LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 27 March 1852, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

The Settlement has been greatly enlivened during the past week by the visit of his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, who arrived in the Government Brig on Friday evening the 19th instant, accompanied by Colonel Wynward the Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster, Captain Murray, Mr. Bulkeley, of H. M. sixty-fifth regiment, Mr. Cooper His Excellency's private Secretary, and Mr. Roy, an engineer in the employment of Government. The main object of the Governor's visit was to ascertain whether anything could be done to forward the opening of the road from Lyttelton to the plains. With this view Mr. Roy has been incessantly employed in examining the line for the purpose of reporting on the subject to his Excellency. On Saturday and Monday the Governor -went to Christchurch. On Sunday the whole party from the Brig attended Divine Service at the Temporary Church at Lyttelton. On Tuesday His Excellency inspected the Gaol,, and the Schools at Lyttelton ; the plans of the New Church were also submitted to him by Mr. Mountford, the architect. In the afternoon of Tuesday an assemblage of a considerable number of the natives of the district took place on the raifed" ground opposite the Custom House, which His Excellency attended. Several of the Maoris spoke at some length ; the subject was a claim for some compensation for lund purchased by Government to the northward of the Canterbury block. His Excellency received some of the natives on board the Govern men t

brig in the eveningl, and gave his answer, with which the natives were satisfied. On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the Magistrates of the district took place, by Sir G. Grey's desire, there being no time to procure a more general expression of opinion, to consider the best mode of using the surplus revenue of the settlement, which his Excellency stated that he was prepared to expend for purposes of local improvement. He further stated that if the meeting determined upon continuing the road from Lytteltou to Christchurch, he would advance a further sum oat of the General Bevenue, sufficient to make up £5,000 in all. The meeting, however, declared its opinion that, as £5,000 would not be nearly sufficient to finish the road, and as there was no prospect of getting additional funds from other sources, it would be more advantageous to spend the surplus revenue in improving the less expensive communications on the Plains. His Excellency accordingly promised to authorise a loan from ; the Provincial Treasury to the Canterbury Association for the above purpose. We understand that Mr. Godley intends to apply it to opening the Lincoln and JSUesmere road as far as the Heathcote, and metalling part of the road from Christchurch to the Ferry. His Excellency stated that, at the same time, he would not lose sight of the greater work—the completion of the Sumner Road.

Fiee Committee.—A public meeting was held at the-Mitre Hotel on Thursday evening, to fill up some vacancies which have occurred in the Fire Committee. Mr. Alport was called to the Chair. The meeting was not very fully attended. A great deal of interest was however exhibited in the object of the meeting, and an animated discussion was kept up for some time. The following resolutions were finally and unauimously adopted. 1. That the following names be added to those of the Fire Committee, Captain Simeon, Captain Parsons, Mr. Cookson, Mr. Laurie, Dr. M'Cheane, Mr. Le Cren, Mr. Compton, Mr. Genet, Mr. Spowers. And that the Committee have power at any time to add to their number. 2. That Captain Parsons be appointed Chairman of the Fire Committee, and that he be requested to take charge of all the property of the Committee, and to superintend all the arrangements connected with the preservation of the. town from fire. 3. That the Committee be requested to ascertain without delay, the cost of a Fire Engine, and the expense of keeping it in repair. 4. That the attention of the Committee be directed to the subject of " Fire Annihilators," of which there are said to be several in Lyttelton, the property of the Canterbury Association. 5. That it is desirable to call in the outstanding subscriptions without delay, and that those who have arrived in the settlement since the lists were made be requested to add their names, according to the same scale, as before. 6. That the Resident Magistrate be requested to memoralise His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, to proclaim the Raupo Ordinance, in the town of Lyttelton. 7. That the Resident Magistrate be requested to put in force the claim of the Constabulary Ordinance which empowers him to provide for'ihe repair of dangerous chimnies. After a vote of thanks to Mr. Alport for his services in the Chair, the meeting broke up.

The works are now in rapid progress for building the Church at Lyttelton ; part of die stone basement being already completed. A Government Gazette issued on the 19th March unites the Middle and Southern District lor purposes of the Supreme Court, and appoints Judge Stephens to act as Judge in the whole district, that is for Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Ota go. The same Gazette announces the appointment of Captain Parsons to be Tide Surveyor to the Port of Lyttelton. It also proclaims the Foot path Ordinance for the foot paths on both sides of Oxford Street, and on the upper side of Norwich Quay, in Lyttekon. We have received papers from Wellington, to the 20th instant; from Nelson, to the 28th of February ; and from Ota go. to the same date. Want of space compels us to omit all notice of their contents.