CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume I, Issue 21, 12 October 1861, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH.

Mr. W. Di Barnard sold by-public auction: * v , i Yards, adjoining the White Hart Hotel, on ' horses and mares ex Prince Alfred from Sydney* s, realised from £28 to £50, and averaged. £3512<* r«i ,% * also, 1 horse, £34 10a. ; 1 do, £40-; 1 colt J I 1 bullock, £5 10s.; 2 steers, at £4 per head/fee* 5? y, $ dance,, notwithstanding the weather, was numerous a®' f horses ex Prince Alfred realized a Irigher price thananv t that has been landed during the last eight months. ycar ?° V In our advertising columns notice is given of the rmM; * $ of 'The Church Quarterly Paper,' tht first numSfe I appeared at the beginning of this month. m this .. ,ittl< i is to furnish memW; I the Church from time to time with information r*Uv S Church affairs. It may be hoped that at the prStT I such a publication judiciously conducted will l )e qJJj I useful, as churchmen are now called upon to h J in the government of the Church, for the ri"ht fuliilmZ I which they have but little knowledge or experience n I principles of Church organization are almost unknown t I churchmen in the Colonies, because such knowledge was *i I dom required at home. Here, however, they have to dc 7th 1 own work, and manage as best they may the task of «X I government. m i|

Some of the articles in the first number of 'TheCtawli Quarterly Paper' bear on this subject, while the rest oftt paper is filled with missionary, educational, financial an general Church intelligence. A table of the times of service! different churches, and ait almanack for the quarter *i m good idea of the ordinary church work that is being 'carried on. And the short notices of parochial affairs will doubtles tend to promote a kindly feeling throughout the Diocese in questions of local progress, and to bind together with a common bond of interest and sympathy the many members of tfe one body.

During the present week Mr. Haast, the Government Geologist, has again visited, the eoal-tields in the valley of the Kowai. He was accompanied by Mr. James Burnett, coalviewer, of Nelson, who has been engaged by the Provincial Government to sink a trial shaft and "to run transverse dleriea, for the purpose of ascertaining the number and thfckness of the different seams of coal : this being the only means by which any accurate knowledge of the richness of the tield can be obtained. His Honor the Superintendent joined Mr. Haast at the Kowai on Wednesday, and assisted actively in the work of exposing the seams. Some malicious rumours have lately been spread by a person who never examined the seams of coal, and who is totally incapable of giving an opinion even if he had, that the coal-field was not so rich as Mr. Haast had anticipated We are happy to be able to inform our readers that Mr. Haast's previously expressed opinion has been coniirmed by this fresh survey. We are glad to lind that the Provincial Government is taking such active steps to enable the Province to benefit as soon as possible by this valuable discovery. Lecture ky Mr. Haast.-It will be seen from an advertisement in another page that on Wednesday, next, the 16th of October, Mr. Haast will deliver in the Town Hal], a lecture on the Physical Geography and Geology of the Southern Alps. The proceeds of the lecture are to be added to the funds of the Mechanics' Institute.

On Tuesday night an entertainment was given in the Town Hall for the benelit of the Mechanics' Institute, to celebrate the day-opening of the Library. Mr. Ollivier gave three readings from various authors, and the intervals between the parts were filled up by glees, sung by "members of the Canterbury Vocal Union, under the direction of Mr. McCanlell The Christehurch Band also kindly gave their service for the occasion. There was a very good attendance, and the proceeds of the entertainment amounted to nearly £7.