The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 178, 3 June 1854, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

June 3, 1854. The " Mountain Maid " brings English news, via Sydney, to the 10th of February. For this late intelligence we are indebted to the clipper ship " Wave," which reached Sydney from England in 74 days. The speech of her Majesty on opening- the Session and the subsequent Parliamentary proceedings, we give on another page. At the time the "Wave" left England, the suspension of the negotiations with Russia absorbed all other questions ; for although war had not been formally declared, little hope of peace could be entertained after the publication of the intelligence contained in our columns this week. The ambassadors of Russia, as will be seen, have left England and France, and the representatives of the two latter powers have been forwarded instructions, to withdraw from the Russian territory. Anticipating this, Great Britain and France have been energetically preparing for the contest the encroachment of Russia upon the Turkish frontier accelerated. The sea and land forces of England have both been considerably augmented ; while France has a body of 200,000 well-equip-ped troops, furnished with all the necessaiy " munitions de guerre," eager to take the field against the Autocrat, either on the banks of the Danube or of the Rhine as circumstances may require. " The notes of preparation," says the Times of the 7th of February, " are heard on all sides, and in a few weeks the Emperor' of the Eussians will find himself everywhere face to face with an indignant antagonist, that antagonist being little less than the' whole" civilised world. We need not refer to the vast preparations reported from the other side of the Channel, for Fiance will be only too' ready to beat us in the race of honor. Our own army is immediately to be augmented to 11,000 men. The navy afloat is already the most powerful ever possessed by England.- Seamen are coming in rapidly,, attracted by the improved condition of the service, partly at the prospect of prize money at the breaking out of the war. Coast guards to the number of 3;000 are immediately to be embarked as a nucleus for thecrewsof the newly-commissioned ships. They are admirably adapted for this service, being trained seamen, and the more necessary iio\v,-as good hands are apt to be slow to join Ji raw and incomplete crew, in which there is plenty of hard work, and that not of the most agreeable kind. By the time that the Baltic is free, and the ice is breaking up, the strongest fleet its waters ever bore will shut up the Russians at its northern outlet as effectually as Russia is closed in the Black Sea." In the meanwhile Russia appears equally determined to keep her hold on the Danubian provinces, as a prelude to her future possession of Constantinople, attempting to induce Turkey to negotiate independent of the Western powers, and complaining of their interference. To facilitate the planting of the Greek cross on the towers of ancient Byzantium is the hereditary task of the rulers of the Russian Empire. The

territorial advantages resulting from such an event is not lost sight of by either of the powers. Prussia will endeavour to remain neutral, as her policy dictates ; Denmark and Sweden will do the same if not coerced by Russia. The Emperor of Austria, owing the preservation of his crown to the troops of the Autocrat, should war be declared, must, " nolens volens," range himself by his side. ! How far such a coalition will prevent this "effete" empire from being blotted out from Europe, remains to be seen. Louis Napoleon, it is reported, asserted that on " any further secession on the part of Austria, the French would not decline the alliance of either Hungarians, Italians, or Poles, but that the recognition of these nationalties would become the settled policy of France, and receive her support." Such a policy would give a character to the waxlittle anticipated by the Emperor of Russia when he sent Prince Gortschakoff to Constantinople. A few campaigns, should such be the case, would probably produce one of two events. Either the Russian hordes would spread themselves into the very heart of Germany, or the kingdoms of Hungary, Poland, and Italy, would be re-created to protect Europe again from the irruption of barbarism. Russian ambition extends even to India. The acquisition of the Indian provinces now held by England is another legacy bequeathed to his successors by Peter the Great. With this view Persia has been subsidized; and the nomadic tribes of the neighbouring country intrigued with and rendered hostile to the British. Whether Nicholas will inherit the bequest, time will shew.

