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Press, Volume IX, Issue 1083, 28 April 1866, Page 2

Waste Lands.—Yesterday the amount produced by the sale of waste lands was £1846 It was contributed in the following manner: — Ashley, 2 acres ; Waipara, 185 ; Ellesmere, 9-1; Banks Peninsula, 90; Lincoln, 258; Mandeville, 54; Malvern, 190; Rakaia, 50. Total, 923 acres. Chttech Sittings.—An advertisement in another column announces that the churchwardens of St. Michael's and St. Luke's will j attend at the vestry room of the former church 'on Thursday next, at four p.m. ; and at the vestry room of the latter at four p.m. on Friday next, for the purpose of letting the sittings. Chbistchfbch Gband Steeplechase.— We are requested to remind the owners of horses that nominations for the "Provincial Handicap" must be delivered or posted on Tuesday next, May 1. Electoeal. —Mr Andrews, one of the candidates for Christchurch, will address the electors on Monday evening in the Town Hall. The City Assessment. —A meeting of Justices of the Peace was held yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court to hear and determine appeals against the assessment in the new Ratepayers' Roll. The magistrates present were W. Donald, Esq., R.M., and W. B. Tosswill, Esq. Samuel Lock obtained a reduction in the assessment of a house occupied by himself from £25 to £15, and the assessed value of a paddock belonging to H. P. M. Aynsley, Esq., was reduced from £40 to £20. The rest of the objections were either withdrawn, or the objectors did not appear. Thb City Council.—The case of the City Council v Wynn Williams was again brought on before the Resident Magistrate and John Hall, Esq., J. P., who heard it in Chambers, the Court being occupied in hearing appeals against the assessment. Dr. Foster applied to have the case sent down by the Judge amended, and returned to the Supreme Court. After hearing both sides the case was amended by consent of both both parties, except in one point, on which the Resident Magistrate agreed to hear additional evidence. Tho appeal will then go to the Supreme Court; so that a decision may possibly be lookod for at no very distant date. The Drainage of Chkistchubch. —The new pipes for the drainage of the city are being brought up to Christchurch and deposited in the City Council's yard. They seem to be everything that can be desired to effect a perfect drainage of all the liquid sewage. -The Coupcil has acted most wisely in thus displaying them before the eyes of the citizens. If this won't do, we should recommend their sending a dray full of pipes round the town with a band of music (would the Volunteers lead them?) to attract attention, so as to shame the people into paying their rates. Engineer Volxtnteebs. — Last evening this company began their course of engineering practice by throwing a.pontoon bridge across the Avon. After assembling at the Drill-shed, v an advanced party was sent forward to find and secure punts for the operation —followed" by the main body, who on arriving at the point selected, and after sending across a party to the supposed,hostile bank to throw. out sentries, and if necessary cover the working party —proceeded to work in detachments told off for the purpose to each boat. Three punts" were obtained, and length after length was duly protruded, secured, floored, and made ' secure with lashings, till the result appeared in a very neatly constructed pontoon bridge, which may be seen connecting ;Qashel streetover the river. Communication: being established, an alarm was given by shots from the sentries that the enemy was approaching— upon which the right division of the company extended in skirmishing order —the left advancing across the bridge, and also extending, the other division following to their support, and ultimately uniting, the position was supposed to be carried, and the corps marched back to their parade ground. It was not only as a first attempt that we can express our gratification at the way in which the manoeuvre was executed ; it was a very effective operation, and reflects credit on the ingenuity and discipline of this branch of our volunteer force. Captain Moore was in command, and the evening's instruction was a credit to his professional knowledge, no less than to the orderly intelligence of the corps.