Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 422, 19 November 1856, Page 7

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Slit, —My object, in writing again is to back your own argument, that possibly the fact of the majority of the people feeling a want of co)ijlile)i<:e in the Sumner road, is a sufficient inducement for the Covernment to refrain from doing anything towards making a permanent line for the present, and also the fact of every one using the present; bridle path for six years,

has given that line a sort of right Avhich it may be difficult to set aside. Lawyers say " possession is nine points of the law," and Mr. Morphin observes truly that " We are creatures of habit." We have become so used to that confounded bridle path, that I am afraid we should miss it, if it ever happened to be stopped up. I am not sure whether it Avould not be the Avisest plan to make both lines. The bridle path to the extent proposed in the plan of Mr. Hughes, and the Sumner road to a sufficient extent to open it for traffic. The cost would not, according to all accounts, exceed £'1-2,000, and it Avould most likely settle the question as to which Avasthe most desirable route for a permanent Avay. And, what is not of the least importance, the cessation of all division and angry feeling on this vexatious subject, woidd alone be cheaply purchased by the expenditure of such a sum. And what is to become of the im^estments iv Lyttelton? There need be no fear for them, O ! Papa! There need be no fear for them, 0 ! Pilgrim Fathers ! The investments in Lyttelton are founded on a rock; they are founded on the good faith of a company of right honourable gentlemen, and in the even-handed justice and tender mercies of a truly paternal Government. There is no fear, 0 ! Pilgrim Fathers ! for if we asked you for bread, you Avould not give us a stone; if we asked you for a needful benefit, you Avould not give us crooked answers and cunning maxims of political economy. There is. no fear, 0 ! Pilgrim fathers ! for are Aye not your children? Countrymen of Canterbury. Our Fathers are in Council I Why should their children fear ?

And now, Mr. Editor, though I have take an hint from you, I fain, Avould give you back again the nut to crack. That nut contains a moral Avith. no little depth of meaning iv it ; or in other words, I wish you would add the moral to the argument: for I have spoken my mind half in mirth and half in earnest, and am therefore hah' afraid to open it altogether. I will only observe, that of this question Aye might say in the Avords of Shakespeare, There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observing!}- distil it out. And truly this vexatious subject, which has so long occupied our attention and nearly exhausted the energies of our leaders, might-be made to teach a valuable lesson ev-en to the Avisest heads in Canterbury. I hope to see the day Avhen I shall be able to sa3~ to the rising generation, (do not deem me too presumptuous? Mr. Editor, I mean Avhen I am a venerable person and can assume some dignity.) '*' Behold my children," pointing to the hills behind the port, '"' Behold the hug-bear of your worthy lathers: that stumbling-block became at last the means of reconciliation behveen a fuel tows and divided people." And perhaps I might have reason to conclude in the words of Theniistocles, " My children, we should certainly htive been ruined if Aye had not been formerly undone.'' j. G. F. To the Editor of the Lyth-lton Time*-. SIX, —If I am not intruding upon your rolumns, perhaps you Avill permit me to reply to your remarks upon the performance of trie Lyttelton Choral Society of last Monday evening.- I cannot quite agree with you, tha, x\\ • evening's entertainment was an ackuowbe'gement"and illustration of thei^_fc'ce>s^in th.> practice of Sacred music. Though diiievmg from you more particularly in deiad. I think that in this particular class of music they are very far from efficiency. I wid_ preface my remarks by observing that a selection from_ the " Creation'" for a performance was most inhmlcious and ill-judged, inasmuch as the Society are not yet sufficiently advanced to got up. with any degree of success, such a great" and master./ composition: for, of all oratorios, the "'Creation," ,on account of its many eh- eraie and brilliant movements, requires great study, and the greatest delicacy and precision in its execution ; and furthermore, the taste o: theau ::cnee. a point of the greatest importance, was i..v little consulted." The overture, as mi.-hi haw been expected, claimed but Mile , t .a'a-'r. being but a fru.gmei.t-. or more v;>rrcet; .Y s:\a;-,-ingan accompaniment,and it was in no-a ...y eaten - lafed to give any one the lea-a e^ accp;:^!! c; v as a whole, as when perform--;! m :;.-. mte..vr;_.. The openine; of the chorus. " A new v':v.a..M World," in itself a most difficult p'cv of v.-.-a!-isation, was truly lamenta'da. each p-'vt seetnmg determined to have its own \s.ty, qutie rc-g tru-

less of the Maestro of the baton, Avho lost all command over bis unruly choir. The flute solo Avas unfortunately a great failure: but Mr. Snietiton's violin performance, that accorded him such deserved praise, ivas of that unpretending excellence, as served well to illustrate the fact, that what should be performed should be performed well. The " Heavens are telling," was rendered very carefully : though not so the duett and chorus, "By thee Avith bliss." The chorus was not sufficiently subdued for the duett to have been effective, though the lady, entirely unsupported by Mr. Biltou in the ba-ss. led on, valiantly sustaining her part to its termination. The concluding chorus from the "* Messiah," was Avell and steadily performed, and redounds the greatest credit upon the conductor and his trusty little band. As you very justly observe, the addition, if practicable, of more instrumental music Avould be a great desideratum, as Avell as solos from some of the ladies, if they could be pi-evailed upon. In conclusion, I Avould suggest, that the Society, for the present, fall back upon music of a less classical nature, and select such as would j be more pleasing and cheerful, and, at the same ' time, be better appreciated by their auditors. Your most obedient Servant, MtrsctTLUS.