LYTTELTON COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 14 August 1852, Page 7

LYTTELTON COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

The Society held its usual fortnightly meeting on Wednesday ; it was not very numerously attended, there being no subject of great general interest on the Paper to be discussed. The Rules of the Library were presented and" - adopted. Considerable discussion ensued, in which • the Chairman (Mr. Godley), Mr. Reader, and - others participated, on a proposition of Mr. Fitzgerald's, that some method should be adopted of cataloguing the books. Ultimately the question was referred back to the Library Committee to report upon the best method of .cataloguing, andtMrl Fitzgerald and Mr. Reader were added to the Committee, in order to afford the benefit of their practical knowledge ot the subject. Mr. Swinbourne brought forward his motion of a Committee being formed to report upon the best and cheapest means of bringing the Coal discovered on the Plains into the Market. The subject excited great interest, and elicited many remarksfrom various members. Mr. Cridiand said the coal had been tried at the Land Office, Christchurch, and presented the valuable feature of being almost smell-less, being unlike the Nelson coal in that respect, and retaining vitality and heat to an - almost fabulous period after ignition.' He presented ; a large lump to the Chairman for inspection,' who , suggested it should at once be tested on,the-;fire, J. after it had been handled, scrutinized, scrapedT*" 7 smelt, and, we believe, tasted by various coal con- i noisseurs present. The lump at last underwent the j fate intended for coal, was placed on the fire, and - soon gave proof of its presence by diffusing a very : inodorous smell throughout the room ; it blazed up ", very cheerfully, however, and it was remarked with. ,' satisfaction that the odour was without any 'sul- j phuric tendency, and, judging by - the hearty •: "sniffs" which met our ears, we presume it was*j rather relished than otherwise by "many present, j Mr. Rowland Davis called attention to the"fact of !. their being coal at Akaroa. Our limits forbid our"' giving more of a discussion which was.CTf-»"ooj\ygjt™li! sational nature. A committee was appointed to^ inquire fully into the subject in al! its bearings, £ f consisting of Messrs. Cookson, Alport, - Davis, ( Swinburne, Mountford, Luck, and Cridiand. Dr.-J Donald was added to further the enquiry by his 3 geological knowledge and attainments. -, "J Mr. Reader introduced the subject of Governor' ment Officials being debarred by a conventionalism^ i!! so to speak, from taking part in political discus-p sions. He enforced his views with reference to the; practice in England, where certain officers were:; preventer! taking an active part in politics, owing? ? to the natural jealousy of the people. Here, bow T ]^ ever, where the people who possessed Elector^J^ rights greatly outnumbered any influence'"thT"C£J_* vernment might bring to bear on any question— f, there was no necessity for any class abstaining- ' from politics ; he trusted the people of this settlf-.;^ ment would make their opinions and influence fell'l.4 that officials, so long as they honorably discharge^ the duties of their several stations, should take the! f same independent part, in-politics as themselves?; f As no .one was prepared or disposed to combat Mr4'.-J. Reader's views, and there being no question beforsOj the meeting, the subject dropped. Should there bej-v j any one disposed to take an opposite view of thip.j^ question, we hojj- he will bring it forward for dis^jj cussion, as the subject is exciting a. cons;{fer_S§E r7 amount of attention, — ~ " ■ •^•f ■ .;.. Mr.- Fitzgerald, knowing the great interest' feU*" ' and taken by Mr. Maunsell in choral affairs, asked' that gentleman whether the Committee, of wbicli he was a leading and active member, had fixed upon' ■ any specific sum to be paid by those desirous oijoining the classes. Mr.'Maunsel in reply said the . Committee were waiting to ascertain the numberii who would join before fixing a su.n. Considerably merriment was created by this statement, as th-jr* seems to be valid reason fi>r supposing that neap will join until they know what they have to p?y. We are given to undersi nd, however, that the question is engaging the anxious attention of t'lte Committee ; at least, so our reporter understood Mr. Maunsell, who spoke in rather a low voi_e. ,' The Chairman said that since their last meeting be had received by the "Samarang'* a valuably collection of Law Books, which he intended presenting to the Library ; they were much wanted, ;|t there were none for general reference in the settUff ment. Mr. Godley added that a press of buiineS'f caused by the arrival of the " S«niarang," had pffe* vented bis giving bis proposed lecture on New Ze.*|§ land : he anticipated doing so mi the conclusion '(•&' . the Rev. Mr. Paul's dicourse on the Reformatio!!! /