CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 26 August 1854, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —The Canterbury Association's title to the Public Reserves, and the validity of the mortgage on them as security for repayment of the £10,000 borrowed from the Bishopric Fund, are questions which have long engaged public attention in this Province. Able correspondents of the Lyttelton Times and of the Canterbury Standard have argued against the title and the mortgage as'alike untenable at Law and in Equity. The doubts thus raised have, I believe, been universally entertained by the colonists. An extract from a letter just received from Mr. Godley, to whom I had written, expressing our doubts, and asking him to seek the opinions of competent professional men in England, will, I am sure, interest your readers. After mentioning that those members of the Association who desire the appointment of a Bishop, prefer not to press the matter now, in hopes that present difficulties may be smoothed by a declaratory act of the Pi-ovincial Council to remove all doubts about the title of the land mortgaged, Mr. Godley says, " The affair at present stands thus. The " title to the reserves and the mortgage " have been approved by lawyers of reputa- " tion, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Forsyth, " and Mr. Selfe. They have been questioned, " so far as we know, only by men who are " not lawyers at all, and who besides cannot " have had the case fully before them. Of " course it is possible that the former may be " wrong, and the latter right, but the prima '•'•facie case is the other way. If the Goveni- " inent do not go to law with the Bishop " about it, no private person will or can." Further on Mr. Godley states that he does not share in the doubts entertained here. He refers also to the " Deeds of Appropriation," the existence of which has been questioned by many. He says that he will do all in his power to promote the speedy appointment of a Bishop. Letters of May inform me that he has exchanged his office in Dublin for a similar one in London, where he will of course be much better able to exercise the personal influence which he is known to have with many leading men. Mr. Godley's deep interest in the Settlement, and his careful habits of investigation, are sufficient guarantees that his opinion on the titles is a well-considered one. Though not conclusive, i t will be allowed to have considerable weight. I am, Sir, yours obediently, J. W. Hamilton. To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —I am sure it will be gratifying to you, but more particularly to my friend^Mr. Moorhouse's constituents at Akaroa, to be informed that the honourable member is now at his post at Auckland, and has been there since the 26th of last month. I have by this mail a letter from him from that place with the Auckland post mark of the date referred to. This will sufficiently justify the observations in my former letter. I am. Sir, your obedient servant, Christopher Edward Dampier. Waicliffe, 23rd August, 1554.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sib, —In answer to the Rev. H. Jacob's letter in last Saturday's Times, I must make one or two remarks. As far as the transactions between Mr. Sewell and the Nominee Church Trustees (who by the way do not possess the confidence of the majority 'of the public) are concerned, I can say nothing, as the proceedings of that favoured body are kept in such profound secresy, I have no opportunity of judging of their work. In reference to that part of the Rev. gentleman's letter where he states the sum of £500 has been paid from the Ecclesiastical Fund (and it stood at the head of the subscription list as such) towards the erection of a church here, I would remind him of the fact that at the public meeting held to consider the subject, Mr. Godley stated he had no available funds for such purpose, but he had authority from some of the leading members of the Association to draw upon them for any purpose like the one then before the public, and if my memory serves me right, such liberal offer was accepted and acted upon. The other part of his letter worthy of remark is this, that the greatest number and the wealthiest of the inhabitants had not contributed towards the Ecclesiastical Fund by the purchase of land. Now, Sir, the Rev. gentleman's name does not appear on the Electoral Roll for the Christchurch District, therefore I presume he was not an "original purchaser," yet he expects his pay from this Ecclesiastical Fund ; so do the people expect a church who purchased quarter acre allotments at even the upset price of £12 per section, and thereby contributed at the rate of £16 per acre to every one pound paid by the original purchaser. Yours respectfully, Churchman. Lyttelton, August 21, 1854. To the Editor of the Lyltelton Times. Sir, —I was astonished to see in your paper, that the establishment of a "Defensive Corps/ is intended, and Mr. Editor, — being a married man, and naturally very timid, may I beg of you (from your extended information) to let me know if there is any great danger impending? Are the Maories at all likely to make a descent upon Lyttelton? or is there any appearance of Chartism