Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 597, 24 July 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

Our friends at Kaiapoi are determined not to lag behind in enterprise, and it is with much pleasure we hear of their direct exportation to Wellington, by the Uira, of their first cargo of produce from that port to any other province. It is stated that she will return direct to Kaiapoi, for the purpose of continuing similar exportations. In connection with this we may add that the settlers are urging the necessity of having Kaiapoi declared a port of entry, and the establishment of a branch Bank. There is no doubt that sooner or later they must succeed in acquiring these privileges. There is another matter connected with this place which we may advert to, namely, the advisability of having tlie bar arid channel of the Waimakariri inspected by competent parties, for it often happens that, during a strong U.E. wind vessels are deterred from taking the river, whereas, if there were sufficient indications of a passage by buoying or ' otherwise, there would not be such detention ; | and consequently, it is not unreasonable to suppose that freights might be still lower, and at I the same time more remunerative to the craft, and last, though not least, the risk would be less, a most important point both to merchant and consumer. From Lieutenant Woolcombe's j survey it is an established fact that there is a I sufficient depth of water for vessels of conside- j rable tonnage, and it is only from want of the I above which makes the finest river in the province almost inaccessible during strong gales. Fuel is a most important item on the Plains, and £fe might _be_supDlied_at a reasonable rate from Kaiapoi by water irrespective of TanoTcarriage. - At a meeting of the shareholders of the. Town Hall, Christchurch, a discussion arose j as to the advisability of allowing the Hall to ' be used_ as a temporary theatre by Mr. Cox's Company, Mr. J. -Brittan in the chair. Leave was granted by a majority of 22 to 13. Archdeacon Mathias strongly opposed the application, as he considered that, if acceded to, more harm than good would result. On Thursday* night Mr.'Cox's Company acted according to., the programme. The performance went off with considerable success. We are glad to perceive that Norwich Quay is undergoing some necessary improvements, in the shape of drain and water-course repairs; and hope that the same exertions will be continued until this disgusting puddle of a thoroughfare be rendered passable and olfactorily inoffensive.

The disagreeable change of weather -which we lately announced has subsided as suddenly as its advent, giving us a recurrence of the clear, mild atmosphere that we had previously so much - enjoyed. The effect is apparent on the young fruit trees, which are spontaneously sprouting forth their healthy buds, as if preparing their new garments to welcome the advancing spring. It will be perceived from our advertising columns that the provincial government invite tenders for the extension of the jetty ; and furnishing materials for the work. It is a step certainly in the right direction, for the inconvenience arising from our narrow limits of wharf accommodation has been for a long time a severe grievance to our shipping and mercantile interests. That the prescribed limits of extension may be sufficient is a question affecting the future, rather than our present wants; and if the work be prosecuted efficiently and energetically, no project can tend more to the advancement of the port, which, like every port,is greatly dependent, of course, on the encouragement of shipping. Notes and Queries.—ln a late paragraph in the ' New.Zealander' noticing the number of frogs in the swamps at the Coromandel diggings we find " These croaking choristers whose song in the Northern Hemisphere has been thus translated by a Russian " t'ros-Mns uist."— iirekeke, brekeke, Koax, koax,

To-00, to-oo!" Is it fair to ask how the Brekekex, Koax, Koax, of old Aristophanes" found its way into the mouth of a Russian ?