TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1504, 7 October 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Drowned in the Taipo.—We hear that a man named Adams, from Newmarket, Auckland, was drowned a day or two since in crossing the Taipo. The West Coast. —We understand that telegraphic communication was opened up yeßterday afternoon, between Cragieburn and the Government Buildings. Are we to congratulate the Government or Mr. Hawdon. Canterbury Rowing Club. —An advertisement announces that a meeting of the members of this club will be held this day, at 2.30 p.m., at White's Hotel. The business is in reference to the boats lately imported by the Tudor.

The Engineers.—On Thursday evening a lecture was delivered at the Town Hall, by Captain Moore. About forty members of the company were present. The lecture, which was a very able one, detailed some of the elementary principles of the art of fortifications.

The Hospital. —It is stated that Dr. Prins has resigned his office in connection with the Hospital. He sent in his resignation to the Government,which they refused to accept. He made another application to be released from the duties of his position and the matter ia now under the considera tion of the Government.

The Provincial Gazettes. —Nos. 2 and 3, dated Oct. 3, have been received. The police Btation, Greymouth; the Warden's office, Waimea township; the Warden's # office, Hokitika; and Police offices at Kanieri and Ross, are nominated as polling-places under the West Coast Goldfield Representation Act, 1865, that at the Wairaea being the chief one. Mr. G. S. Sale is appointed Returning Officer for the district. Pantechnetheca. — This exhibition was resumed last night, but the attendance was not so numerous as its intrinsic merits deserve. The same views were shown and the explanatory lecture repeated. In connection with the diorama, we have been requested to state that the authorities of the Hospital are desirous of returning their grateful acknowledgments to Messrs. Cressy and Ayers for their kindness in devoting the proceeds of an evening this week to the funds of this institution.

Accident.—During the thunderstorm on Wednesday afternoon, a man, named Shirley, was struck by lijghtning near Mr. Macpherson's paddock, .n the Ferry road. He describes the sensation as being similar to that of a blow, and he at first imagined that he had been struck by something fallen from the roof of a house. A painful feeling of intense heat pervaded his frame, and he was partially blinded for a short time. He is now recovering, but his nervous system has sustained a severe shock.

Caufounian Circus.—Last night there were some slight variations in the programme The feats of Young Klaier on la perche elicited much admiration, as did the dexterous manner in which he executed his juggling tricks. Mr. Jones appeared in three churacters, Falstaff. Shylock, and Richard the Third, changing his costume from that of one to the other very cleverly, while the horse was at full speed. Mr, Raphael showed some daring. feats on a horse without saddle or bridle. He met with a spill whilst so engaged, but recovered himself with wonderful dexterity without sustaining the slightest injury. Madame Tournear appeared in a pleasing act. An afternoon performance will take place this day at 2.30 p.m. Magisterial. — Only two cases were heard yesterday at the Resident Magistrate's Court. A seaman named Payne was charged with having deserted from the ship Canterbury. He was remanded to Lyttelton. The notorious Eliza Lambert was charged with having used obscene language whilst in a state of intoxication. She was ordered to find sureties of the peace for three months. At Kaiapoi, on Oct. 4, Robert Fergusson was charged with having violently assaulted his wife. It appeared from the evidence that the parties had for some time lived unhappily together, and that the defendant had made use of violent language towards his wife. He was bound over to keep the peace for six months—himself in £100, unci two sureties of 4,'fiO each.

