TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1244, 2 June 1864, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Prksbttkrian Ohuuoh, Lyttelton. — Messrs. England Brothers, contractors for this work, desire us to correct a statement in Saturday's paper which might lend to a misconception of the facts. Their tender, though the lowest of all, was not £730 less than any of the six sent in, but less by that amount than the highest tender, and only a few pounds below the next lowest. Gaol Returns.—The returns for the month of May shew that there were confined in Christchurch gaol during the month—4 males committed for trial at the Supreme Court; 10 niales and 3 females on sentence of hard labour; 1 male aud 2 females on sentence of imprisonment; total, 15 males and 5 females. There were discharged— 5 males and 2 females, after expiry of sentences from the Magistrates' Courts. Similar returns for the common gaol at Lyttelton for the month shew 10 males and 3 females awaiting trial; 49 males under sentence to hard labour; 6 males and 2 females sentenced to imprisonment; and 13 debtors in custody; total, 84 males and 5 females. The discharges during the month were 4 under sentence from the Supreme Court, 15 from Magistrates' Courts, and 3 debtors; total 22 discharged, comprising 21 males and 1 female.' Besides those enumerated above 2 are awaiting trial, out on bail. Is THKIUC ANY STONE IN NEW ZEALAND ?—Tile following bit from the Auckland Herald is delicious. We don't know which to admire most—the candour with which some little defect in Auckland is admitted, or the sublime style in which the existence of any other province is ignored. A. paragraphist on the 23rd May says.-—"Complaints are often made of the badness of the material used in repairing the Auckland roads, and that the scoria ash grinds to powder, and only increases the mud. It is all very true, but the real road metal is so expensive that the formation of all roads with it exclusively would be absolutely ruinous. It would cost what would appear a fabulous sum .to lay down curb-stones in

Queen-street. The small piece of paving done in front of one shop in Queen-street, within the last ftw days, cost £20. This, surely, leads to the question of—is there not in New Zealand any stone obtainable which could be used for such purposes? At •present itll such stone is.- i»n*H'ted, and the only material available-lor masonry which is too hard to .be worked, unless at a disproportionate expense. It is said that there is 'stone of an excellent quality in New Zealand, and in several districts north of Auckland it has been found. Can it not be turned to account?" New Zealand therefore consists of Auckland.and the country to the north of Auckland. The former the writer knows: the latter he has heard of —it is the colony; the south he either has

not hoard of or he does not believe in. Also, the stones of New Zealand consist of scoria and scoria ash; and perhaps one other variety whose name and locality are . unknown, and the existence of which reals only upon hearsay. We don't wish to insult the Herald by any affectation of superior knowledge, but Sve venture to say from observation that there is a ipart of New Zealand—insignificant, perhaps, in exteht, populatiou and general resources, but posses* sing one or two kinds of stone which might have beeiijUsed for buildings, if it were possible that any such: could be erected out of Auckland. Let an expedition of discovery be fitted out from Auckland to explore the unknown southern land. We promise that | the barbarians shall not use the stone of the country offensively against the enterprising voyagers.

Ha,vku)ck.—At the request of the Post-office authorities, and for public information, we publish the Allowing There are four places in New Zealaiid named Ilavelock. viz : Provinces of Auckland, fSTapier, Marlborough, and Otago (Waitahuna.) Writers of letters, See., will observe that for the convenience of the Post-office it will be desirable to add tjie name of the province after the word Havelock, in the address.

Presbyterian Church, Lyttelton.—We desire to call attention to the fact that this day is appointed for the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new Presbyterian Church in Lyttelton.

