TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 982, 9 April 1862, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

We have much pleasure in calling public attention to the fact that the Church collections on Easter pP™ 1 be regarded as an Easter offering, and Handed over to the curate at the time of collection, withoutbemgaccountedfortotheDiocesan Treasurer An opportunity will therefore be offered, on Sunday week, to the various congregations of the Church of ii-ngiaiul, to supplement the inadequate salaries of w °™ciating ministers in a becoming form. We have recently had our attention called to a series of photogaphic prints, manipulated by Mr. smith of Ferry Road, Christchurch; they comprise views of Lyttelton and Christchurch, stereoscopic views of local scenes, portraits, &c, and wo have no hesitation in saying that they are highly creditable to the artist, and will well repay the trouble of inspection. One picture—a view of Mr. Gould's residence—is.quite a gem in its way, presenting a enspness of outline and a chiaro-oscuro which we lm r yo never seen excelled in any photograph. Ihe Canterbury Musical Union advertise a concert at the Town Hall, on Monday the 21st inst., being tho first under their new organisation. From a rehearsal of part of the programme, which we noarcl a few days ago, we venture to predict that , Public will be agreeably surprised at the strength and effectiveness of the band under the able leadership of Mr. Bpnnington. The vocal department also will exhibit a decided improvement on all past efforts: and the'successful combination of voices and instruments will furnish a desideratum long sought for by the citizens of Christchurch,

After the above notice, it would bo ungracious in us not to mention that on the following evening a Concert will be given at the same place by the St Cecilia Society— a society to which the public arc greatly indebted for culivating the taste for classical music in this province. We trust' that only a generous rivalry will bo maintained between the two institutions, whereby both will be benefited. The Census lately taken, returns a population for Christchurch of 3200 souls., feuales being slightly in excess of males; and 640 inhabited houses. 13y the census of 1858 the population was returned at 1443, and the number of dwellings, 254. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Monday last, James Sullivan, of considerable notoriety, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing four bottles of ale, from the White Hart Hotel,'on the 4th inst.; the property being worth about Bs. The prisoner denied the charge. We are informed that the Eoman Catholics of Christchurch, under the direction of the Bishop of this diocese, Mr. Weld and other influentialtaembers of their body are taking active steps for the erection of a neat and commodious church, near the Pottery on the Perry road, the present building being much too small for their rapidly increasing numbers. By an advertisement we perceive that Kaiapoi is to have the advantages of banking accommodation Ihe Bank of New South Wales is first in the field, and following closely in its wake the Bank of New Zealand has opened at Kaiapoi, and announces its intention of opening at Timaru. The northern district now comprises a large and growing population, which is drawn to a focus at Kaiapoi. It is only reasonable to, suppose that the trading facilities now placed within its reach will produce a revival in the attairs of the town and district. We call attention Jo an advertisement in our columns announcing that the share list of the Lyttelton Land, Building, and Investment Society will close on Saturday next. The society was commenced about four months since by Mr. Willcox, and has been a great success, more than 300 shares havinjr been taken up. We regret we have to record the death by drowning of a respectable youth, aged 20, named Robert Ihorpe. The deceased was in the service of the Rev. C. Eraser, and on Tuesday evening, about dusk a party consisting of Master Coward, the deceased and another person took a boat and rowed down the Avon. When nearly opposite to the residence of Mr. Joseph Brittan, the boat capsized. The cries of the young men brought Mr. Brittan to the spot who rendered every assistance, and by his aid two of them were rescued; but the deceased had sunk and was not found till life was extinct. Large Apple. —We lately referred to a fine i specimen of the Summer Queening apple, weighing 18 ounces, measuring 18 inches in circumference and grown by Mr. Ingram Shrimpton, at Banciora' from a fruit tree supplied by Mr. W. Wilson That however, is now surpassed by a splendid apple' grown by Captain Morgan in the Heathcote Valley the weight of which is exactly l^lbs. It is a beautiful colour and a very handsome specimen of the variety known by the name of the Emperor Alexander, l

Testimonial to the Rev. R L. Vickers —A tea meeting was held at the Scotch school-room, on Monday, 31st of March last, which was attended by a large number of the members of the Wesleyan congregation, including several teachers of the Wesleyan Sabbath school. After the tables had been removed, the meeting was opened with prayer by the itev. R. L. Vickers. On the motion of Mr Read, Mr. Hewitt was unanimously called upon to preside. In doing so, he dwelt briefly but forcibly upon the moral courage displayed by the reverend gentleman under very trying and peculiar circumstances, and eulogised his firmness in having at all hazards discharged what he conceived to be his duty Mr. Read addressed the meeting, and ably seconded Mr. Hewitt's sentiments. Mr. Grubb, in a short speech, dwelt upon the necessity that existed for a minister to administer reproof, and the duty on the part of his hearers mildly to suffer that rebuke in a Christian spirit. Mr. Vickers then addressed the meeting. He stated that in this painful matter he had acted conscientiously, and prayerfully. He had witnessed what he considered was a dereliction of duty, or-a course of conduct inconsistent with the Christian profession, in a man whom he loved and respected as a brother. At all risks he had rebuked such conduct and had given offence accordingly He acknovrledged his shortcomings as a theologian and as a preacher, but in point of conscience, in point of honesty, he would yield to no man. He assured his hearers that, although his connection with them was severed, he should ever retain a deep and heartfelt interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare and in the most affectionate manner he wished them farewell, thanking them at the same time for the care and attention many of them had testified to him during his illness. A purse containing £20 was presented to him; a handsome flute and a splendidly bound volume of Wesley's hymns were also given to him during the evening, the former by a member of the congregation, the latter by an episcopalian friend Several other speeches expressive of attachment to Mr. Vickers and of regret at his departure were then made It must have been highly gratifying to him to witness the expression of such good feeling towards him by persons of every denomination who met for the purpose of testifying their sense of the firmness and Christian principle shown by him and of publicly expressing their disapprobation of the treatment he has received, and which has brought his ministerial career in Lyttelton to a close ° Sunday School Meeting.—The children attending the Presbyterian Sabbath School met in the school-room, Winchester street, on the afternoon of Saturday last, for the purpose of presenting a token of their regard to Mr. J. D. M'Fherson, superintendent of the school, and expressing their regret at his removal from Lyttelton. Mr. Ferguson, in the name of the scholars, presented Mr. M'Pherson with a very handsome dressing case, and in the course of his remarks observed that this gift, and indeed all such, however valuable in themselves, 'ought to be looked upon not as a reward for the labour done but as an expression of the esteem in which that labour was held. The services of a conscientious and pious Sabbath-school teacher are above all human reward, but they are recorded on high, and will be acknowledged by Him who said " suffer little children to come unto me." Mr. M'Pherson made a feeling reply, thanking the children for their kindness, and expressing his admiration of their uniformly good behaviour in the Sabbath school; but above all urging upon them the necessity of attending to the truths they were taught, and of seeking the Saviour in early years. The missionary box was then opened and the contents, amounting to a few pounds (made up of the children's own pence) voted to the Maori or Fiji mission, the choice to be determined by Mr. Ferguson, on ascertaining the respective claims of each. The muster of children and teachers on the occasion was considerable, and nothing could be more genuine than the expression of sorrow, especially in the faces of Mr. Macpherson's own class, at the prospect of his going away