Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 703, 3 August 1859, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

The election of Synodsmen for the approaching Diocesan synod closed on Saturday last. For ; Lyttelton, Dr. Donald and Mr. J. W". Hamilton have been chosen'; for Christenurch, Dr. Barker and Mr. John Hall; for !Kaiapoi, Messrs. Wyldo and Blakiston ; for llangiora, Mr. C. O. Torlesse. We' have not yet obtained' exact information as to the proceedings in other parishes.

We have much .pleasure in recording the fact that the powerful'steam saw mill undertaken by the Messrs. Marshall; in Pigeon Bay/ has during the present week' been brought into operation. The engine which (drives' the machinery''is of 25 horse power,' so that some work may be expected from it. The gear comprises circular'saws, for Hitching arid 'breaking down,' as it-is termed, the round logs, besides the ripping saw»,: from which more than 500 revolutions per minute are obtained. We believe that a set of' vertical saws will also be added on the arrival of this part of the machinery, which is expected in the Airedale. The Messrs. Marshall will now be able to do a good deal towards keeping in the country the money, the expenditure of which for foreign produce has been always a subject of .complaint. Grreat credit is due to them for the enterprising manner in which they have spent time and money in the undertaking; and we hope, for the sake of all concerned, that it may turn out perfectly successful. On the 25th of July, after the arrival of the la 4 mail from England, the Union Bank of Australia altered their rates of exchange on England, whichnow stand as follows:—On London, selling rates for bills at 60 days, 4 per cent premium; at 30' days, 5 per cent premium. Purchasing rates at 601 days, par; at 30 days, 1 per cent premium. On the branches in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, selling rate 1 per-cent premium, at 15 days; purchasing rate 1 per cent discount, at 30 days. On'branches in New Zealand, selling rate -|- per Gent premium at 3 days purchasing rate -£ per cent discountl at 15- days. The discount rates remain at under 95 days, S per cent;. above 95 days, 10 per cent."