The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 174, 6 May 1854, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

May 6, 1854. *- The Report of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Road Commission, which appeared in our columns of April 22, has doubtless been generally discussed, the subject being one of vital importance to the developement of our resources, and intimately affecting the comfort and convenience of every one among us. We hail, therefore, with satisfaction the Report before us as the first step'*towards the attainment oi' a most unuortuut object,

and we trust that another year will not elapse before active measures are taken to execute oae or other of its recommendations. Our readers will remember that the means of transit which received the sanction of the Commission are these :—viz., a dray road, and two lines of railroad. The drayroad is a modification of the Sumnei* line laid out by Cap. Thomas, which it is proposed to make shorter and less expensive, by means of a tunnel passing 200 feet belo.v the summit of Evans's pass, The road is to be 16" feet wide'and the tunnel 12 feet. This road, including a bridge over the Heathcote, would take eighteen mouths to make, and is estimated to cost £25,731. The total distance from Christehurch to Lyttelton by this line is 12 miles and a half. The other proposals of the Commission ■ are i two lines of railway, either from Christchurch to Goila v's bay, or from Christchurch to Lyttelton. The first we need not dwell upon, as we have reason to believe there is no serious intention of attempting it; the second is a line of 6^ miles in length, passing by Martin's cottage through a tunnel one and a half mile long. This would take four year* to complete, and would cbst, with 50 per c.-nt. added for contingencies, £155,356. On comparing these proposed * modes of communication, two things to be considered (putting aside any further questions that may be raised as to either scheme) are their relative cost and the length of time required for their construction, for it would be very imprudent to go beyond our present resources, arid very unprofitable to wait 4 or 5 years before we can have a better mode of transit than the bridle-path. One thing we are all agreed upon ; that a road of some kind should be undertaken as speedily as possible. Let us, like careful people, therefore, sit down, and calculate our means, and do not let us begin what we are not sure we can complete, for it would never do to stake all upon a venture, forgetful of the fact that our resources are but limited. What we urge is this, Open up the communication as speedily, aud in the best way we can, and we believe that the best is what is possible with the means at our command.

We have learnt with much satisfaction that the Provincial Governmant is alive to the necessity of providing for the peace and security of the rising township of Kdapoi. The neighbourhood is rapidly advancing to importance, but it presents somewhat of that lawless character which is so prevalent in newly-settled districts. To check the evil in the bud the Government &re wisely taking steps for the, appointment of a bench of Magistrates, a"nd Mr. Revel, a gentleman of character and activity, has ver} r readily complied with the wishes of His Honor, in consenting to undertake the duties of constable.

At a general meeting of the Members of the Church of England, resident in Lyttelton, on Tuesday evening last, the Rev. B. W. Dudley in the Chair, the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted:— Proposed by Mr. Spowers and seconded by Mr. Tribe, ..".... "That the Agent of the Canterbury Associatum be requested to advertise for Designs and Estimates for the taking down of ihe present building, and for building a new Church, with the understanding that so soon as a design shall have been.approved of by a Public Meeting, subscriptions shall be entered into tor completing the same." Proposed by Mr. Spowers and seconded by Mr. Bali a id, '• Tnat the present Committee be empowered to confer with the Agent ot the Canterbury Association for the purpose of carrying- out the above Resolution, and that they iiave the power to add to their number."

DIJSTNEE TO THE Ca.PT UN OP THE BALnaguith.—This dinner, as advertised in our columns last week, took' place, on Saturday last, at the Mitre Hotel, when most of the cuddy passengers attended to shew their esteem for their captain, A. Smith, Esq. H.C.S. We understand the dinner went off remarkably well.