amongst our labouring population, in consequence of the present high rate of wages, and demand for labour? or is there, Mr. Editor, any chance of an armed Russian vessel coming to our port ? If so I would suggest that the " Corps" shovld be trained in naval as well as military tactics, and that Government should be memorialized to purchase a hulk for the purpose of practising the art of boarding. (By the bve.canDerry make pikes?) as the muskets of the Defensive Corps would, I fear, be of lltile use in preventing the bombardment of Lyttelton. Do, pray, Mr, Editor, give me some information as to the cause of all this, for suspense is by no means beneficial to my nervous system, —and you wiil very much oblige, Your obedient servant, Ma us. To the Editor of the Lyttelton limes. Sir, —In continuation of the subject of my two former letters, I will row make a few remarks in allusion to the lighterage of goods from the shipping to the landing place. And I refer to it with great satisfaction in being enabled to assert that we can fairly vie with any other Port in New Zealand in the efficient way the service is performed. The charges are moderate and the attention unremitting-. Several times the goods on board the steamer " Nelson " have been landed before the news of her arrival had ever reached our Chrisiclmreh friends. No vessel of large tonnage would Iry alongside an unsheltered wharf, (such « as that proposed at Gollnn's Bay.) possessing

advantages very little superior to the Taranaki Roadstead. The insurance would be entirely vitiated, and I think it may safely be affirmed that in most of the harbours of the world, unprovided with suitable docks, the landing is invariably performed by lighters. I must also rescue 'our coasters to the" rivers from the imputation of pilfering contained in the Stcuidai'd's article of July 20. The worthy editor should remember that the Christchur^-h people have not a farthing sunk in vessels for the carrying trade, and the men employed in this hazardous service are residents of Lyttelton, which naturally makes us rather sensitive upon this point. Whatever accusations may have rested upon this service in the early days of the Settlement, it has long been put a stop to, and the men now employed are enabled to substantiate a claim to honesty and respectability equal to that of any other portion of our community. I will next draw the attention of our fellow settlers to the facilities Lyttelton presents for forming Docks capable of receiving vessels of large tonnage. You have only to look at the map of the port to see that a circular breakwater carried across the bay in which Lyttelton is placed, ta commence at Officer's Point (to the N.E.), and finish at the point off Dampier's Bay (to the N.W.), would enclose a large area available for such purpose. The cost of forming this breakwater would prove trifling when compared with its importance. The water within the docks could be kept at the highwater level by pro% riding suits.ble floodgates, and sheds for the reception of merchandise could be built upon the breastwork or breakwater which would afford ample shelter to shipping from every wind. Great facilities also present themselves for constructing slips available for building or repairing vessels. But this is anticipating our progress, and Jwould be a work to engage our attention hereafter when the resources of the Settlement shall have been more fully developed. My present object is to shew that it could be done advantageously off Lyttelton, whilst I deny that such works are practicable off Gollan's Bay. The extension of the existing Jetty would afford very needful accommodation for some years to come and at a comparatively trifling outlay. I cannot help differing from the editor of the Standard in his laudatory commendations of the worthy Commissioners. The best test that can be applied to their qualifications is to examine the report and estimates which have resulted from their profound labours, and can it be credited that the calculations are so nicely made that 50 per cent requires to be added for contingencies. Rastrict, Rennie, and Stephenson would consider such calculations as reflecting little credit upon the instruction emanating from their great engineering establishments. However, to reduce the question to its simplest form, it must obviously strike the comprehension of every thinking man in the Settlement that we are not yet advanced enough to entertain these great railway projects. That, ail we require is a line of communication to the interior, of the simplest and least expensive form to be available for ordinary draught, which, combined wish the steamers for the rivers now in progress of construction, will be found fully adequate to relieve our fellow-settieis of ail their surplus produce without incurring an outlay of upwards of £-30 per head for every man, woman, and child in the Province. I cordially agree wilh your temperate remarks in this day's Thrum. an.| sincerely hope that our effJrts will be unanimous, that no Will o" the Wisp schememay lead us astray from the weli-btcng- of

