Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 559, 13 March 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

The little steamer Planet has made her maiden trips to the Waimakariri and the Heathcote during the week. Her departure for the former river was delayed for one day in consequence of the tides not being suitable for crossing the bar on Monday. The next morning, however, she left the jetty at a little before eight o'clock, j with a considerable number of passengers and their luggage. Several immigrants just arrived by the Aoehampton took the opportunity of transporting themselves in this convenient manner to Kaiapoi; and others, both ladies and gentlemen, embarked as on a pleasure trip. The day commenced with a strong breeze from the eastward, and rain, while every thing was thickly covered with fog. In fact the weather was as unpropitious as it well could be for the trial trip. The Planet steamed on against all obstacles with great success, and, crossing the Waimakariri bar without touching or stopping, arrived at Frazer's wharf in just four hours from Lyttelton. Here she landed her passengers and cargo. The next morning she was loaded with sixty-eight bales of wool, but a large number of passengers offering, many of whom, as before, were ladies, fourteen bales were taken off, and the steamer proceeded down, the river about half-past ten o'clock. As on the previous day the weather was thick and rainy and a strong easterly breeze blowing, so that a high sea was running on the bar. The weather altogether was so unpropitious that sailing craft all ready to start had been detained in Lyttelton harbour since the previous Saturday, and the Uira had been lying in the Waimakariri unable to come out though ready for the three or four previous days. The Planet, however, went steadily at the bar, without stopping, and crossed-it safely though bumping once or twice. About half-an-hour had now elapsed since leaving Kaiapoi, and the remainder of the trip was completed in four hours more. Mr. Tregear, late of the Flirt schooner, acted as pilot both ways. We understand that the bar of the Waimakariri is in a bad condition at present the channel being undefined and very shallow, so much so that even at the top of the tide and in tolerable weather'vessels seldom come out without -touching. Twelve hours must therefore necessarily be consumed in the river. The same evening the wool was delivered on board the Glentanner.

Ou Thursday the Planet left the jetty about eleven o'clock for the Heathcote, and reached the ferry in less than two hours, without meeting the slightest stoppage or obstruction. Messrs. Marshall were on board and piloted her up. Advantage was taken of th# trip by several jurymen who were returning home from the Assizes, as well as immigrants per Roehampton, and others. The fine weather made the trip peculiarly pleasant, and the facility with which thjevessel was handled in the sharpest turns arid narrowest channels of the winding stream proved how well she is adapted for the service. This circumstance and the fact of passengers and cargo being carried to and from Kaiapoi with ' ease while sailing vessels were wind, .bound at both ends, must add very much to the satisfaction of the shareholders with their undertaking. The steamer returned yesterday in 2\ hours,, having towed the Emu from the ferry down the river. A strong southerly breeze was blowing. She brought 41 bales of wool, and placed them on board the Oriental. She starts this morning for Akaroa. The Roehampton brings a few Cape papers, from which we gather that all matters in that colony were quiet. The Governor, Sir George Grey, left Cape Town for the frontier on the 19th January. The " Argus" states that his Excellency was about to leave for England after the next session of Parliament, and adds with regret that indisposition, resulting from too much attention to the arduous duties of his | office, was to be assigned as the cause of the I visit.

We have been favoured with a copy of a treatise by Sir George Grey, published at the Cape, entitled "Ko Nga Whakapepeha me nga Whakaahuareka a nga Tipuna o Aotea'-roa. Proverbial and Popular Sayings of the Ancestors of the New Zealand Tfcace." "It is a book of 120 pages, containing a collection of most interesting aphorisms and proverbial sentences taken from the poetry and fables current among the traditions of the Maories. We shall seize an early opportunity of making our readers acquainted with the contents of this work, for the completeness and accuracy of which Sir George Grey's intimate acquaintance with the aborigines of these islands sufficiently vouches.

The Rev. J. Buller's lecture on the Maories, on Tuesday evening last, at the Town Hall in Lytteiton, was very well attended considering the weather. A portion of the Hall was occupied by the fittings of the Supreme Court, which were not disturbed; but the remainder, comprising more than half the Hall, was completely filled. We were glad to observe that several gentlemen,from Christchurch and the Plains, whose attendance had been necessary for the business of the Supreme Court in the morning, stayed to swell the audience. Mr. Buller was well received and kept his audience highly interested and amused with various anecdotes illustrative- of the habits and history of the native race. The lecture lasted for about an hour, and the thanks of the assembly were conveyed to the reverend gentleman at the conclusion. Mr. A 1 port announced that the regular course of lectures, under the auspices of the Colonists' Society, would commence on next Tuesday week.

Mr. Justice Gresson starts for Otago overland on Monday. Dunedin will be the last assizd town on the Southern Circuit.

Mr. Torlesse has returned from an expedition

to survey the district round the head of the Waimokariri, and reports unfavourably of the country. He had travelled up the river to its source, which is in the Snowy Range, about thirty miles distant from the West Coast; also to the source of the Northerly branch or the Waitawiri, from which point, with a very short interval, water appears to flow into the Hurunui. Mr. Torlesse reports that, except the country which has been already taken up for pastoral purposes, there does not appear to be any available land in more than very limited patches. The country generally consists ,of forest or mountain, intersected by ravines and wide shingle beds. There was nothing of interest to be noted in the course of the survey. The adjourned annual general meeting of the Church Property Trustees was held in Christchurch on Saturday last. The resolutions then come to on the subject of the apportionment of stipends will be found in our advertising columns of to-day. This subject engaged the attention of the meeting almost exclusively; the general tendency of the discussion was to lessen the strictness with which the rule should be enforced of granting assistance from the funds to clergymen only who devoted their whole time to clerical duties. The result of the discussion "will be found in the resolutions themselves. Mr. Elsbee, we observe, is about to leave Lyttelton. The real excellence of his portraits should induce our fellow-townsmen to makeiShe most of the short remaining period of his stay.