CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume I, Issue 9, 20 July 1861, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

On Thursday, July 18ih., the following Gazette was published at Christchurcb. PROCLAMATION. # I. Willtam Sefton Moorhouse, Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, in pursuance of the powers vested in mc in that behalf, do hereby summon the Provincial Council of the said Province to meet for the despatch of Special Business at the Council Chamber at Christchurch, at Two o'Clock in the afternoon, on Tuesday, the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-one. Given under my hand at Christchurch, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundreed and Sixty-one. William Sefton Moorhouse, Superintendent. By His Honor's command, Thomas William Maude, Provincial Secretary. God Save the Queen!

Openino of the Railway Works. —On Wednes day the first sod of the Lyttolton and « Christcliurch Railway was turned by his Honor the Superintendent. The weather was unfortunate; a drizzling rain set in, in the morning, which' lasted with little intermission through the whole of the day; this however did not prevent a large number from assembling, and there were probably not ;less than 2000 persons on the ground. The proceedings were a little delayed by the difficulty of conveying the large number of horsemen over the ferry.

His Honor was met on the ground by Mr. Richardson, the representative of Messrs. Holmes and Co., and Mr. Dobson. The police, the rifle companies, and the fire-brigade stationed themselves at tlio sides of the square in which the ceremony was to bo performed, and the proceedings began. Mr. Richardson in a few words announced that his Honor was about to turn the first sod of the Railway; the announcement was received with loud cheers, and his Honor proceeded without delay to cut the sod, which he wheeled along the plank and turned out; ho then in a very few words declared the pleasure he felt in having performed the ceremony, and announced that the Lyttelton and Christchureh Railway Works were now open. Three cheers were given for the Queen, for His Honor aud Mrs. Moorhouse; the Rifles fired three volleys, the band struck up "God save the Qneen/j and the company adjourned to the tent for luncheon; at the end of luncheon Mr Richardson proposed the first toast " Her Mnjcsty the Queen." This was followed by the " Prince Consort and the Royal Family," and " His Excellency the Governor"; in answer to the last toast, his Honor rose and said that ho considered it a great privilege that he had the right to speak on behalf of His Excellency, whom he was proud to reckon among his friends -, and ho hoped that the relation might long last, which now subsisted between the Governor and the Colonists; tho relation, namely, of good Governor and loyal subjects. Mr. Richardson then proposed "His Honor the Superintendent"; the toast was received with loud cheers. His Honor in answering the toast said that it was a great him that tho timo had arrived to which ho had looked forward for years with great anxiety, but at the same timo with great confidence: what they had been doing to day was only to plant the seed; the result of their work would bear the same relation to the work itself as the commercebearing river to the mountain torrent which gives it birth. The sod which had been turned to day, covered the grave of thick-headed prejudice; he, himself, had always been confident of the success of this great undertaking : and he had reason for it, for during the whole of this time ho had never ceased to have before him facts: facts had been present with him at meal timo by day, and at night ho had lain down to sleep with facts : and he was certain that tho seed planted to day would, if only the hand of the destroyer were kept away from it, grow like tho vine into a large and well branched tree. He thanked them for the honour they had done him. His Honor the Superintendent proposed the health of Mr. Richardson, the representative of Messrs. Holmes & Co., the Contractors. Mr. Ollivier proposed Mr. Dobson, the Engineer. Several other toasts followed and the proceedings terminated. During the time when the speeches were being made the confusion in the tent was so great that it was almost impossible to hear what was said, even at a few yards' distance: and at last the whole mob forced its way in, and an universal riot followed. It is a pity some of these high spirited gentlemen do not seek a field for their activity at tho gold diggings; there they might be of use, hero they are a nuisance. Some excuse however must be made; many of them had waited some hours on the ground, besides having had a heavy walk from Christchuroh; and the sound of knives and forks, inside the tent, probably exasperated their appetite to a degree at which it became unbearable.

In the evening a ball in honour of the occasion was held iE the Town Hall, at which notwithstanding the rain, about 180 persons were present. N. B. The Christchurch Band played splendidly.

Erratum.—On page 3of our last number in the article on Executives and Provincial Councils line 6/ for £36,000 of Customs Revenue, read £13,000 of Land Revenue.