JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 2, 18 January 1851, Page 5

JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

!'. Nothing of striking importance has ocp curred since our last number. The town ■^-continues- to -increase - rapidly-; . but-the.styla _ 5? of buildings are not of a very permament J* description. A hard rain which occurred the middle of the week, gave a foretaste of we are to expect in trie rainy season, J|and reminded numbers that more durable thafr-ttmer-V. Accouiifs'from the plains say that there was rain there, which was fortunate for the "7 settlers, as the temporary buildings at Christ,'^jchurch are even slighter than those at ".Lyttelton. -'f. The voting papers for the counsel of colonists have been opened, from which it ap£'«.eared that the following gentlemen are '"elected. Mr. Brittan, Mr. Burke, Mr. Cholmondeley, Mr. Dampier, Mr. Deans, .' Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Longden, Mr. Phillips, 1 Mr. Watts Russell, Mr. Tancred, Mr. Town- ', send, Mr. Ward. We- are- very glad- to -see-the-name-of-I^Mr. Deans on the council. His election equally well for himself, and for the

colonists, who have taken this first opportunity of testifying their respect at the hospitality which so many of them have received at Riccarton, and the liberality with which Mr. Deans communicates his experience of the country to all.

Several ships have arrived with cattle, horses, and sheep from Sydney, and have been busy discharging their cargoes. Notwithstanding the departure jaf the " Charlotte Jane," and " Randolph," "the harbour still looks busy. Horses just arrived are selling for 301. Cows and bullocks for about 8/. and sheep for about 18s. a head. A sale of stores took place by auction on Thursday, at the Association's store yard. Flour sold at first at the prices of last week, but the single barrels which were submitted to competition, realised from 31. to 31. 2s. 6. Biscuits fetched Us. and 12s. a bag. The, selection of town sections goes on rapidly, and a great many sections have been recently chosen in the capital in preference to Lyttelton. To judge by the popularity of the plains, both for climate and agriculture, titere can be no doubt but that the capital of the district will be rapidly peopled, and the town land acquire a considerable value. Although it may be said that no speculation of any kind has yet commenced in land, (for there was only a population of 300 before the arrival of the first body of colonists,) tenants at good rents still continue to come forward for the town lands of Lyttelton. One of the emigration barracks which had been cleared out for a temporary church, was open for Divine service last Sunday. The arrival of the " Castle Eden," with the Bishop elect on board, is now daily expected. The union'" bank of Australia has opened its branch at Lyttelton, at its temporary offices in Oxford Street. Its operations are at .present. con-_ fined to advances on letters of credit, which are paid by cheques on the branch at Wellington. The arrival of the Inspector from Sydney is anxiously expected, who will, it. is anticipated, complete the arrangements -necessary -for-placingt^e ■op f>ntiori? of-the* bank on a more extensive and permanent footing.

By the latest accounts from the plains houses are springing up rapidly. But there is still a difficulty in moving timber and goods from place to one another. The recent arrivals of horses will in some measure remove this difficulty. We hear that one of the colonists is about to establish a regular communication between Christchurch and Lyttelton, by means of packhorses along the bridle-path. This is sure to succeed for light goods. There is at present a great want of a regular post; which will no doubt now be established.