TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1008, 9 July 1862, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

, At the request of sixteen householders resident in Timaru, the Resident Magistrate has convened a public meeting for the purpose of considering the best means of starting a mechanics' institute and public library in that town. The meeting .was to have been held on the sth inst.

Most of our readers must already, beacquainted with the fact that a Pastoral and Agricultural Show on a large scale is intended to be held in Christchurch during the latter part of next October, The exhibition is of such an interesting character to all classes of the community as scarcely to need our advocacy. Canterbury is almost entirely a pastoral and agricultural country, the mercantile interest being mainly dependant on those classes for their existence. It lias long ceased to be a matter of doubt that agricultural shows are of the greatest importance in developing the resources of a country by introducing all the later improvements in husbandry and fostering a spirit of emulation among breeders of cattle and growers of produce. We conpatulate the province upon the fair prospect now held out of having such shows at stated intervals in its chief centre of agricultural industry. The list of gentlemen who have consented to superintend the arrangements gives fair promise of success and we aro glad to see that local committees have been appointed to raise subscriptions and , assist in the nS'saiS flrßt 8 - artin ? of Buch an aff air must we trust therefore that all will lend a and that the townsfolk will do their share by each contributing something towards the expenses, as they must remember that tho prosperity of the towns 18 essentially dependant upon that of the pastoral ural interests of the province. Friday last, the 4th instant, was the anniversary of the Independence of America. It-has been ; a Rowing custom of late years for Americans^wherever they maybe settled, to celebrate this day by entertainments of various kinds. Truo to their national honor Messrs.' Taylor & Co. of Lyttelton, have "not been found backward in the good cause; on Friday last, these gentlemen entertained a large assemblage

of ladies and gentlemen at the Universal Hotel, a very delightful evening was the result and much enthusiasm was evinced when the national toasts of the Queen and the President were proposed. We are glad to see that the Corporation of Christchurch are making a movement for lighting the city" ;It is to be hoped that they will not be influenced by a false economy to adopt a lamp of small illumina:ting power. One of the councillors expressed an opinion that the kerosine lamp, exhibited by Mr Raphael would be too deaf. We do not know what price that gentleman puts upon his lamp, but we are quite satisfied that as yet we have seen nothing to compete with it for quality, and if the price bo reasonable we hope to hear of its adoption. Thp same lamp is being used to light the streets of Dunedin, and gives great satisfaction. Return of waste lands in this province sold durinj? the month ending June 30, 1862Christchurch district, 416 acres; Ashley, 816; Timaru, 507 ; Lincoin, 989 ; Mandeville, 821; Ellesmere, 390: Banks Peninsula, 340; Waipara, 205; Oxford, 788 ; miscellaneous, 1070. —Total. 6342 acres. June and July are generally remarkable for the small quantities of land sold by the Government. The month just past has yielded a much larger revenue than usual at this period. In June 1861 only 800 acres were sold, as against 6342 acres in the corresponding month of this year. An exhibition of a kind which, we believe, has not. hitherto degraded Canterbury, took place yesterday at Kaiapoi. We allude to a prize fight between two men of the names of Jones and Barton. We regret to hear that a large number of persons were found to sanetion this ruffianly proceeding by ;their presence on the occasion. As this is the first performance of the kind, so we trust it will be the last. It cannot be expected that the police will be found sufficient to put down these brutal exhibitions. Public opinion is the only force which will be found .strong enough, and to that we appeal.