THE FUTURE OF CANTERBURY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 2, 18 January 1851, Page 6

THE FUTURE OF CANTERBURY.

In 1836, the population of Port Phillip amounted to no more than 224 persons; in 1841, it amounted to 11,738 ; in 1846, to 32,879; at the end of 1847, to 35,960 ; and at the present time it is probably not much under 60,000. In 1837. the first year of its official settlement, its export of wool was 175,000 lbs.; in 1845, nearly 5,000,000 lbs. In 1843, its horses numbered 6300 ; in 1849, 16,700. In 1843, its horn cattle numbered 167,200; in 1849, 346,600. In 1843, its sheep numbered, 1,603,000,; in 1849, they had increased to 5,318,000. In 1837, its revenue was £6070, in 1849, 206,800. — Wellington Independent.

The district of Port Phillip is in no respect finer, in many respects by no means so fine, as that of Canterbury. The runs for sheep are not better, the facilities for agriculture by no means so great. Port Phillip has never been stimulated. No mines have attracted, multitudes to search for hidden wealth, no government " foic ■ ing " has been applied. It has grown of itself, steadily, rapidly ; and it is growing still. The economical principles of its colonization has been somewhat similar to ours, but with ,us they have been carried further, in the high price of land, and the expenditure of the land fund on the colony. What then should hinder the equally rapid progress of Canterbury ? A. Government Gazette was published on Wednesday last, the Bth inst. at Wellington, from which we make the foltowing extracts. A Proclamation was issued, repealing the present rate of postage payable in the colony : and establishing a colonial rate of postage to come into operation the Ist of April next. All letters or papers passing through any post-office in New Zealand, will be liable to the following scale of charges: For every letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, twopence; for every additional or fractional part of half an ounce, twopence. The postage on all letters and papers sent from New Zealand across the seas, to be paid in this colony. Postage stamps to be used, the form to be prescribed by the local Government; all letters and papers with such stamps affixed to them, to pass postage free, provided that the stamps have not be^n previously used, and are according to the weight of the letter or paper. All letters re-posted and re-directed, to be charged with a new postage. No letters or packet, exceeding sixteen ounces, is to be forwarded by the post, except deeds, law papers, letters to and from places beyond the seas, letters to and from the Governor, or on the public service, or to and from any of the Government offices. On all deeds, law proceedings, printed votes and proceedings of the Imperial Parliament, periodical publications despatched by the post in New Zealand, or received from the United Kingdom, or any of the colonies, the following rates of New Zealand postage are to be

charged and paid, if not exceeding four ounces in weight, twopence, and for every additional four ounces, twopence. Printed newspapers are to be free of postage; provided they have n 0 cover, or a cover open at the sides, and there is no writing thereon or upon the cover of the sariie 4 except the name and address of the person to whom it is sent, and no paper or thing he enclosed with or in such paper. Every paper or packet which shall be contrary to the conditions hereby required, is to be charged treble the pod age to which it would have been liable as a leftter. Printed prices current and commercial lisjt s not exceeding two ounces in weight, will be forwarded under the same regulations as newspapers. Non-commissioned officers, privatesand seamen, while they are employed on her Majesty's service, may send and receive letters, not exceeding half an ounce in weight by the post on their private concerns only, at the rate of one penny for each letter; the postage of.each letter (unless sent beyond the seas) is to be paid on being put into the post-office,land upon such letter is to be subscribed the name of the writer, his class or description in the regiment or vessel to which he belongs, and signed by the officer having at the time the command of the regiment or vessel. Whenever the letters sent or received by any such privileged persons, are sent from parts beyond the seas, without the said postage of one penny being prepaid, ever) such letter is to be charged to the party receiving the same with a rate of twopence, and any letter received by the post under this regulation, by any such persons, which may have been re-directed, is not to be charged with any postage for such redirection.

There is an official announcement of the death of the Duke of Cambridge, and the following gentlemen are gazetted as having received the following appointments :■ — John Eobbrt Godley, Esq., Eesident Magistrate at Port Victoria.

James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., Sub-In-spector of police at Lyttelton (temporarily). Joshua Charles Porter, Esq., clerk to the Magistrates at Lyttelton, (temporarily.) William Donald, Esq., Colonial Surgeon at Lyttelton. The above appointments to bear date from the Ist. of January, 1851.— Wellington Independent, Jan. 11.

