CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 24 April 1852, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our Correspondent.)

Mr. Klipsch of Christchurch, has seventeen potatoes the produce of one plant ; they weigh seventeen pounds and half, and the three largest girth respectively 30i in. by 21 inches, 29£ inches by 22^ inches, and 22 inches by 10 inches; they are all very fine potatoes and of the kind called American Early.

On Friday the 16th instant, the school chil dren were entertained in the new building attached to the Parsonage, which is intended to be used as a Grammar School. At about 3 p.m. the little guests assembled, to the number of 79, of whom about 35 were girls. They were regaled with tea, cakes, buns, and bread and butter. Besides the Key. H. and Mr-;. Jacobs, and the Rev. 0. Mathias, the following ladies and gentlemen were among the visitors : Mr. and Mrs. Godley, Mr. and Mrs. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Bray, Mr. and Mrs. Rose, Mr. and Mrs. Barker, &c, &c, &c. Mr. Godley made an appropriate address to the children; and a large quantity of books, toys, &c, were distributed among them as prizes. The children sang grace before and after their meal, and some other pieces, concluding with " God save the Queen" about 5 o'clock when the little party broke up. They appeared to enjoy their treat very much; and their behaviour, dress, and cleanliness was such as to reflect great credit on their parents and teachers.

I understand the new Grammar-School is positively to be opened, under the direction of the Rev. H. Jacobs, M.A., on Monday next.

On Tuesday the 20th instant, the right of depasturing the Reserved lands adjoining the town was submitted to public auction by Mr. Alport; no satisfactory tenders having been sent in in pursuance of the advertisement to which I alluded in my last. The competition was very brisk, and the following rents were obtained:—Hagley Park, 445 acres, at 2s. 7d. per acre per annum ; Government Domain, 643£ acres, at 4s. 7d.; South and East Town Reserves, 350 acres at 4s. 3d.: Botanical Garden, 23 acres, at 10s. 6d. per acre. The North Reserve, 150 acres, was taken by private tender at 2s. per acre.

The Botanical Garden is let on a special agreement, which requires the tillage of the land by the lessees. It has been fenced-in by the Horticultural Society ; and it is understood that it will be resumed for their use, when required, after the ground shall have been prepared by the present lessees. The whole rent obtained for the 1032 acres amounts to or at the average rate of 3s. 4d. per acre. This is a higher rent than might have been expected, considering that the tenure of the whole is a yearly license, determinable at a mouth's notice.

A Cricket Match, between two elevens of the gentlemen players, selected by lot, has been fixed to take place on Friday the 30th instant, in Hag-ley Park. I will send you lists of the sides next week.

The weather has been very variable this week, the wind at times blowing with great violence, but no report of any serious injury has reached us.