LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 26 August 1854, Page 4

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Communication between- the Pout and the Plains. —A subscription was raised in Lytteiton about ten days'ago, for the purpose of getting-.another survey of the hills made by Mr. Hughes, who was then in Lyttelton. The following letter on the subject has just been handed to us for publication,

LyHelton, August 22nd, 1854. Dear Sir, —I send you the plan and section which you and others of the Lyttelton people requested me to make of a bullock dray road from Lyttelton over the hills. After taking the levels of the line pointed out a short time ago by Mr. Dobson, I found the ascent greater than the present bridle road, and notwithstanding the favourable descent clown the Mount Pleasant spur to the Ferry, felt bound to reject that route.

You will see by the plan that, commencing at Mr. Tribe's Store, following up Jackson road to town section 3.11, runningl parallel with the stream as far as Stanley's cottage, then winding in direction of Dam 7 pier's Bay, the steep descent at the foot of the bridle road is avoided. The objectionable portion at the summit is also avoided by departing from the bridle road at the point where it crosses from the eastern to the \yestern face of the spur, continuing along the eastern face a distance of 11 chains further before crossing; here there is a sharp turn, but by malting the road horizontal at the angle and building a parapet wall on the lower side, there will be no difficulty in driving round it. The ascent from Lyttelton to the summit averages 1 in 7. Descending the spur at the west of Mr. Cookson's farm to a point near the N. E. corner of Mr. Lee's fence, the inclination will be 1 in 9 on an average. The total distance from Mr. Tribe's store is 231 chains to this point. From thence the road may be either continued by Dr. Earle's and over Wilson's bridge, or carried over the Heathcote at Mr. Kennaway's rural section, and effect a junction with the Ferry road about a quarter of a mile below the Quay. The latter would be most direct, but* on the grounds of interfering with private property, may be objected to ; although I have no doubt that the parties through whose lands the road would pass would afford every facility for making it. For a road 15 feet wide the following is THE ESTIMATE. Lyttelton to foot of hills at Lee's fence :—. Exeavatiou ... ... ... £3,314 Drains '300 Parapet walls ... ... ... 200 Metalling .... 520 Purchase of private property at Lyttelton, say ... ",. J4o £4,474 From foot of hjlls by Lee's fence to junction with the Ferry road near Quay, including bridge over Heath* cote, metalling, and purchase of land ljloo Total £5,574 I would say in conclusion that in the absence of means to complete the Sumner road, as laid out by Captain Thomas, this line would be a great boon to the Settlement, and I have no doubt that a team of bullocks would take a ton over it without difficulty. I am, dear Sir, yours truly, J. Hughes. Mr. Swinbourne, and other gentlemen requesting the Survey, Lyttelton. Lyttelton Colonists' Society.—On Tuesday evening last an introductory lecture was delivered to the above Society, by the Rev. G. Cotterill. The attendance (owing, we suppose, to the exciting news that had been that day received, and to some omissions in the advertisement announcing the lecture) was not quite so numerous as was expected, but to those present the lecture appeared to give much satisfaction. The lecturer concluded by suggesting thatit was desirable to enlarge the bounds of the Lyttelton Colonists' Society. It. might, be possible before long to lay the foiindations'of a Museum. It Wiis very advisable at once to proceed to the improvement of tiie Library, and endeavour to make it more complete in various departments. The Chairman of the Society having proposed a vote of thanks to the llcv. Lecturer, which was warmly i'es])onded to, the meeting separated.

CHRISTCHUKCH. (From our Correspondent.) The weekly Market Dinner on Saturday last at the Golden Fleece was unusually well attended. Mr. Brittan occupied the Chair. Upon the removal of the cloth, Mr. Brittan state.d that the Committee appointed to superintend the arrangements for the Cattle Show had determined, in compliance with the request of many friends, to offer^piizes ior ploughing. He expressed a hope that they would be liberally supported by the gentlemen present, since in .order to render the show as attractive and practically useful as possible, they had considerably exceeded their funds in the amount of prizes which they proposed to give. This of course could only be met by public subscription. A list was handed round the table, which speedily obtained names with contributions attached to 4he amount of £50 and upwards. ■The Chuistchurch Colonists' Society held its usual fortnightly meeting at the White Hart on Monday last, H. I Tancred, Esq., in the •Chair. The subject brought under the notice ,of its members by Mr. Packer, was the proposed testimonial to his Excellency Col. Wynyard. Mr. Packer having laid upon the table the documents which he had received upon the subject from Auckland, proceeded to state his views in reference to the proposal. He considered that, although the colonists had undoubted great cause to be thankful to his Excellency for the promptness with which he had acted in calling together the General Assembly, as well as for his recognition of the principle of responsible Government, he did not consider the occasion was one to justify the presentation of a testimonial. ' Mr. J. Hall took a similar view of the case— in his opinion, the unanimous vote of thanks which had been adopted by the General Assembly, was a much more gratifying tribute than any testimonial could be, —the one might be §aid to emanate through their representatives from the whole colony, while the other, at best, .could only be of a partial character, and might be influenced-by various shades of political and party feeling. He disapproved of the principle ihat so frequently prevailed of voting pieces of plate to public men, simply because they were found satisfactorily discharging their public duties. Mr. J. Brittan concurred in the opinions of the previous speaker; he approved most highly, and, indeed, felt grateful for the course which his Excellency had taken. He believed, however, there was a public duty to perform (»n public occasions, and he feared that the presentation of a testimonial under existing circumstances was premature and ill advised. Hasty determinations of this character were much to be deprecated, and it behoved them to be careful they did not reduce the great value and unquestionable importance of public testimonials. Although he was of opinion that much of the praise so liberally bestowed upon his Excellency rightly belonged to Sir G. Grey, who might hs truly said to be in its strictest sense the author of the liberal Constitution we enjoyed —yet he could well understand that a time might arrive when such an expression of public approbation as was now proposed of his Excellency Col. Wyriyard's conduct would not only be most gratifying-, but most significant. Mr. Ollivier regretted that he should differ in opinion with the gentlemen who had preceded him. Col. Wynyard's position was unlike that of Sir G. Grey. The duty which Sir G. Grey had hesitated to discharge in calling together the General Assembly, and which was so essentially necessary to give effect to the Constitution of his own creation—was promptly acted out by his Excellency. It would afford him the greatest satisfaction if the public at large was found joining most heartily in giving effect to the proposal before them—whether by pence or pounds was immaterial. The value of such testimonials consisted not in the liberal and large sums of the few, but in the cordiality and co-operation of the many. Such a testimonial would be a marked expression of the public opinion of the colonists of New Zealand, and would not be without its effect upon the Government at home. Mr. Hall then moved the following resolution, which being seconded by Mr. Brittan, was adopted — " That this Society, while acknowledging the judgment and good feeling of his Excellency the Officer Administering the Government in promptly convening the General Assembly and

in establishing the system of Responsible Government, do not consider the circumstances to be such as to call for tbe presentation of a public testimonial." Mr. Tancred said that as the resolution had been adopted he felt it was due to the Society that he should state to them that it was his intention to contribute towards the testimonial in question. As Chairman he was he thought debarred from expressing his opinion previously, and he feared that he might be considered inconsistent if his name was appended to the list, and his acquiescence in the opinions of the gentlemen who had spoken against the proposition was to be taken for granted.