TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1112, 8 July 1863, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Approaching Festivities—The final arrangements are being actively made; flag-poles begin to make their appearance, and the proprietor of one of the hotels has already displayed his loyalty by decorating the front of his building with flax> which, if not to be admired for beauty, may command credit for originality. We are afraid the floral displays will be very limited, from the scarcity of flowers at this season. The gums may furnish a supply of evergreen foliage for decorations, but, doubtless, people will be very chary of cutting them. The platform is erected in Cathedral Square, for the little folks to view the procession, and Barnard's Repository is being prepared for their entertainment. Numbers of rosettes are being made, with mandarin buttons of red and blue, while flags, banners, and pennants with gold mottos are engaging the attention of every one. Something extraordinary may also be expected in the way of illuminated designs and transparencies. The fireworks are progressing, and, judging from a few trial rockets fired ofll by the contractors, we may predict a fine display if the weather proves favorable; and last, though not least, no fears need be entertained about the music, as Mr. Kohler has the band under his able guidance, and he believes lie shall give every satisfaction to the committee and the public.

Electro-Biology.—Captain Wilson's lecture was postponed from last evening to Saturday evening next, in consequence of the unfavorable state of the weather. The Depot on the West Coast. —It may be remembered that the Crest of the Wave recently sailed with Government stores to form a depot on the West Coast. The vessel was unable to enter the Teramakau river, but her cargo was safely discharged on the Grey, and she has since arrived at Picton.

Mails for England.—-We beg to call the attention of the public to the Post-office notices of an alteration in the time for closing the mails for England.

By the last advices small-pox was raging in London. No doubt great care will be exercised by our agent in London in selecting and shipping emigrants. But it is also most necessary that the local authorities should take immediate steps to institute a thorough enquiry as to the state of health on board immigrant ships arriving at Lyttelton. We believe that the Government are preparing to initiate a proper quarantine in a suitable locality on the harbour; but in the meantime the most stringent rules must be adopted to prevent the introduction of the great old-world plague into this colony.

Fatal Accident.—We regret to have to record a painful accident which terminated in the death of a youth—the son of the Rev. Mr. Buller, of Christchurch. It appears that the poor boy was playing with a loaded pistol, and that by some accident it was discharged when the muzzle was pointed to the face of the deceased. Death followed almost immediately. Deceased was the youngest son of the Rev. Mr. Buller, superintendent of the Wesleyan Church in this district. An inquest was held yesterday, and the jury found a verdict of " Accidental Death."

Appointment.—We hear that C. R. Blakiston, Esq., has been appointed Sub-Treasurer in Christchurch, vice John Hall, Esq., resigned. The resignation by the latter gentleman of the office of Resident Magistrate, has also, we believe, been accepted. Mandeville Farmers' Club.—A general meeting of this club was held on Friday last at the Kaikainui Hotel, Kaiapoi, which was numerously attended. Dr. Dudley in the chair. Arrangements were made for procuring a suitable site, and collecting further subscriptions in aid of a balance in hand of about £12, as prizes for the ensuing ploughing match to come off in the neighbourhood of Kaiapoi in August or September next. The chairman then, in a few appropriate remarks, presented a beautiful silver cup of the value of £10 to Mr. James Walls, as the champion prize won by him at the ploughing match last year at Rangiora. After being liberally and plentifully filled by the winner, and success to him and the Club proposed, the meeting adjourned to the 17th instant to make final arrangements for the match. Look on this Picture and on that!— Victorian farmers and market-gardeners groaning under their embarrus des richesse, and wondering where on earth they are to find a market for their produce—and Auckland citizens groaning under the infliction of paying ninepence each for inferior cabbages, and fabulous prices for all other vegetables, including even their almost national "Potatoe;" —"Garden produce," says the ' News of the Week' of the 23rd May, " has lately been plentiful and cheap in Geelong, but nothing to the superabundance existing in the metropolis. A correspondent of the ' Age' gives the following as the actual result of the sale of a cart-

load of vegetables sent to market in Melbourne last Saturday. The garden is seven miles from Melbourne, and two tolls had to be paid to reach the city:—6o quarts peas at Id sd; 1£ cwt. French beans, 3s 6d; 9 dozen large cabbages, 3d per dozen, 2s 3d; 9 dozen lettuces, 4d per dozen, 3s; 20 dozen turnips, 3d per dozen, ss. Deduct expenses —Man and horse in town, 5s 3d; tolls, 2s; 7s 3d; lis Cd. It is certainly something to be thankful for that vegetables are so abundant, and growers must cast about for new ways of turning their temporary surplus to account. Peas are worth more than Id per quart dried and stored up; French beans are worth more than 2s 4d per cwt. for pickling. Cabbages, when so low in price as 3d per dozen, ought to be made into sour krout, which many a German would be glad to buy, and in that state the article would keep sufficiently long to prevent the necessity of being sacrificed in a glutted market. With regard to lettuce, we are not aware of any mode of preparation for their utilisation when superabundant, but the price (4d per dozen) is not so very low. With regard to turnips, they might be dried for use on board ship, in which state the demand at a reasonable price, would be extensive."—Auckland. Paper.