CHRISTCHURCH COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 99, 27 November 1852, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

The following is the business appointed for the General Meeting on Monday next, the 29th instant: — ,

1. Committee for Elections to report pro-, gress. On this report, Mr. Wakefield has given notice of motion —

" That the Elections' Committee be requested to communicate with Mr. Stoddart, and inform him that this Society feels great confidence in his capacity for business and general ability, and therefore respectfully urges him to re-con-sider whether he cannot,. without too great private sacrifice, allow himself to be put in nomination as a candidate for the representation of the Christchurch District in the General Assembly."

2. The consideration of who may be the fittest person to hold the office of Superintendent of this Province.

An inquisition was taken on Monday, at Isis Farm, the residence of Mr. Kent, before the Coroner and a Jury of the neighbouring residents, on the "body of Thomas Nicholls, who was drowned in attempting to cross the Heathcote, opposite Mr. Kent's house, on a log of ■wood rudely fashioned into something like a boat or canoe. The evidence shewed that Mr. Kent had expressly forbidden the deceased, who was his servant, to use the craft as it was excessively dangerous, and he was notoriously unskilled ,as a waterman. The Coroner, in summing up, explained to the Jury the law as regards culpable negligence, pointing out the exculpatory evidence as regarded deceased's Master. The Jury, after some discussion, returned a verdict of " Accidental Death," and requested: the Coroner to address a letter to Mr. Kent urging him to destroy the craft, which Mr. Kent has engaged to do. Up to the 23rd October, the export of Gold from Melbourne amounted to 2,000,000 ounces, which at 625. per ounce, amounts to £6,200,000: —6,052 persons had arrived during the week. The largest importation of specie and the greatest exportation of Gold had simultaneously occurred ; in one week £280,000 having been received, and £526,000 exported. We learn that the Customs' officers are on the look out for Birmingham manufactured nuggets and dust, a-considerable quantity haying been imported from England.