Mesmerism and Clairvoyance.—Last night a lecture on the above subject was delivered by Capt. G. H. Wilson at St. Michael's school-room, Tuamstreet. The chair was taken by the Revd. H. Jacobs, Curate of Christchureh, who in a few brief remarks introduced the lecturer to the audience, and announced that the proceeds were intended for the benefit of the reading-room attached to St. Luke's Church in this town. In the course of his lecture Captain Wils m dwelt upon the practical utility of the science o| mesmerism, as a mode of both treating disease and investigating the extent and progress of any intemil disorder, and giving a true diagnosis by means of [the clairvoyant power developed by mesmerism on a susceptible subject. The facts, he said, were abundant to prove the- which mesmerism took up as a curative agent. Hie precision of the clairvoyant diagnosis in disease had been prove,d 111 instances which lie quoted from the testimony of most clever and conscientious men ; a$ well as in oases known to all in this very town, and attested by some of the most eminent medical men. The lecturer proceeded to exemplify by similar instances the power of mesmerism in the cure of < isease as distinguished from the examination of t ie human frame ; and ho appealed to the array of facts which could be brought, forward as proving Itlmt animal magnetism was not an imposture bi' a quackery, but a substantial power granted i a .man for the benefit of his fellow man. Its theory might yet be indistinct, but it was not necessary to produce a beautiful and consistent theory in order to turn such facts to advantage as he had d( $cribed. In its nature animal magnetism was evidmtly akin to the natural magnet, and to the electrcity produced by chemical decomposition. There wtie strong points of resemblance, and there were points in which all three differed; but the fuels! of the one were as clear and as susceptible of proof by physical experiment as those of the oth x two, while none of the three could be considoret easy to understand. The lecture concluded bj experiments in which Captain Wilson exhibited siime of the facts of animal magnetism, placing th j effects of this recondite power in so clear a light «i to disarm suspicion and compel the faith of 1 lie audience. At the conclusion the lecturer was ewarded by a unanimous vote of thanks. L'rincee t' Theatre.—The pieces played last night were " Pauline ; or, the Lone Chateau," and the " Artliil Dodge." The first is a lengthy drama in five acta evidently a translation from the French, and abounc 3 in all those startling effects and romantic compli (itions for which that school is so renowned. ' lie great length of the piece, and the multiplicity of the characters preclude us from giving a detaied account of it in our impression of today. The llmma last night was very creditably played, the audience appearing to be gratified with it. ASss Aitken was of course the heroine, and Very excelliitly she discharged the task. Mr. Shells personated fount Horace as carefully and effectively

;i ■ ho dies itliiKist every rule entrusted to him. whilst Mr. Mul! was ,i very good representative of Lucien. .Miss Kate Grunt took the double parts of Harriet and Gabrielle, itwl acted them both with much vivacity. The house was well attended. Kifli; Competition. — Yesterday the Lyttelton Volunteers Ural for the Government prizes at the range at Sumner. There were only twelve competitors. The firing was at 300, 400, aud 500 yards ; five rounds at eueh distance. Tlio points scored were — Aynsley, 25; Legett, 22; Willcox, 13; Westall, 12.

Timaru.—Although Timaru lias been very dull lately, still the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday was not passed over unheeded in this small community. Of course it was kept as a general holiday and various sports took place near the town. A public ball was held at the Royal Hotel in the evening, which was numerously attended. The arrangements of the ball and supper were in the hands of Mr. Green, and we need not say more but that they were carried out in his best style. The hotel was nicely illuminated and was much admired, it being the first thing of that sort seen in Timaru.

CiucKKr at Akaroa.—A match between sides chosen by Mr. Ginders and Mr. Masefield, was played in the paddock of F. Pavitt Esq., liobinson's Bay, Akaroa, on Tuesday the 24th ult.; from the subjoined score it will be seen that the game was a closely contested one. c Our old friend the " clerk of the weather" was in his happiest mood, so that the players and their friends enjoyed a pleasant day's sport. The score was as follows :—Maseiield side.—First innings 49 ; second do, 54 ; total 103. Ginders side —First innings, 44 ; second do, 5/5 ; total 99. The former, therefore, won by the small number of 4 runs. S. Watkins, Parham and Masefield, on one side, an 4 Head, Ginders, Diinne and W. Adams, on the other, made scores exceeding ten each.

Justice uudeb Difficulties. —The Daily Times of the 28th instant reports the following accident:— " About hall-past nine o'clock yesterday morning, as the result of a shot at Bell Hill, a large stone struck, the roof of the Court-house, came through the roof immediately above the table and started the under lining Another large stone was picked up outside the window at the back of the bench."

Tkansi'oktation to England.—By way of Sydney the "Daily Times" acknowledges one day's later news from Melbourne. In the Legislative Assembly Mr. Kyte's motion for funds to send home expirees was negatived without a division, but a strong feeling was expressed on the subject. The Publicans' Act (Sir. Michie's Bill) has passed.