List of the chief and fore cabin passengers who arrived by the four ships " Sir George Seymour," "Kandolph," " Charlotte Jane," " Cressy." _Mr. arid Mrs. Philips, and six children, lur. Frederick Philips. The Rev. Henry Jacobs, and Mrs. Jacobs. Mr. and Mrs. Watts Russell. Ivjr. and Mrs. Brittan, and four children. Mr. and Mrs. Macfarlane, and five children. Miss Macfarlane. Mr. and Mrs. Roger C. Walker. Mr. Leonard Cooke. Mr. Charles S. Ward. Mr. Joseph Dicken. Mr. C. Wentworth Cookson. Mr. Cyrus Davie. Mr. Alfred Lake. Mr. Richard Harman. " .' Mr. Michael Burke. Mr.- and Mrs. Richards. Mr. Joseph Richards. Mr. Walpole Fendall. Mr. Frederick Wilkinson, Surgeon-Superinten-dant of " Sir George Seymour. 5' Mr. Thomas Crompton. Mr. Alfred Beecham. Mr. Horatio Parke^. £ Mr. John Bilton, Schoolmaster. Mr. and Airs. Washbourne, and four children. Mr. and Mrs. Denton, and three children. ' Mr. John Wright. Mr. James Hill. The Rev. E. Puckle, Mrs. Puckle, and fiv^i!-' dren. -••■•« The Rev. W. W. Willock and Mrs. Willock. Mr. and Airs. Theodore Williams, and three children. Mr. and Airs. Flemming, and two children. Mr. Earle, Surgeon Superintendent of the Randolph. Mrs. Earle, and four children. Mr Parsons Lee. }y Mr. Beelby/ | Mr. Blanchard. Mr. Keele. Mr. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, and child. Mr. Wood. Mr.-Fitch. Mr. Boly. Mr. Butterfield. Mr. Parlby.

Mr. Tullock. Mr. and Mrs. Bayfield, and child. Mr. Stoddart, Schoolmaster, and Mrs. Stoddart. Miss Ransom, Schoolmistress. Miss Taylor, Schoolmistress. The Rev. G. B. Kingdon, and Mrs. Kingdon. Mr. E. R. Ward. Mr. Henry Ward. Mr. Hamilton Ward. 7 (The Hon. James Stuart Wortley. Mr. Thomas Cholmondeley. Mr. Charles Cholmondeley. Mr.and Mrs. James E. Fitzgerald/ Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Mounttort. Miss Mountfort. *- -Mr. and Mrs. "Charles Mountfort. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, and Miss Bowen. Miss Bo\*en. Mr. Charles Bowen. Mr. Croisdale Bowen. Mr. Barker, Surgeon-Superintendent of " Char- ,. lotte Jane," Mrs.. Barker, and three children/ Mr. Shrimpton. . Miss Bishop. Miss E. Bishop. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, and three children. Mr. Bishop. Mr. F. Bishop. Mr. and Mrs. James Fisher. 'Mr. Stephen Fisher. Miss Hooper. Mr. Smith Howard, and five children. Mr. Pursglove, Schoolmastei, and Mrs. Pursglove. The Rev. B. W. Dudley, Mrs. Dudley, and four children. Mr. George W. Pickering Mr. H. W. Read. Mr. John Birch. Mr. George Rankin. Mr. David Welsh. Mr. George Beard. Mr. Benjamin Wyatt. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Gale. Mr. Edward Dobson, and two children. Mr. David Porter. Mr. Edward Wright. Mr. Daniel Watkins, Surgeon - Superintendent of the " Cressy." Mrs.-W.atkins,...and_four children. i Mr. and Mrs. Townsend. Mr. James Townsend. Mr. Charles Townsend. Mr..William Townsend. , Mr. TEtoberfc'-Townsend.', ' Miss Mary Townsend. \ - -Miss -Frances -lawngend. ___ Miss Alicia Townsend. '' ~ Miss Priscilla Townsend. Miss Maria Townsend. ! Miss Margaret Townsend. Mr. William Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Mrs. King. Miss Frances King. Miss Jane King. Miss Sarah Anne King. Mr. Conyers Peach. Mr. W. Harvey. Mr. Edward Toomath, Schoolmaster.