Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 16 June 1860, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

With respect to an intimation of a rise in freights by steam vessels between Lyttelton and the river, conveyed in a notice of the Canterbury Steam Navigation Company's proceedings in our last, we are requested to state that both the Avon and the Mullogh are still running at rates generally the same but in some cases below those advertised by the Planet. The reduced rates on some goods were adopted for a time, but were never considered permanent and were therefore never published. The public generally, and members of the Volunteer Rifle Regiment in particular, will have been surprised to see their names appearingl in the long list of persons liable to'serve in the Militia of this Province, which has dragged its enormous bulk through our pages for a fortnight at the rate of 600 names an issue. We are not informed whether the Militia is to be called out, or whether the publication of the list is to be considered as only a caution. We hardly think that the Government can mean actually to levy troops of defence for this Province under compulsion of law: but it has been done in Nelson, where, as well as in Auckland and Wellington, the Militia service has grown to be very heartily disliked. We have* here about 400 able men now or to be enrolled in the Volunteer Corps, and ready to turn out if required ; surely Militia are not also wanted. The present number of our Volunteers is a fair: per centage (about one-fifth) of all the men liable to serve in the district; if they had not enrolled themselves, and the Militia had been required, scarcely so many would have been wanted under arms. Those who have enrolled themselves as Riflemen need not be alarmed at finding- their names: down on the Militia list, for they are in company with a good many others who from various circumstances are exempt. Volunteers : are specially protected from being called out as Militiamen, and the differences between the two corps are very marked. The former choose their dress : the latter are 'equipped j' the former select their own officers: the latter have to serve under whomsoever it may please the Government to appoint; arid the appointments which have been made in other provinces are no slight cause of annoyance to. the public. Again, the Militia will have the felicity of popping' away with the ancient and futile musket, the-dis-tance, and. direction of whose carrying powers will ensure the safety of any enemy; while Volunteers are to be armed with a very efficient tool. Militia must turn out, drill, and serve under compulsion of the Mutiny Act, being- liable to" be treated, as , desertei'S for neglect of drill duties; Volunteers are not only saved from more than 20 days' drill in the year, but they have also an option as to the time j and absence is condoned either by a good excuse or a money penalty. Who is he, then, that would be a Militiaman ? As to the list, omissions and mistakes of any sort can be rectified on application, to the Justices named in- the notice, on or before the 26th of this month. •■ ■;

We have been requested to mention for the satisfaction of northern sheepfarmers that a dog which has worried many of the flocks in the northern district for some years, was killed on Sunday last by the shepherd of Mr. Hillyard, on the river Eyre. This dog was swift and crafty, having long defied the attempts to capture him of some known riders. He is supposed to have been an escaped sheep dog. It is reported that wild dogs (escaped from the domestic state) arevmuch dn the increase in the Nelson province; this should stimulate sheep owners to be prepared for such; visitors by establishing a breed of hounds, for which purpose a cross between tho greyhound, and bull terrier is recommended.