CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1101, 30 May 1863, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

RIFLE SHOOTING. TO THE EDITOR OP THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sin, —In future when you publish the scores made at ball practice by respective rifle companies, would it not be advisable to state the size of the target used? That used by the Lyttelton Company on Saturday last was Gft by 4ft, the centre being 2ft by 4ft, and bull's-eye, 8 inches square. I have heard that the target used on Monday by the Christchurch Companies was larger, in fact, double the size. Yours faithfully, H. R. BELL, Sergeant No. 3 Company C.R.V,

MODIFICATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE IYTTKLTOX TIMES. Sir, —A letter appeared in your impression of Wednesday last, signed C. Strawberry, with reference to the resolutions passed at a congregational ineetin-r held at St. Andrew's Church, and which were inserted in the 1 Standard.' Your correspondent wishes to be informed how the said resolutions came into the possession of tin. editor of the latter journal. Permit- me to stale, through your columns, that the resolutions were handed to me by a member of the congregation for publication; they were printed I presume, at the Union Printing Office, and circulated in Christchurch. I inserted them iri tlic ' Standard,' without any alteration, and I am, consequently, not responsible for any discrepancy which may exist between the form in which they appear in that publication and the one in which they were originally passed. Your inserting these few lines of explanation will greatly oblige Yours most faithfully, OSBOKN G. EVELYN GODOLPIIIN OSBORX, ' Standard ' Office, May 27. TIM Alf L' TOWN. TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE LYTTELTON' TIMES. Sir, —Permit me to make a few remarks in answer to the letter signed " Thomas French," evidently, from its tenor, the composition of more than one.' With that, Mr. Editor, I do not complain, as it gives the "Critics" an opportunity—with your permission—of replying to it. I do not think that the ill-judged sneers contained in the letter, and levelled at the " Tiinaru Correspondents," or at the want of judgment of the Editor, in gi v ing his opinion without due consideration, can advance the opinions which he is so eager to support; oil the contrary, Mr. Editor, in the mind of any unprejudiced person who knows Tiinaru, it will lessen the impression he so evidently desires to make. Facts, Sir, are " stubhorn things," and all Mr. French and Co. may urge cannot remove the impression that money has been laid out on Rhodes' town (not on the great north or south road; with that no one complains, though that portion of the road was first made which runs through Rhodes' town) which ought to have been expended, in all fairness, on the Government town.

First, Mr. French asserts that the landing place in Rhodes' town is the best which I can distinctly deny, as many a time when the surf has broken so roughly in Rhodes' landing place there has been comparatively still water in the landing place at Government town. I understand that Captain Sproule, who, I believe, is the Government pilot, can report favorably of the same place, and further, that it has been always the starting and landing point of the old whalers who used to resort to Timaru, some of whom, I believe, are here still, and I think would support the opinion I have here advanced. Your correspondent also urges that, because there was a store on the beach, it was necessary to make a road to the Timaru Hotel. Now, Mr. Editor, when that road was widened and improved there was no Timaru Hotel—it had been burnt down—but this small fact Mr. French very conveniently loses sight of, namely, that it had been resolved to build an hotel for the Messrs. Rhodes, near the site of the old one, and which Mr. French, with perfect sangfroid, dubs with the title of " Our" club house. In reference to the public meeting to which Mr. French alludes, namely, the so-called separation movement, I might say that I was present, and it was an opinion publicly expressed that the meeting was but a feeler; and I must thank Mr. French and his friends for thus enlightening us, which, as I read it, amounts to this, viz., that Government have adopted the policy of allowing the Road Board to expend money on Rhodes' town which should have been laid out on the Government sections, and thus appeased the magnates of the place. If lam wrong in my judgment, no doubt Mr. French can set me right. lam afraid that Mr. French's judgment for once has led him astray, and that, being a tenant of the Messrs. Rhodes, and having a section behind the church, he cannot be expected to give an impartial opinion. I cannot see, Sir, in all that Mr. French has advanced, one argument which would disprove any assertion that I may have made with respect to the townships. Mr. French's very mild sneer at " Saurian," with respect to the section in " the gully," is uncalled for, as I am not at present a proprietor either in Rhodes' or the Government town. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for your former kindness in inserting the few remarks I have made. I will now leave the matter in the hands of the public, who can judge for themselves. Trusting you will insert this, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, SAURIAN GENUS.