JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 8 March 1851, Page 5

JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lttxeitojst. —We recorded a few weeks ago, the discovery of an excellent building stone. We are now delighted to announce the discovery of another description of stone even more eligible for building purposes, because much more easily worked, and of which abundant supplies may be obtained in the immediate vicinity of Lyttelton. We are also informed that it exists at the foot of the hills near the ferry over the Heathcote, where it may be taken along the new road, a distance of four miles and a half to the Capital; or may be conveyed up the Heathcote in boats, so as to come within reach of the numerous settlers who have selected land on the banks of that river. We doubt not that the proprietors of those sections which include portions of the bases of the hills, will find plenty of this valuable material almost on the spot where they will have to erect their houses and farm buildings. The workmen who have cut specimens, Bay that walls can be built as cheaply of this stone as of pise". If this be true, a complete revolution will be effected in the architectural prospects of our colony; and the scarcity of building wood will be a matter of comparatively little importance. The new stone is of a volcanic nature, in appearance resembling a dark red granite, capable of being worked almost as readily as dry clay, but growing hard under the action of the atmosphere. We strongly recommend our readers who contemplate making permanent buildings, to ascertain whether this stone cannot be brought into

use, and whether it will not prove in the end more economical than wood perfectlygreen, and of a very inferior quality, such as we are compelled to use at present. On Saturday evening a violent rain commenced, which Uasted^without intermission till Monday morning. In a few hours the gullies, which have been dry for three months, became rushing streams. A great deal of discomfort has been experienced, owing to the temporary and insufficient character of the buildings, but we have not heard of any serious damage. The roads have suffered in places where the sandy clay surface is still exposed, and the temporary blocking up of the principal culvert by a barrel which was left in the gully, and was washed down by the rain, caused the water to rise over the road on Norwich Quay, and to rush into the store ; but several days of beautiful weather have remedied these trifling disasters. The washing down of a few chimnies, built with mud mortar and scarcely dry, are the worst accidents of which we have heard. The " Isabella Hercus" arrived on Saturday evening. She brings 25 cabin, 16 foreeabin, and 107 steerage passengers. She has had a tolerable quick, and we are told, a very comfortable voyage. Her passengers are nearly all landed ; and, with one or two exceptions, in good health. The arrival of several other vessels gives our harbour again a busy appearance. The " Salacia," from Sydney has brought only 30 horses, not 150 as we were led to expect. The " Jane Dixon" is landing about 1200 sheep in Rhodes Bay. We must congratulate the Settlement upon the re-establishment of the regular postal communication with Christchurch. The Cavalier who parades our little town, every morning at nine o'clock, upon a strong bay horse, and winds a musical blast upon his bright bugle, has a very business-like appearance, and deserves right well the patronage of the town folk. i Christcbtxkch.—The last month has af- j fected a wonderful change in the^ppearance j of Christchurch. Where six weeks ago not a stick or the sign of a dwelling-house could be seen, is now an active scene of life and j bustle. Private houses, shops., taverns, with j a plentiful intermixture of humbler dwellingplaces, log huts, mud cottages, and raupo warrys begin to cover a large portion of the heart of the town, and already indicate the direction which the commercial portion of the great capital of the plains will hereafter occupy. In addition to the buildings now in course of erection, we hear of two substantial hotels about to be commenced in the neighbourhood of Cathedral Square. The land we understand has been already leased for the purpose. The sudden and very heavy rain with which we were visited on Saturday and Sunday last, considerably disturbed the arrangements, and by no means promoted the comfort of a great number of the Christchurch settlers, whose dwellings are not yet so far advanced as to defy the rainy and winter season; uncomfortable however as it certainly was for the time, the visitation has proved of no little service and value. In addition to the benefit it has conferred on the land and the soil generally, it has served as a gentle reminder of what they have to do, to many who seemed to be growing incredulous of the fact that there is such a' thing as dirty weather to be looked for in New Zealand. The uninterrupted continuance of the very beautiful weather Avhich we have had for the last three months, seemed to have impressed many with the Idea that substantial houses, and watertight buildings were in j a great measure unnecessary ; this delusion the experience of last Saturday and Sunday J hasvery effectually dispelled, and the kindly

warning will not have been given in vain, if it serve as a spur, which in many cases we already see it has done, to urge people on, in getting prepared for the coming winter, and for which they have yet one clear month, perhaps six weeks, during which period we understand from old residents that we may yet expect fine dry weather. The great expence of building materials even more than of labour, is seriously felt at Christchurch, and we wonder that the extravagant prices of timber and bricks have not before this tempted some enterprising parties to embark in a trade for which, during a long time to come, there must be an almost unlimited demand. Within the last week there has been a slight fall in the price of timber, which may hence be bought at twenty-five shillings the hundred feet. Bricks are still extravagantly high, but we are glad to hear that there is a prospect of their soon becoming more abundant and cheap; as we understand some sixteen brickmakers have arrived in Christchurch, about to set to work in earnest in the manufacture: raw material of the best quality is to be found in abundance in and around the neighbourhood of the capital. On Saturday last, a raupo house belonging to Mr. Godley, who is spending a fewweeks at Christchurch, was burnt down. We are happy to add that very little property was destroyed, and no one hurt. The second portion of the first body of Land Purchasers, consisting of fifty-one, were, last Saturday, all put in possession of their different choices, town and rural sections, in the same manner, and with the same satisfactory result as the first portion of the same body. A large extent of pasturage land has also been chosen and allotted to different Land Purchasers of the first class. During the past week rural sections to the extent of 3000 acres have been finally surveyed on the ground, the boundaries marked off, and possession given to the owners on the spot.