Lkoaj,.—Tlie sitting in chambers took place yesterday, in the new ofifteen, DurhamHtreet, at 11 a.m. The following eases were heard In re F. J. Willcox, a debtor—Mr. Slater; order for sequestration made ; protection granted. In re W. Bastings, a debtor ; a similar order was made. In re 14. Redman, deceased; Mr. WynnHWilliams obtained a probate of the will. The ease of Langdown v. Ness was ordered to stand over for a week. Macpherson v. Dunnage. This waa an application on tiie part of the plaintiff for an order for judgment by default ; the defendant obtained leave to plead, the case to bo heard on Tuesday next. Goodwin v. Church Property Trustees ; the issues were settled. Dunnage and another v. Ma-phernon ; a special nine was arranged. Ilall, appellant, and II Muephprson respondent. This case was ordered to stand over until the next sitting day. His Honor afterwards sat in banco. In the eases of Gebbie v. Ilargreaves and another, Greenwood v. Caverhill, and Lane v. Deetharn, applications for new trials were made. His Honor reserved his judgment in all the three eanses. Tub WaimAitAiuiti. —At the usual fortnightly meeting of the Kaiapoi Municipal Council, held on Tuesday last, the Clerk drew the attention of the Council to the dangerous state of the north approach to White's old bridge. The result was that the Clerk was ordered to write arid represent the matter to the Government. The encroachment of the

river on it* bank* is becoming very serious. At White'#old bridge wo fl" ( i that tho on which the north end of the bridge rests in literally scooped out, [caving but a very small portion of thj bridge attached to the ground. 1 here ia little doubt but that anotlicr fresh in the river would remove tbc slight * u Pl K,r £ . the bridge now receives from probably a portion of it down the river. Opposite th « Mtclum!lc# Institute and Mr. Porter's in which the river lias very considerably, an I J# still encroaching > also, another, just be o the Toll-house. In the first-mentioned place, a part of the bank has been washed away, in the form of a semicircle, about seventy yard# long and fifteen wide in its widest part. At the latter place about thirty yards of soil has also disappeared. If the bank opposite Mr Porter's house continues to decrease at its present speed, the road will not be wide enough, in six or eiuht months, to drive cart along with any safety. Literary Society.—-'1 he subject debated last night was a comparison of the genius ol Dickens and Thackeray. Mr. M, Newton opened the discussion. He thought Dickens was the greater genius ; the sphere of lhackeray was very limited, but Dickens wrote for the whole world, and drew his characters and scenes from all but the upper ten thousand ; and he surpassed Thackeray in descriptive power, wit, humour and imagination. Ulb characters were so vividly portrayed that they were recognised as representatives or classes. In favour of Thackeray, it waa argued that, although his sphere of delineation was so limited, he had produced results at least as great as those of Dickens, and his characters were more true to nature. Benevolent Am Society. — The committee of this society held ther usual weekly meeting yesterday. The following members were present:—Messrs. C. W. Turner, Luck, and Gordon. The Ven. the Archdeacon of Christchurch, and the lievds. G. Carpenter. J. W. Habens, and J. Buller attended as visitors, witli applications from their respective districts. Thirteen applications were received, in ten of which relief was afforded, two were reserved for further inquiries by the secretary, and one was rejected, as not coming within the rules of the society. Accounts to the amount of £41 9a were ordered to to be paid, being £33 10s to Mr. Knapman, for goods supplied during the past month, and £7 19s to Messrs. Montgomery, for wine furnished during the same period. It was decided that those persons to whom blankets had been lent should be permitted to retain them, on payment of onehalf the cost. The committee adjourned at 4 p.m. Auckland Island. —The Southland Times of Sept. gives the following description of the body found on the Auckland Island by Capt. Musgrave and party:—" The appearance presented was that of a very young man, never had any hair on the face, slender frame, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, low forehead, prominent cheek bones, upper jaw protruding and wanting one front tooth, all the other teeth being very sound and regular, (indicating that the man was very young), chin rather pointed; the left foot bandaged, evidently had been sore ; the body was lying on a bed a few inches from the ground, in an old frame of a house which was situated in the second bight of the island, to the north of the peninsula; close to the body were two bottles, one empty, the other containing water, also some mussel shells ; the body was lying on its back, the flesh was on the face and partly on the hands ; it was shrivelled up and hard. The clothes were in such a state that they could not be removed. Clothes —A som'-wester hat; three woollen mufflers, a dark brown cloth vest with a stripe almost invisible, and trousers to match; a blue serge vest, a browniSh coloured vest, guernsey shirt, a red and black checked Crimean, a blue guernsey shirt next to body, cotton drawers and woollen drawers over all, three or four pairs of woollen socks and an old shoe on the right foot.