at the Resident Magistrate's Office, Christchurch, between the hours of 9 o'clock, a.m., and 4 o'clock, p.m., of Saturday, the 20th day of August following. For the Christchurch Country District, at the Resident Magistrate's Office, Christchurch, between the hours of 9 o'clock, a.m., and 4 o'clock, p.m., of Saturday, the 27th day of August following. And whereas Notice was given in a Government Gazette, bearing date 29th March, by command of His Excellency the Governor that such place in the Town of Lyttelton shall be taken to be an additional Polling place for the Christchurch Country District as the Returning Officer shall specify, I hereby give notice that the Resident Magistrate's Court shall be the Polling place so specified, and that Votes shall be taken at the said Polling place on the same day, and between the same hours, as at Christchurch. Dated at the Resident Magistrate's Oflice at Lyttelton, this 29th day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three. Charles Simeon, R.M., Principal Returning Officer. PUBLIC NOTICE. ~ "VTOTICE is hereby given,—That all per- -*-* sons found cutting or damaging the Timber or Underwood on any of the Waste and unappropriated lands within the Canterbury Block, now belonging to the Crown, without license granted from the Land Agent of the Government, will be prosecuted aslhe law directs. Licenses, ten shillings per month each, can be had on application at the Land Office, Christchurch. William Guise Brittan, Agent of the Government. Land Office, Christchurch, July 20, 1853. NOTICE. THE Committee on Church Matters are requested to meet in Christchurch, at the Land Office, on Monday the Ist August, at one p.m. C. L. Rose, Secretary.