We have to record another death ' from exposure to cold during the severe weather of the 15th instant—Mr. Peter Hayjock, of Akaroa. It appeared * from the evidence before the Coroner's Inquest that the deceased left Barry's Bay, at the head of Akaroa harbour, about 1- o'clock, p.m.-, for Lucas's station, with the purpose of reaching it before dark; the weather being fine with no appearance of change.' It was not known until the" following' Sunday that he had not arrived at his' destination. Almost every man- in ' Akaroa set out on the Monday to seek for him, and continued their search the following day; towards the evening, on their return, the body was found under the shelter of an angle of rock, lying on the face. He had wandered from his right track, taking the range leading to Piraki instead of that leading to his station, and probably not making out his whereabouts, had determined to wait for daylight. His bridle and saddle were found a hundred yards distant, carefully packed up, and his mare grazing in the neighbourhood. One of the witnesses deposed that at about the time he would reach the summit of the mountain chain, the hills were enveloped in fog, and much snow falling, with strong south-west wind, at which time .he had doubtless lost his track. From the position of the body it was inferred that he had fallen in attempting to rise, and cramp or stiffness preventing him, he had thus perished. Verdict, " Accidental death from exposure to cold and the inclemency of the weather." Deceased was universally esteemed in Akaroa, and his loss is severely felt.

The barque Admiral Grenfell sails this day for London direct, with a full cargo of colonial produce, principally consisting' of wool, the estimated value of which is £15,572 ISs. There are a number of passengers on board, some of whom are about to visit the mothercountry and among whom we notice the names

of Kenneth Bethune, Esq., and Jacob Joseph, Esq., Merchants of this Town. We trust that the gallant barque will have a prosperous voyage, and that those gentlemen who are about to visit the old country, may return speedily amongst us in the enjoyment of health and prosperity.— Wellington Independent, May 24. . The ship Lady Ebrington, arrived in this harbour on Saturday evening, after a passage of 105 days from London. She brings English Intelligence to the Ist of February. The Lady Ebrington brings a fall cargo of British merchandize, and a few passengers for Wellington. In consequence of a large quantity of goods being shut out by the Lady Ebrington, the Thetis had beeu put on the birth by the Messrs. Willis, and was to leave London shortly after for Wellington direct. The Egmont sailed for Auckland, with a detachment of troops, two or three days previous to the Lady Ebrington, and the principal part of the mails for the Southern Provinces have been forwarded by her. Ib. \ Accident to the Nelson Steameb.— Yesterday the Nelson, in attempting to leave our harbour, grounded on the point of Fifeshire Island, just beyond the arrow rock. The wind had been blowing hard all day from the south-west, and on raising her anchor, a difficulty was found in getting the head of the vessel to the wind, her great proportionate length preventing her from coming round. After several fruitless attempts, way was at length got upon the vessel, but in passing through the channel at the head of the harbour it appeared that she had not sufficient steerage power to contend against the wind, and she consequently went on shore on the S.W. point I of the island. i On tfie tide rising this morning the vessel was got off, without sustaining the slightest damage, and she will proceed on her voyage immediately. Earthquake—At nine o'clock on Wednesday evening, the shock of an earthquake was felt in this town. It was very slight, and lasted only about three seconds. — Nelson Examiner.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton- Times. Lyttelton, June 1. Sib, —Allow me to ask your correspondent of last week's paper if he will be good enough to furnish me with the proofs of his position that " in the proper observance of the ' Saints' days or holy days,' the very essence or purity of the Christian Religion is concerned," as I have been perhaps ignorantly taught that the essence of the Christian' Religion was altogether something different. And supposing his position to be established, would he further inform me if he considers the proper observance of those days to consist in compelling children to attend the Church Services, which compulsion I and very many have perhaps foolishly thought would have the effect not only of wearying them with the forms of the Church of England, but what is worse, of breeding a spirit of irreverence and a conj-equent aversion even from Religion itself. I am, your obedient servant, Another Member op the Church op England.

To tlie Editor of the Lyttelton limes. Christchurch, May 30, 1854. Sißj—ln answer to a paragraph in last Saturday's ' Times,' relative to the Christchurch Agricultural Society, in which the attention of the Committee is directed to what appeared " a grave omission in their Prize List, viz., prizes for the best samples of wool," I would call the attention of yourself and of your readers to the advertisement which appeared in your paper on the 29th April, and for some weeks previously, relative to the autumnal exhibition by the Society. I think it will be found that the Society offered no less than six prizes (of the aggregate amount of £12) for wol. The prizes for wool were the highest in the whole prize list. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. C. Foktek, Hon. Sec. to the Society.