the Settlement at large, and that any effort to aggrandise a small portion of the community at the expense of the whole may be treated with the contumely it so richly deserves. Thanking you for your kindness in giving my remarks a place inj[ your columns, I remain, yours obediently, Alpha. Lyttelton, 19th August, 1854. To the Editor of the Lyttetton Times. Sik, —I am glad to see you recommending in 5 rour last number unanimity in proceedings likely soon to take place with reference to facilitating communication be tween the Port and the Plains. Angry discussions will only lead to party squabbles, or the furtherance of selfish objects, by which the main object—the good of the community —will be so mystified as to be lost sight of, or delayed to some indefinite period of time. All allow the necessity of an easy access from the sea to the Plains, to save the colony from being a mere sheep run. l£ven for a sheep run that is indispensable to ordinary prosperity ; but to such an extent of fine land for all purposes as we find at our disposal on the Plains, it appears an absurdity in terms that an outlet to the sea should have so long remained an open question. Is access to the sea necessary to the prosperous settlement of the Canterbury block ? Is it advantageous to have large ships safely moored alongside a wharf, whence an easily travelled road should lead to the wool or grain producing field ? Have we-sueh conveniences now ? Are not the substitutes contemptible ? It appears to me that whether Lyttelton and Chn'stchurch were well or ill chosen is not the question. A communication with the sea, the best possible, is wanted ; and are we such a community, that that cannot be devised, and nheu decided upon, executed at once ? No cost should stand in the way of mooring a ship to a convenient wharf with easy communication with the Plains. Thai is for all time, when we shall be no more. Are we to have the finest site for a settlement as to land, water, climate, and free government (the only drawback being the want of wood, which the Peninsula can supply,) and halt upon the threshold for want of a way to it? Are we Englishmen ? Are we under an Aulic Council, or do cliques and factions keep off good men and true from taking part in j>ublic matters ? We have already let this question sleep three years and a-half, and yet it is un ier discussion; and appear to have our prosperity retarded by the same influence as that which prevented Sir George Grey making the road in March 1852. If Gollan's Bay affords facility for making a wharf for large ships, and the means of reaching the Plains by a convenient road, through Evans' Pass by a short tunnel, or over it by a deep perpendicular cutting, let a plan and estimate of cost be made. Does Lyttelton afford equal facility for the same objects? If it does, let plans and estimates be made. If more time had been taken to examine the country, before thirty ship loads of emigrants landed here, we should not be in this difficulty of choosing the first essential to successful settlement. Cost of plans and estimates, as material for cautious deliberation, is money well laid out. If Lyttelton is found to be superior to Gollan's B.'sy. I here is no harm done :if Gollan's Ij\y b<; the best, the general welfare of the colony deinand.-s the adoption of that plan. Whatever subsequent remedial steps may lie btken with regard to Lyttelton, will be only such as justice demands and would insist on. iS'.ifc before such works as these can be e->!!jpii.;trjd, I would ask you how the wool o;' the coming clip is to be got off the

Plains? Are the-few score tons of potatoes and grain now lying at the Christchurch Quay easily got away with the few craft at present in the trade ? By January next wool will be ready for shipment on all sides. Wool is liable to damage in these small craft from salt water ; and the uncertainty of the trip even to and from Christchurch and Kaiapoi, adds to the cost of transit, as well as danger from rain for want of wool stores. I see no step so feasible as making the Avon practicable for a steamer the size of the Nelso7i, that could bring away 200 bales a trip, and put them on board a ship in the harbour in a few hours. Mr.Dobson's plan for filling up the breaks in the reef at the mouth of the Avon is practicable and easy of execution. Every day that that indispensable work is delayed will add to the flock-owners' difficulties in the ensuing wool season. No one need say there is not enough labour. That is a work twenty men, under good guidance, could complete in the most efficient manner in three months. I hear Mr. Grubb and his partner are building the hull of a steamer for the trade of the Plains, in Pigeon Bay. Of what use can it be in the Avon unless the water way at the mouth be narrowed? They would do well to make an offer (they are well up to the work,) to effect the improvement in the Avon, which is a sine qua non to their success before they drive a trenail : for when the annals of our settlement are truly written, it Avill be lamentable to record the frustration of private enterprize through the utter neglect of the best interests of the people by the Government, and the apathy of the people themselves for allowing it: yet such must be the case if the present let-alone system be continued1. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Vates.. j Lytteltoa, August 2'2nd, 1854.