The following is the correspondence referred to in the advertisement on p. 12. Lyttelton, 15th April, 1854. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that at .a meeting of the Colonists' Society, held on Thursday the 13th inst., a committee was appointed to carry out the objects of a memorial' recently presented to the Provincial Council respecting the repairs of the foot and highways of Lyttelton' : such Committee tikeonsist of the following persiVnsj viz-i— . ~ Messrs. D:impi*ei;, Sewell, Alport, Donald, Billiard, Fyfje, Graham, Pratt, Stout, Davis, Taylor, and myself. > I have further to inform you that at a meeting of the above-named committee held this morning, it was resolved that a letter be addressed to your Honor, requesting to be favoured with the following information. " Whether tlie Government will sanction the payment of £ 100, recommended by the Provincial Council, for the repairs of highways in Lyttelton." If so, " What the intentions of Government are respecting the objects and mode of expenditure, and in particular, "Whether the Government will place the sum recommended at the disposal of the Committee to be expended on the streets as they may thiirk right." " Whether, should the sum contributed by the inhabitants'be less than £100, the Government will make a grant equal to the amount raised." The Committee will feel obliged by your Honor's reply to the foregoing questions. I have the Honor to be, Yours respectfully, James Si'Owejis, Chairman. To His Honor the Superintendent. Cliristchurch, 19th April, 1854. Sir, —I am directed; by His Honor the; Superintendent to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th iust., received this moririug, and in reply to acquaint you that the Provincial Government will sanction the expenditure of the sum of £100 upon the conditions recommended by the Provincial Council on.the repair and .improvement of the Streets of Lyttelton. The Government are anxious to meet as far as possible the -wishes of the Memorialists as to the manner in which this sum should be expended ; but they would not feel it. right to hand over any portion of the public money to a body not legally constituted and not legally responsible for "its proper expenditure. It was the wish of the Provincial Government that a body should have been properly constituted, elected by the people, to whom the Government could have entrusted the expenditure ot money appropriated by His Honor and the Provincial Council to local improvements ; but until some such body shall be by law, the Government cannot discharge itself from the responsibility of exercising an immediate control over the expenditure of all sums voted for public purposes. His Honor will however readily avail himself of the advice and assistance of the Committee,' on whose behalfryou have written, in effecting such works as may be deemed most desirable. With regard to the sums to be contributed by the inhabitants, His Honor camioi but regret that'such a burden should have been imposed in the form of a voluntary contribution, which must necessarily fall with unequal weight upon a. portion of the community, instead of in the form of a local rate, as proposed by the Government, to which all equally interested would have equally contributed; but the Government will feel bound to act, as a temporary expedient, in the manner recommended by the Provincial Council ; it does not however appear necessary that the required improvements should be delayed until the whole of the grant shall have been met by an equal contribution. The Government therefore^ propose that all sums subscribed by the inhabitants of Lyttelton shall be paid to" the account of the Provincial Treasurer at the bank, and as soon as suck sum* shall amount to half, the cost oi'

any particular work recommended by the inhabitants, the work shall be at once commenced, the other half being provided for'out of the sum voted by the Provincial Council. If therefore the Committee on whose behalf you write will state the works required in the order of their importance, estimates .shall be made of their cost, and every preparation made for undertaking them so soon us half the cost shall be provided in the manner indicated above. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obt. humble Servant, H. G. Gooland, Provincial Secretary. To James. Spowers, Esq., Chairman of the Lytteltoii Road Committee.

To the Editor of the LyHelton Times. Sir.—Before I make arrangements for sending my boj's to the proposed school, may I ask the Rev. Mr. Cotterill, through you, what is the object of a half-holiday on Wednesday, and may I enquire whether the Saints' days are to be made half-holidays, and if so, are the children being boarders to be taken as a school to church on those Saints' days ? These questions interest many who are anxious their children should be instructed at a good Church of England School. The following calculation may serve to shew that there are quite enough of holidays without adding, the half Wednesdays and the half Saints' day to the number. Number of days in the year 365 Deduct Sundays 52 Deduct 6 weeks for mid-winter holidays . 36 Same at Christmas 36 2 weeks at Easter 12 Deduct 38 half Wednesdays 19 Do. 38 half Saturdays 19 174 — 174 No; of whole school days would be 191 Your obedient servant, A Parent.

