TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1230, 3 May 1864, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Fine Arts. —We perceive by an advertisement that Mr. A. Hamilton intends giving a lecture on the Arts of Design, at Mr. Bonnington's rooms, on Thursday next. He intends illustrating his lecture by some sketches and drawings, in ord&r to convey to the minds of his audience a clearer idea of his meaning than they could possibly entertain from an unaided statement. Mr. Hamilton has lately returned from a somewhat protracted sojourn in Banks' Peninsula, and has enriched his portfolio with some excellent and well-executed illustrations of the picturesque scenery of that locality, which are well worthy of the inspection of the amateur and of the admirers of beautiful scenery.

Lyttelton Harbour.—ln an article which appeared in the Lyttelton Times of Saturday last, on the neglect which lias been shown in carrying out the views of the Wharf Commission, some share of the blame was attributed to the members for Lyttelton. We were not aware at the time that Mr. Aynsley, one of the members for the Fort town, put a question to the Government on Friday evening, asking whether it was intended to press on with the soundings of the harbour. Christchcrch Total Abstinence Society.—The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society was held on Saturday last, in the Town Hall. The attendance was rather above the average. The meeting, which was presided over by Mr. Cutler, was an " experimental " one, that is, it was convened in t order to give aity one who wished to do so, the op- ! portunity of detailing the benefits which he had derived from the practice of total abstinence. Accordingly, several persons gave an account of the improvement which had taken place in their mental and bodily condition since they had relinquished the vice of intemperance, as well as of the pecuniary saving which they had effected. The speakers, who were thoroughly in earnest and outspoken, certainly made out a very strong case in support of their tenets, vehemently denouncing the lnibit of drinking intoxicating liquors, not only to excess, but even in what is called moderation. Princess' Theatre. —On Saturday iast the 5l?!N •son was brought to a termination by the production of the Ticket-of-Leave Man and the farce ot the Hole in the Wall. In the former, Mr. Newton took the part of Bob Briarly for the first time, and at a very short notice. May Edwards was gracetu \ played by Miss Aitken, and Miss Annie Merton represented the fast young gentleman Sam to t e life. Mr. Shiels played Walter Moss, the Caucasian individual, who has such a happv n ' u . of deriving the greatest possible amount of pro from the roguery of his dupes, priding himself the same time on " spoiling the little games those with whom he is brought in contact. - • Manly was very successful as Jim, the tiger; 1» disguise in the counting-house scene was exce • Mr. Hall made the part of Hawkshaw, the >iire x »• detective,in a very efficient manner. Missilora. played Mrs, Willotighby, the chattering old la nolady, in her best style; her lamentations ou>r grandson's teasing tricks was highlv ;linu> !' The parts of Mai thy and Gibson were well by Messrs. Pollock and Howe respectively • • afterpiece of the Hole in the Wall, a tvan> i from a French vaudeville entitled I'yramus Thisbe, was nicely acted. Mr. Hall was calledne i the curtain at the termination of the last piece, briefly addressed the audience, announcing t ia theatre would be closed for a fortnight, am during that period some improvements wou i effected in the building. We understand that «. u - the recess the company will give entertainmen 5 Lyttelton and lvaiapoi. . its The "Debtors and Creditors' Act" has t0 full title " An Act for the relief of Debtors am the better security of Creditors." The next «<• the subject will be "An Act for the relict ot ditors and for better security of Debtors. Accident ox the Zig-Zag.—On Sunday a ttei Mrs. Charles Shepherd and four children, wi servant, left Christchurch for Lyttelton ma S I , cart in charge of Mr. Oswald. O" mK t |, e Sumner side of the zig-zag, about 100 ya r V . t j ie a«cent, the horse refused to draw, and Iwl ' c conveyance over the declivity. The fall ,vas . 30 feet, but fortunately all escaped without s injury, Mrs. Shepherd and one of the children t ing only a few slight bruises. Finding. 11:1 , horse refused to go further, the driver | )Ut with the intention of getting hold of his If- 111 _ missed (he rein. Mr. Newton, of Sumner, « L , art on his way home, kindly procured a horse am from his house and brought the passenge

P ort - i urn Gaol Return.—The following is tin 1 n , m) rs for the month ending .'s<Uh April 11l"^json(males) sentenced to hard labour. H>; r! ]es} ment, 2. Total males, 18. Prisoners ./ sentenced to hard labour, 4; imprisonim." Total females, 6. Total in gaol, 24. r ' s, .'"s r ' uu i i charged, tried before magistrates, 11 is female. Total, 12. The Lyttelton Oaul re i' t ho as follows:—Male prisoners — For tna ■ ]() . Supreme Court, 12; hard labour, 51; «<-* i... sentenced to imprisonment, 4; total .j. Females — For trial at the Supreme <■«| 6 sentenced to imprisonment. 3; total . , \, o fore Total in gaol, 83. Discharged—Males triw magistrates, 16; debtors, 1; total nui'es dlt "'' *, 17. Discharged (females), 2. Total diselmi. The New Zealand Gazette an . lK,u I l o! v isin.s Henry Bacon Quin, Esq., has been appointed H Officer for the districts of, Cheviot, Ivmap o » 0 ,- Heathcote, Ellesmere, city of Christchurcn, Lyttelton, Akaroa, and Timaru. t j[r. Oxfoki).—A meeting was convened < t)ie Fisher's, the Forest Hotel, Oxford, on 23rd inst., at which the following resolu .n 0 f unanimously adopted:—" Ist. It is the oj _ ffil y this meeting that it is desirable to form n «.. from Oxford bush to meet the the nearest point on the North side ot pen ed makariri. 2nd. That correspondence m- 1

with Government to ascertain what assistance may be expected from them. 3rd. That the stationmasters on the proposed line be invited to join in the movement so that the bush at Oxford may be opened up and facilities given for transmitting the timber through the province. The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday evening, the loth of May, when it is hoped parties interested will he kind enough to attend. Akaroa Town llall. —This building is rapidly approaching completion, and will, when completed, be a handsome as well as useful ornament to the town of Akaroa. It is built on land fronting the old French magazine. The dimensions of the assembly room are 40 feet in length by 22 feet in width, the walls being 14 fot't inches in height, surmounted by a semi-circular roof. A reading room 20 feet by 11 feet, and library of the same dimensions. The builders are Messrs. Callen and Penlington, who are carrying out the architect's plans in a very creditable manner, under the supervision of J. F. Roberts, Esq., who is gratuitously acting as clerk to the works for the company. C. M. Igglesden, Esq., of Lyttelton, is the architect. It is contemplated to open the building with a public ball on her Majesty's birthday. New Zealand at a Discount.—The Hawkes Bay Herald says:—" The non-recognition of the Panama contract by the Present Government will have the effect, we fear, of postponing to a remote period the advantages which the colonists have long looked forward to as likely to accrue from the opening of the Panama route. When we remember that the matter was urged upon the English public in every shape —Mr. Ward's energies having, for a period of twelve months, been devoted almost exclusively to the accomplishment of this object,—that a contract was ultimately entered into between a member of the Government and a public company,—the latter of which immediately set about the construction of the addition to their fleet rendered necessary by the terms of their agreement,—and that, two or three months after, the contract was repudiated by the Government which succeeded that in which Mr. Ward had a seat, —it should not surprise us to learn that New Zealand has fallen to a decided discount in the London market, and that schemes of New Zealand origin will be looked at very doubtingly for rears to come."