TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1055, 20 December 1862, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS.

The English Opera Company.—This talented company, which has been starring it for some time in Dunedin, is about to visit our more sober province. If half we hear prove true, the people of Canterbury will have the opportunity of witnessing a style of performance which most of them only know from recollection, and which will be entirely new to a large number. < The Cathedral.—Our. advertising column contain an earnest and spirited appeal to members of the Church of England in this diocese from the Cathedral Commission. We have every reason to believe that not only will those more particularly addressed respond with a ready liberality, but that others in dif- ; ferent parts of the colony who are animated by a like christian zeal will be found among the contributors to this good work. The Money Order System.—No Post-office notice hitherto inserted, has ever given us so much satisfaction as the one which will be found in our columns of to-day. No possible excuse can now exist for the non-remission of small need of the clause so often inserted in up-country letters, "I will hand you the cash when next in town." The extension of the money-order system between any of the offices will prove of the greatest advantage to the community, and will spare much valuable time and many a ride to town. Our columns of advertisements will tell of all the goods for sale, the money order will pay for them, and the ready cash will insure their transmission by the first opportunity. We, of course, greatly rejoice in the fact, as we feel sure that after the Ist of January a money-order will always accompany the copy for an advertisement, or a request for the paper. Amusement for the Lunatics.—On the evening of the anniversary Mr. Seager prepared a. treat for the lunatics at present confined in the gaol. This was presented in the form of a magic lantern, kindly lent by Dr. Donald for the occasion, and a supper of bread, cheese, and ale. At about eight o'clock such of the patients as were capable of appreciating any kind of amusement were brought into the mesß room, where, after supper and a glass of ale had been served to each, Mr. Seager proceeded to display a series of astronomical, dissolving, and comic views. When about half the slides had been shown, the lights were re-lit, and one of the lunatics amused the rest by singing two or three songs in remarkably good voice; another giving a recitation. The re-" mainder of the dissolving views were then gone through, and the patients retired to rest. Both males and females were present, and we were much pleased with the perfect order and decorum maintained by all these poor creatures, two of the men especially vying with each other in showing to the women every usual attention and courtesy. All were evidently much pleased and amused, and this being the first time any thing of the kind has been attempted, the entertainment formed an event in their otherwise dreary and monotonous life. Surely, if so much pleasure can be given to so many of these afflicted beings at so small an outlay, every means should be resorted to to procure them rational amusement of a like description as often as possible, the rnor.e especially as we have the universal practice in all the best public lunatic asylums, as a proof of the efficiency of the system of amusing those afflicted with madness. Court of Appeal.—His Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of New Zealand, has directed that a sitting of the court appeal of New Zealand shall be held within the Supreme Court in the city of Christchurch and province of Canterbury upon the 10th day of February, 1803, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. The Registrar of the Supreme Court will for the present act as Registrar of the Court of Appeal. Wonderful Despatch.—We must applogise to our readers for the miserable paper on which the present issue is printed. The Gothenburg, which arrived last Sunday, brought us a supply, and, in the innocence of our hearts we thought that a week was amply sufficient to get it on shore. We had not calculated upon the combined hindrances of bad weather, public holidays, the government wharf, and a moderate amount of red tape. These have laid fast hold of our unfortunate bales and we can only now trust that by some merciful dispensation the paper will come to hand before the middle of next week. The Auckland Election.—Much excitement has been felt in Auckland during the election, the 'New Zealander' having loudly accused the partizans of Mr. R. Graham of using bribery and intimidation to further his return. The official declaration of the poll up to our latest dates,-the 9th, had not been made but from the ' Southern Crosß' it appears that Mr. Robert Graham had a majority of votes over Mr. John Williams amounting in the aggregate to above 300. Mr. Graham may therefore be considered as the successful candidate. Leprosy,—-In the ' Gazette' of Nov. 29 a despatch from the Secretary of State is published, requesting information regarding the disease of leprosy; and members of the medical profession in the colony are desired to furnish information in answer to the interrogatories submitted. Inquest.—An inquest was held at the Royal Oak, Chnstchurch, yesterday, to inquire into the death of Francis Alice, the infant daughter of Emma Bennett, The child was about six weeks old, and on Tuesday morning was suffering from diarrhma. Dr. Prins was called in, and every attention appeared to have been paid to the little sufferer, but she died on Wednesday morning. The medical man had given a certificate of the cause of-death being natural, and why an inquest was held upon it we failed to learn.