The " Caledonia" has brought Melbourne papers, vid Wellington, to the 24th of March, with English intelligence to the 10th January. The Queen, it appears, refused to accept the resignation of Lord Palmerston, and the noble Lord still holds the seals as Home Secretary. Subsequent j/expknation between the different members of the Ministry is represented to have led to a complete reunion. Various rumours are current respecting the resignation of Lord . Palmerston ; among others it is reported that Prince Albert has unduly interfered in the political affairs of the State, and that he has divulged state secrets in his private correspondence with foreign courts. Another rumour is, that the immediate cause of Lord Palmerston's resignation, was the circumstance of au important despatch having been submitted to Her Majesty and Prince Albert, by Lord Aberdeen, before laying it before ministers, which is represented as a most unconstitutional step. It is a>o reported, on the authority of the Daily News, that the Commander-in-chief (Lord Hardinge) has resigned in consequence of the^same interference, also the adjutant General and- other staff officers. No particulars are given. The differences between Persia and England have been arranged. Amongst the deaths of the month are Mrs. Opie, the popular authoress, at the age or' 85 ; Captain Warner, of " long range" notoriety ; the Marchioness of Weliesley, the Counts of Eglintoun, and Dr. Harington, principal of Brazenose College, Oxford. France, it is announced, is preparing to throw 200.000 troops of the line into Turkey, ami is making other arrangements for a vigorous campaign against the Autocrat. America, it is hoped, should war be commenced, will make common cause with the allies. Sweden and ihe other Northern powers have declared their <ietermination to remain strictly neutral, notwithstanding the request of .Russia to close their ports agaimt all vessels of the allied powers; while Poland, Hungary, and Italy, are represented as eagerly anticipating the commencement of hostilities to begin another struggle for freedom. As a counterpoise, Bus ia is 'said to be fo'.ueuiiug; disturb.ances in India and Algeria.

The following letter, referred toby Mr. Sewell, in his recent correspcndence with the Church Trustees, addressed by him to Lord Lyttelton, has been handed to us for publication. Lyltelton, New Zealand, May 10, 1853. My Lord, I think it right to address your lordship separately on the subject of Church affairs. I have referred to them in my general despatch; but I wish to state my views respecting their j present state and future arrangements more particularly. I find everywhere a complaint of what is termed a failure of the Association's Church I plans. Proofs of this prevalent opinion must have forced themselves painfully upon your lordship's attention. It is not my purpose to dwell upon the causes which have produced it. I refer simply to the fact of its existence. Without admitting the full justice of the complaint, I am compelled to acknowledge that it is not altogether without foundation. True, we have not sold as much land as was at first counted on, but even looking to what has been sold, and the means at disposal, I do not think the results have been as yet commensurate. I make this admission the more readily, because I do not believe it to be wholly irremediable. As the case stands, the world points at our large promises in the early stage of our undertaking, and contrasts them with bur actual performances. We have not completed the foundation of our bishopric; we have not planted even the beginning of a college; we have not built a single church; we have not supplied sufficient residences for the clergy ; nor built or endowed sufficient schools: we have done nothing effectually towards organizing a local management of the Church temporalities placed under our control; whilst our clergy and schoolmasters have been lately threatened with absolute suspension of their employments and incomes. I refer to these as painful and undeniable facts, without meaning to take blame to ourselves, or to cast it upon others, but simply as facts. Your Lordship and the Committee will pardon me, I know, for writing in these plain tertas, I know your own deep anxiety on the subject; i nor will yon, I am sure, consider me as trespassing beyond the proper limits of my business in bringing it prominently before you, in connection with that final winding up of your affairs which you have entrusted to me. To put the case clearly, let me first notice what you have actually done :— 1. You have planned and made preparations j for the foundation of a bishopric, and have set apart a permanent endowment of £600 a year I for it. Those who know the circumstances which have caused delay in the consecration of the bishop, will acquit jyou of blame on that score. 2. You have built two parsonages, one at Christchurch, another at the Heathcote Ferry. The Parsonage at Christchurch is used as a Grammar School. 3. You have built a schoolhouse at Christchurch, which is used as a temporary church, but-which of course cannot be consecrated. 4. At Lyttelton you have converted two of the Emigration barracks into schoolrooms. But this is only a temporary convenience. 5. You have contributed different sums towards the building of churches at Lyttelton, Papanui and Akaroa, but the churches themseives have been built at the risk of private individuals by means of private subscriptions. 6. You have been instrumental in planting in the colony a uuraber of clergy and schoolmasters sufficient for the present needs of the colony, and constituting altogether an efficient and valuable staff. Let me assure your lordship that the working clergy of the settlement areas a class, fully equal to-the standard of parocnial clergy in England. I bear this testimony because I have seen an attempt made to disparage them, in order to throw indirectly reproach upon the Association. Having "had some experience of other parts of the colony I am sure we may congratulate ourselves on the fortunate circumstances of our settlement in this respect. Besides this, several of Mr. Jackson's schoolmasters remain in the settlement and are extremeiy efficient. You have acquired for religious and educational purposes, large endowments in land. The exact particulars of these I hope to transmit

