TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 971, 1 March 1862, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

' We have to congratulate the railway contractors 1 on their having successfully joined the main drive of the tunnel from the sea face at Lyttelton with the drive southward from the deep shaft in London street. This event took place at nine o'clock on , Wednesday evening last, and before this meets the eye of our readers a-free course will be opened up for the water to run off. For the past month the progress of the drive into the hill northwards has been stopped, owing to the continually increasing body of water met with; the contractors persevered, with this till the quantity reached the enormous amount of 50,000 gallons per twenty-four hours ; this quantity has since steadily continued to;£ow, and it has only been by-never allowing the work to stand still for a moment that they have been able to keep the water sufficiently low to admit of a few men working in the south face of the drive; six horses have been employed at this work alone; they have worked for two hours at a time in turns during the twenty-four hours, and had the work continued for another week, we believe that the water would have been allowed to accumulate, owing to all the contractors horses being thoroughly fagged out by such harrassiug work. At a moderate calculation 30,000 cubic yards of water have been drawn from this shaft during the past three months; this will now find its way down the drive to the sea. The arrival of the Aurifera with 2300 sheep on Thursday last has quickly brought the question of landing sheep in Lyttelton to an issue. Our readers will perceive that the Commissioner of Customs recently authorised the Customs officer in this port to refuse permission to land sheep any where on the beach within the limits of the town. As there is no law preventing importers from driving sheep through the town after being landed elsewhere, and as the importers signified their intention of doing so in this instance, the Collector agreed to permit the landing at the wharf on condition that the importers guaranteed to take every possible care to i have the sheep watched clay and night while landing and remaining within the limits of the town, so that those which dropped on 'the journey over the hill would be certaiivto'be'burpci'at^dnce. '- We hear that Timaru will be declared a free warehousing port so soon as the proclamation can issue at Auckland on the arrival of the Airedale. In the meantime the Collector of Customs has received the Commissioner's authority to license as a bonding warehouse the first suitable building offered. Similar authority has been given for the erection and licensing of a bonding warehouse at Kaiapoi. On the 20th instant, the Mullogh cleared out for the Heathcote under sealed hatches, with a large quantity of sugar and other goods under bond, the. first lot that will haA'e been deposited in Aikman's bonding warehouse near Christchurch Quay. The establishment of inland bonding Avarehouses is a great point gained in favour 'of despatch of business, by relieving the merchant from the risk of loss on duty-paid goods, and a heavy outlay for duty before any refund reaches him from the purchaser, thus compelling him. to charge high prices so as to return him full interest on outlay and insurance of extra risk. We congratulate the people of Timaru and Kaiapoi on the reasonable prospect of now beingable to obtain their goods at a considerable reduction on former prices. The Collector of Customs is, we believe, entitled to the credit of urging the introduction into the Customs Act, 1858, as it was passing the General Assembly, of the clauses permitting the establishment of inland bonding warehouses. We are still a long way from reaping the benefit of the fullest relief from the restrictions of Customs laws Avhich might be granted consistently with the safe administration of the law and the proper collection of the revenue. The Landing of Sheep in Lyttelton.—By the subjoined correspondence between the Collector of Customs and the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce it will be seen that landing sheep in Lyttelton has been prohibited for the future:— " Custom House, Lyttelton. Feb. 25, 1862. " Sir, —I shall feel much obliged if you will allow me through you to communicate to the members of the Chamber of Commerce, that in future the landing of sheep along any part of the beach frontage of the town of Lyttolton will not be allowed. In consequence of representations made by the health otflcer of the serious danger caused to the health of the population by the stench arising from the carcases of sheep which have died in and about the town in great numbers after the recent unusual large importations, the hon .the Commissioner of Customs will no longer sanction the landing of sheep in the town. Will you be so good as to request merchants interested in vessels bringing cargoes of sheep here after this date to warn the masters and others who will be concerned in landing the stock that the penalties for any illegal landing that may take place will be strictly enforced under the Customs' laws. " I have the honor to be, sir, "Your obedient servant, " J. W. Hamilton, Collector." "Lyttelton, 25th Feb., 18(52. " Sir.—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, No. 82, requesting me to make known to the' members of the Chamber' of Commerce, and through thorn to masters of vessels and _ others interested, that the hon. the Commissioner of Customs has,.for sanitary reasons, prohibited the landing of sheep in future along any part of the beach frontage of the town of Lyttelton, and that penalties for any illegal landing of stock wilU)o strictly enforced wider the Customs' laws. " The subject will come before the Chamber at its next meeting, and in the mean time I shall bo happy to give every publicity in my power to your communication. " I have the honor to bo, sir, " Your obedient servant, "A. Looxsson, " Secretary Chamber of Commerce, Lyttelton."

Wo desire to call the attention of intending Volunteers to the fact that.the Adjutant will attend at Lyttelton on Tuesday next, at 4 p. m., and at Kaiapoi, on Saturday, March Btli, to swear in members. , The Supreme Court will hold its quarterly session this day at the Town Hall, Christchurch. The proceedings will commence at 11 o'clock. The list of criminal cases comprises four, one of rape, one robbery with violence, one horse stealing, and one wounding cattle. We believe there are no civil cases before the court. The gross amount of Customs duties received at Lyttelton during the month of February has been .£3,771 11s. Id. making £8,045 3s. 2d. for the first two months of the year. The Customs revenue for the current year is accruing at the rate of £50,500 per annum, in round numbers, viz. £48,000 for Lyttelton, £2000 Timaru, and £500 Akaroa. By a notice in our advertising columns we observe that a meeting of enrolled members of the Christchurch Rifle Companies is to be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday next, for' the purpose of electing officers. We hope that all those who intend to take part in the volunteer movement will avail themselves of the time that remains and enrol, so as to have a voice in the choice of officers; but let them recollect that if the men they think most fitted for the post of an officer are not elected now, those who hold themselves aloof are to blame, as should the persons chosen obtain commissions from the Government they cannot be ejected to please any one. As we hope to see the new corps start on such a basis as to ensure its success, we think it our duty to call the attention of the public to the important step which will be taken on Wednesday next.