Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 749, 11 January 1860, Page 4

Colonial.

WELLINGTON.

Our latest papers by the Airedale are the {Independent 'of the 3rd and the ' Spectator' of the 4th instants. Politics were, comparatively speaking, quiet during the recess and holiday time. The ■ Independent' of the 30th ult. takes the opportunityof the monthly summary for England to republish the Strakers' trial and all pertaining thereto, at length.

The following paragraphs are from the papers :— Holiday Spobts.—Once a year, at least, the Wellingtonians seem determined to enjoy a holiday, from grandpapa that sits in his chimney corner, to " wee Charlie in the nurserie," and it has often surprised us how good folks do so much on New Year's Day. A stranger, to have visited us on Monday last, when celebrating this Festival, would have laughed at us if we had spoken to him of " hard-times." Well, we are glad there is one portion of the year, if only for four-and-twenty hours, i in which it is allowable to abstract our minds from i the cares of everyday life, and indulge in lighter thoughts and kindlier feelings. This year the weather was magnificent, and early yesterday pleasure seekers were on the stir. The Hutt seemed to be the great point.of attraction, and as such takes precedence in our Editorial notice. There were carriages and horses of all descriptions, and from all parts of the i country, and the owners seemed all struck with the beauty of the scenery, the luxuriance of the vegetation, and the variety and loveliness of the floriculture. Sumptuous the dinners prepared, and hearty the hospitality shown. The Odd Fellows in this district, with a tact worthy of admiration, celebrated their Anniversary, thus securing a large attendance at banquet and ball, which this year passed off with its usual eclat, and in fact at the Hutt all went "as merry as a marriage bell." At Karori, a tea meeting, as usual, and though-not present personally, and we are sorry that on New Year's Day we are not übiquitous, we were told by one who was there, that it was the pleasantest that had taken place yet. In Wellington, although the town itself was forsaken, the beautiful harbour was covered with pleasure-boats of all descriptions, and preciously freighted with youth ! and beauty. The Juno and Emerald Isle took a trip round the bay, and from the earnest endeavors that had been made for accommodation and comfort, everything passed off pleasantly and well. Mr. Rotevmund, with an energy worthy of all praise, got up some rural sports, besides throwing open his paddocks, making a most liberal subscription to the prize fund, which was eagerly contended for, and the awarding of the same, as far as we could learn, giving general satisfaction. Many of the officers were present, and, as usual, the Sons of Mars claimed the lion's share of prizes. The last of yesterday's public amusements that we can notice was a ball given by Mr. Mansill at the Portobejlo Tea Gardens, where they tripped it on the light fantastic toe until a late hour this morning. This is a short review of yesterday's gay proceedings, and we only hope that all our constituents, like our* selves, thoroughly enjoyed a pleasant day, and we most heartily wish them " many happy returns of the same." — Independent, Jan. 3. When the clock struck twelve, the report of a j gun from one of the shipsdn the bay came " booming across the deep," and announced in Wellington that 1860 had begun in the southern hemisphere. It was immediately spiritedly followed up by the various ships' bells in the harbour ringing a merry j peal, and by the exhibition of blue and red lights, the setting off skyrockets, and firing of guns on board several of the vessels, which was heartily responded to by the people on the Beach shouting out with lightsome hearts '• A happy New Year!" A splendid light was also" elevated at Mr. EoterI mund's Hotel, which shone brilliantly over the i greater portion of Te Aro Flat; and the bell of the Free Church rung loudly the inauguration of another period in " the course of time."* Monday was observed as a general holiday, and was gone into with great spirit by the settlers. Various rural sports were kept up by the military and civilians in the extensive paddocks of the Victoria Hotel, and a supper and ball took place at Mount Cook Barracks, to which the military courteously invited their friends aud acquaintances. Altogether the day passed off with the utmost harmony. A little disappointment was felt in the. morning by the non-arrival, owing to contrary winds, of the Wouga Wonga from Ahuriri, which had been engaged for excursion trips to Soames' Island, and different places on the other side of the Bay, which was ultimately made up in a smaller way by some of the sailing vessels.— Spectator, Jan. 4 Yesterday three of the men belonging to the steamer Airedale came on shore on liberty in the ship's boat, and on their returning in the evening they found their boat was gone; they then got into a small dingy which was laying alongside the whavf and pushed off, but when some short .distance out the dingy capsized and one of them, a fireman a young man of about two-and-twenty, we regret to say, was unfortunately dvowued. The body has not yet been recovered.— lbid. Patent Heating up Slips,—An advertisement appears in,ouy issue of to-day, wherein will be noticed that Messrs. White and Co., of Portsmouth, have appointed Mr. James F. Willis agent for the Patent Slips in New Zealand, and from what we can judge from' the prospectus which we have seen, we can safely say that any one purchasing and establishing at Welliugtori one of the above, which is exceedingly cheap and simple, would for a small outlay realize a speedy fortune, causing an influx of vessels to this port, which must and would be appreciated by the public at large.— Mid. The German inhabitants in the Province of N.eleou have followed the example of their country

"Zia the Australian colonies and have formed a whose chief aim will he the nfion and encouragement of Immigration from Kiy to New inland. A .German gen leman U pSnted to a religious society a valuable proI \T which a few months ago ho purchased in the Pl&Jurhood of Auckland; it is intended to eonII T-Hnto an institution for the education of v ]mConZcx^--Yevy little, if any change has nlrerved in commercial matters during the bee"fl. Wool is coming in fast from the various TJvl md the ships now in harbour are pro--9 5- i'with their loading, but money remains iVlv scarce, and at present without immedief . is neot of improvement. Auction sales have X«n very numerous, having probably to some 1 , Tbeen interrupted by the sittings of tho cX ,! Court. One sale by Messrs. Smith and £ nprTWednesday, the 28th inst., demands a U>." notice from the fact that it comprised a paSS-!w,ble quantity of furniture (couches, chests ofdT W a quality that will leave little ftßt°SiitoK similar articles in future. No caUSf LJluw taken place in the prices of staple great otta 9 ■ hamst now near a t hand, we al i l- for some decline in flour and breadstuff's, fflft X > nWe quantities of goods that continue to • o from Great Britain will prevent any advance jSesThat have lately been obtained.-!^-