shortly. At present I assume the loose estimates of our surveyor and agent, according to , which I reckon that the present income of these lands, actually, let,. is about £150 per annum. In 1855, that is, from the beginning of that year, the rental of such lands will improve to "about £400 a year.. There is every reasonable probability that more lands will be let between this and 1855. What increase of rental that will produce is of course uncertain. As a mere guess, it is possible the rental may be doubled, and ■probable that it will be raised half as much again, say to £800 a year. In seven years from this time, say 1860, we may without exaggeration calculate the income of the laud endowments at upwards of £1000 a year. It is difficult to speculate as to their ultimate value. But I bear, remarks already made to the effect that the Church will be too rich instead of too poor. Your Lordship must consider these as loose estimates, for the correctness of which I will not vouch, except that they are formed on the best information I can get and from the best sources. It is to be noted that a large portion of the unsold Ian:1 in the towns of Lyttelton and Christchurch have been taken for these endowments ; that there is a new Township being formed on part of the Church lands at Kaiapoi; and that the rural land has been chosen in the neighbourhood of these centres of population, and is in course of being tenanted. I think the Association and the colony are greatly indebted to Mr. Godley for the care and judgment shewn in the selection of these endowments. Let me turn to the other side, and enumerate briefly, but to the full, what I conceive to be the shortcomings of the Association—at least what are reckoned as such. 1. You have done nothing effectual towards the foundation of a college. I shall not here advert to the importance attached by the Association at home to this work, the interest felt in it, the efforts made towards it, and the causes which have obstructed it. Now as you are on the eve of laying down your functions or transferring them to other hands, it appears to me (I may add it is generally so considered) that your duty to the colony will not have been discharged without fulfilling this obligation. It has been distinctly promised and the means are within reach. Unless some unforeseen impediment should occur, I shall venture to take on myself to regard this as one of the businesses to be transacted as part of the winding up of the Association's affairs. Indeed their affairs cannot be properly closed without it. There are special endowments held by or on account of the Association for the service of a college, besides Mrs. Soame's, the income of which (at present about £150 per annum) is likely to increase largely. -There is a subscription list in England, exceeding I am sure £1,500, and which will doubtless be increased so soon as a college is really organized -and established, What is practically wanted to initiate the college is, Ist, endowments ; 2nd, organization ; 3rd, working staff; 4th, a jsite; sth, buildings; 6th, legal incorporation. As regards the Ist, endowments, they are at hand. A portion of the general land endowments would be properly applicable to this object. I shall consider hereafter the question of present available income, and how to provide ways and means in the meantime whilst the endowments are growing into value. 2nd, Organization. This must proceed from the Association as founders, who under the powers of their charter are empowered to " establish and maintain such institutions." The plan already proposed, with modifications to suit the circumstances, as may be agreed on in consultation with the Church Committee, may be practically adopted. A body of honorary fellows with an honorary Warden, may for the present be constituted without difficulty of fit persons as a governing body, including of course the working members of the college. 3rd, As to working staff, Mr. Jacobs, the present master of the Grammar School,has always been looked to as the senior tutor. He is in fact a very superior person, and his capabilities are greatly beyond his present position. Both privately and publicly he is held in high esteem. An assistant with him would probably suffice at present for the actual work of the college, till it increases in extent; when such increase will bring an increase of funds, with proportionate means for adding to the working i stun. 4th, As regards site. Though there may be

