TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1166, 5 December 1863, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Customs Duties at Lyttelton for November, amounting to £6775, indicate the usual and steady progressive increase in our import trade. The receipts of the five first months of the current financial year 1863-4 shewing already a sum of. £31,475, in the half-year will beyond doubt close on the 31st of December with a total of £37,800, being at the rate of £76,000 for the financial year at Lyttelton only. The second half-year being always more productive than the first, which includes most of our j dullest season aud worst of our winter months, we may expect the collections to reach £80,000 for the year. This, with the duties at the outports, would put the customs revenue of the whole Province of Canterbury at £86,000 or thereabouts. Eor the Province of Auckland—to which place the Southern provinces remit annually a sum that now falls little short of £300,000, and where a war expenditure is going on of at least £700,000 more, or one million sterling in all—the estimates of duties for 1863-4 is only £105,000. Remove the £300,000 of Middle Island and Southern contributions—withdraw the 7000 or 8000 troops and their expediture—and the appearance of prosperity which the other provinces have so long been drawn on to bolster up vanishes. The undue preponderance and influence which Auckland has so long exercised at the expense of the rest of the colony will become at once clearly and unmistakably exposed. The place must collapse. The Late Mb. Hay.—A cruel accident has deprived Canterbury of one of its earliest and one of its best settlers. Mr. Ebenezer Hay, who lost his life on the 27th ult. by falling over a precipitous part of the Bridle-path, came to this province in 1843 in company with Mr. W. Deanes, Mr. Sinclair and his son, Mr. Gebbie and Mr. Manson. These six pioneers came down from Wellington in the schooner Richmond, and landed in Pigeon Bay where Mr. Hay settled, and where he resided till the time of his death. In a quiet unostentatious way Mr. Hay was the author of many good deeds. There are not a few living now in Canterbury who can tell of a friendly hand stretched out to help at the right moment, and that with no niggard spirit. In the same quiet way, Mr. Hay assisted the schools of his neighborhood, of which he may be said to be the father, and in the progress of which he always took a lively active interest. By those who did not know him intimately his character was often misunderstood. He had a strong stern sense of justice, and where he believed himself to be right, was slow to give way. He was of the stuff good settlers are made of. and set an example of active industry and integrity which might profitably be followed by many who come to colonise. Shipping Signals.—The attention of the Christchurch public is drawn to a change in the signals. A steamer from the south will be signalled by a white flag with blue centre, at the mast head, instead of a white flag half-mast high. On the arrival of the English mail steamer a red ensign will be hoisted immediately below the steamer's signal flag, and kept flying till the mail is delivered. In a few days a card will be ready, upon which the list of signals will be printed. The public can obtain them by applying at our office. All-England Eleven.—Mr. Jones from Dunedin arrived here by the Gothenburg, and is now actively engaged in giving orders for the boarding up of the ground and the erection of the necessary booths and stands. It is believed that the Eleven will visit Canterbury about the first week in February next. Among the list of saloon passengers by the steamship Great Britain, which was announced to sail from Liverpool for Melbourne on the 15th September, we notice the names of Mr. George Parr, Mr. E. M Grace, Mr. George Anderson, Mr. Julius Caesar, Mr. W. Caflyn, Mr. W. Mortlock (Mr. 11. H. Stephenson,) Mr. Thos. Lockyer, Mr. John Jackson, Mr. Robert Tinley, Mr. Thomas Hayward, and Mr. Robert Carpenter. From Christchurch to Port may now be compassed without difficulty save in one respect. What with a car to the train and another from the train to the foot of the hill, any one may get thus far with the greatest ease. But the hill still remains, and there's the tug. As long as there are 1200 feet of hill to be mounted on one side and descended on the other, we believe that numbers will still use the road for the sake of being able to ride over. An enterprising person with a small eapital might find it a good investment to start a few saddle horses for hire at each side of the hill. An open shed for the horses to stand, and a man at each shed to look after them and take the fare would be all that is requisite. If the charge is reasonable, there can be no doubt that any number of horses or ponies would find profitable employment in completing the chain of communication between port and plains. Wharf Accommodation. —If any sceptical denizen of Canterbury requires enlightenment on the subject of the increased wharf accommodation let him visit Lyttelton during the discharge of the lighters and small crafts alongside the Government jetty the day after the arrival of a large steamer from Melbourne. The goods are landed on the wharf regardless of their value or destination, piled up till danger threatens a plunge overboard. Anyone taking a casual survey of the deposits may see biscuits, potatoes, blue, pickles, starch, drays, salt, brandy, champagne, paper, printer's ink, bricks, timber, window frames, cases of glass, paint, and a host of other articles; such was the case on the Government jetty yesterday. It is useless to say the authorities are neglectful of the interests of the Port and her commerce; that has been said many times without effect. Of what use will be railway branches and extensions, if we do not provide accommodation for our increased commerce at the entrance to the province. Above lOdaysago our most powerful crane was rendered useless through an accident, and is likely to remain so for some time. General Gaol Return, for the month ending November 30, 1863:— LYTTELTON. Males Females. For trial at Supreme Court ... 4 ... 0 Hard labor 56 ... 5 Imprisonment 1 ... 0 Lunatics 12 ... 5 Debtors 10 ... — Totals 83 ... 10 ' | Total in Gaol 93 DISCHARGED. Tried at Supreme Court 5 Tried before Magistrates 19 Lunatics 12 Debtors 3 Total—Males, 32; Females, 7 ... 39 General Gaol Return, for the month ending November 30,1863: — OIIRISTCHURCH. Males. Females. For trial at Supreme Court ... 2 ... o Hard labor ... 11 ••• 2 Imprisonment 4 ... 1 Lunatics O ... 2 Debtors ... 0 ... 0 Totals 17 ••• 5 Total in Ga01... ... ... 22 DISCHARGED. Tried at Supreme Court 0 Tried before Magistrates 7 Lunatics... : ... ... ... 2 Debtors ... ... ... 0 Total—Males. 7; Females, 2 ... 9

Kohler's Promenade Concert.—There was a tolerably good attendance at the Music Hall on Thursday evening, The Hall is prettily decorated, and it is needless to remark that the music was excellent. The temporary additions to the Hall in the shape of cloak and refreshment rooms are a great improvement, and might be made permanent with advantage to the public.