differences of opinion as to the best place, there can be no difficulty in fixing it somewhere. This would be a matter to determine in-consul-tation with the Church Committee., oth, As regards buildings. About £1,500 will suffice for present needs. That is the actual estimate of a plan which I hope to transmit. This will do for a beginning. Once betrun, we need not despair of completing it upon The scale originally designed. The subscriptions already promised "would of course be applicable to this object, and more may doubtless be obtained. 6th, As to legal incorporation. The Provincial Council will have power to give corporate privileges to such a Collegiate Institution. It does not seem to me that a Royal Charter is ■ required. An Act of the Provincial Legislature will be sufficient, and I take for granted may be obtained without difficulty. I should add that I have talked over the question of the College with many of the influential colonists who agree in my views, and enter heartily with the plan. I come now to the head of Churches—You have not built a single church. This is matter of constant reproach lo you. You have, it is true, contributed £500 to the Church at Lyttelton, but you have permitted it to be built by private subscription, and at the risk of private individuals, who have now a debt on their hands of about £320. The building of churches at Lyttelton and Christchurch appeared to Mr. Godley works of urgent need. I am sure your Lordship and the Committee will agree in that opinion, and will consider that, so'far as is practicable, it is an incumbent duty on the Association to provide them; £500 would suffice at present for a church at Christchurch, which might be the chancel of ' a larger church hereafter. The appropriation of that sum to such object and the assumption of the debt on the Lyttelton church would in my opinion redeem the Association's liabilities on that score as regards those particular localities. Perhaps the obligations of the Association in the matter of Church building might be regarded as in strictness thus satisfied ; but besides Lyttelton and Christchurch, the main centres of population, there are other localities which may be cqnsidered as having claims of a public kind, though in a less degree. Akaroa, Papanui, Riecarton, Kaiapoi, and Governor's Bay, are places of this class. Akaroa is, as your Lordship knows, a small Settlement within the'harbour of that name. A neat but inexpensive church has been built there by pi'ivate subscription. The Association contributed a small sum towards it. A slight addition for the benefit or enlargement of the church, as might be arranged, may be made to bring this within the class of Churches founded by the Association. Precisely the same may be said as to Papanui, a hamlet near Christchurch. Mr. Brittan, who has property in that neighbourhood, has borne the main expense. I am anxious to redeem this also for the Association. With respect to this little church, an agreeable,, circumstance occurred as regards endowment. The Rev. Mr. James gave 10 acres of land, part of his hundred acre section, as an endowment for the church. It happened most opportunely that Mr. James* land was chosen immediately next to Papanui church. This endowment of ten acres, taken out of his section, added to five acres, constitutes a very serviceable Glebe. The land is valuable, and likely to improve. Riccarton is a small hamlet about two miles from Christchurch. The population of that neighbourhood : requires separate church provision. Mr. ,Dfians has hitherto been good enough to allow the use of his private house for the church service on Sundays. Mr. Mathias will be ready to give an endowment of 20 acres for a church there. Kaiapoi is about ten miles from Christchurch, and would have been the site of the Gladstone Township, if formed. It is the nucleus of an increasing population. I may add that there are important church lands in the neighbourhood ; indeed the proper site of a church would be on part of the church lands, now proposed to be laid out as a town. The value of the surrounding property will be much increased by it. The Rev. Mr. Raven has settled in the neighbourhood, and would doubtless undertake the duty. Governor's Bay is at the head of the Harbour, where several settlers' families have

planted themselves. It is about five or six niiles from Lyttelton, and will become the tkoroU irhfare to an important district adjacent to Lake Ellesmeve. A clergyman (Mr. Willoek) does duty there, I believe voluntarily, in a private house. A site for a church is reserved there.and private subscriptions for it are in course of collection. The kind of building for these small churches is rerv inexpensive." T-he cost need not exceed jSlOOor i)l20 each ; at least it would not be incumbent on the Association to provide more. I come now to the question of residences for the clergy, and first, as to a residence for the i Bishop. Id° not think the foundation, of the Bishopric ca/i be regarded as complete without this ; of course the scale of such a building need not be large. I think from £600 to £800 would provide for the present a sufficiently commodious and suitable residence. And it occurs to me.that a portion of the £ 1,000 promised by the S. P. G. for the Bishopric would | be-properly- applicable to that object: I may j take occasion to write hereafter more particulavlv on this, and other matters referred to, so soon as I have talked them over with the ! Church Committee. .-■-.; ■' ! There is, as I have said, a Parsonage at Christchurch... There is none at Lyttelton. A small house formerly occupied by Capt. Thomas on the Beach, belonging to the miscellaneous ; estates of the Association, has been hitherto appropriated to the Clergyman of Lyttelton, but that arrangement can no longer continue. Besides, the house itself is not in a convenient situation. About £250 would build a proper one.'." These parsonages at Christchurch and Lyttelton, together with one at the Heathcote Ferry, which is not at preseut of any actual service, but may become so, would fairly in ray opinion satisfy this item of claims on the ciation.As regards schools, there ought undoubtedly to be a permanent school at Lyttelton. There is onfi at Christchurch besides the Grammar School. Some addition is wanted to the latter to make it serve the double purpose of parsonage and Grammar School. I have thus sketched out what seems to me a complete list of all claims of this kind, which could under any circumstances be legitimately made against the Association ; which being satislied, no reproach could rest on it for riot having- fulfilled, according to altered circumstances, all reasonable expectations. The list, though large, is not so formidable as might be supposed, when we come to the practical consideration of how to provide for them. I come now to the question of ways and means for the permanent service of these Ecclesiastical and Educational Institutions. I notice first (not for your lordship's information, to whom the facts.are familiar, but to present the whole subject in a complete forai to others who may peruse this dispatch) the amount of funds which have come to the hands of the Association for Ecclesiastical and Educational purposes, and their expenditure. I must deal' with the figures somewhat loosely, as I have not yet received the accounts ; but I shall not be substantially incorrect. We have sold to the public that is, to purchasers who have bought and paid for land, 25,000 acres, producing about 75,000/. Of this, £25,000 was applicable to Ecclesiasti • cal and Educational purposes. I estimate the expenditure as follows :— To chaplains of ships, say £3000 To cost of Mr. Jackson's mission to the colony, including out- j fit of sundry schoolmasters, j *md clergy, books, church de- i corations and sundries, not less than 3500 To stipends of clergy and schoolmasters in the colony 2500 To sundry buildings, viz., parsonages, schools, contributions to churches, &c. &c 2000 Proportion of expenses of management, say 800 £11,800 Of the residue there was laid out for bishopric endowment 10,000 £21,800 Leaving a surplus of about 3,200 £25,000 -ims surplus was augmented by other means, ■••he Association having been compelled to bor-

row £ 12,000 from private sources, had no means of offering any security to tbe individuals Avho advanced the money, (who were connected with the Association), except in the form of land. Land has accdrdingly been chosen and assigned to them, and the money advanced by .them has been carried to tbe credit of the general land fund, and one third of the amount, viz. £4000, has been appropriated to the Ecclesiastical and Educational fund. The aggregate amount thus accruingto the fund for Ecclesiastical and Educational purposes has been laid out in the purchase of land endowments, which being bought on account of that fund, have been purchased at two-thirds of the ordinary cost, or (which is the same thing) one-third more land has been bought with the same money. The result has been the acquisition for Ecclesiastical and Educational purposes of those estates, which I have before referred to. Nor has this been attended with detriment to any party. Quite the contrary. The proper proportions of purchase-money bave been carried to the credit of the othei funds, and have diminished protanto the overdraught upon them. The Emigration fund and the Miscellaneous fund have benefhted in their respective degrees. But the conversion of money into land has had this effect. Whilst improving greatly the reversionary property applicable for Religious and Educational purposes, it has apparently diminished the present I do not suppose that any one would desire, for the sake of the permanent interests of the Church, to reverse these transactions, even if they, could be reversed. In point of fact, I have not heard an opinion to that effect from any individual. If the immediate difficulty can be got over, of present funds, the eventual gain is too obvious to need pointing out. So long as the erection of the bishopric is in abeyance, the £600 a year applicable to ihe Bishop, is available for ordinary purposes, but, as I stated iamy general dispatch, all parties anxiously desire that on no account shall this question retard the appointment of a Bishop. When this event happens, so much income will be diverted from the general resources. [The' remainder of this letter will'be given in our next.] ,>-'..,