TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1150, 31 October 1863, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lunatic Asylom.—We hear that the arrangements for the reception of patients are now approaching completion, so that in the course of a few weeks . the whole of the lunatics will be removed from the gaol at Lyttelton, and also from the Cliristehurch Hospital. The number of patients are twenty-two, comprising eight females and fourteen males. The most recent case admitted at Lyttelton, last Monday, was a young female from the Lancashire Witch. Mr. Seager has been appointed to the charge of this institution, and we have no doubt from the experience he has had in the treatment of lunatics that he will conduct it satisfactorily. What is Wanted.—lt is now some months since the Harbor Commissioners presented their report, and made several valuable suggestions to provide accommodation both for passengers and goods in connexion with the traffic of the port. On the face of our increasing trade, nothing has been done to meet the want, and day by day the confusion becomes more confounded. If the authorities delay to provide better accommodation, it will probably be our unpleasant duty at an early date to record the loss of life occasioned by the imperfect provision made for landing passengers from vessels in the harbor. It would scarcely be credited, that the present tonnage in port is over 18,000 tons, and in addition, an average monthly, arrival and departure of 15,000 tons, making a total of over 30,000 tons, yet, for the use of the floating population represented by these figures, we have one pair of rickety stairs, erected some three years ago. It is since that time our watermen have provided suitable boats for the comfort of their passengers, representing an outlay of over £400, and owing to the want of a proper system and watermen's stairs, this useful class of menfind their property seriously depreciated, and the best of them are contemplating leaving the place altogether, j It is obvious, a proper "hard " might be erected on the opposite side of the jetty, having a decline to deep water, (deep enough for boats); commencing near to the weigh bridge, and extending to a distance parallel to the old stairs ; the boats would then come in at any state of the tide, and the passengers step on shore without passing over the jetty or risking a squeeze from the heavy cart traffic, or a ducking from the slippery state of the old steps, besides, at times blocking up the roadway altogether with piles of luggage. When so much is being done in the middle and end of the line on the other side of the hill to facilitate passenger traffic, surely something might be done at the beginning. The Shareholders of the Canterbury Land, Building, and Investment Society held their sixth annual meeting at the Town Hall, Lyttelton, on Wednesday evening last. Mr. John Grubb was called to the chair, and, after some formal observations, the balance-sheet was read, and adopted by the meeting. Cash had been received during the year amounting to over £3000, and the society had purchased 39 shares at a cost of £2400. The prosperity of the society was shown by the report congratulating the shareholders that up to the present time no losses had been sustained, and that a profitable investment of the capital was made up to the present date, leaving a balance in hand. The balance sheet was ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the shareholders. The five vacancies on the committee were filled up by the election of Messrs. Bunker, Godfrey, Derry, and Clark. Mr. John Grubb was elected Treasurer, and after a vote of thanks to the late Treasurer, the proceedings closed. The Society have still to provide for fifty unrealised shares.

Deserting Seamen.—We observe a notice in our advertising columns, which claims the attention of the public. The frequency of desertion by sailors is no doubt mainly due to the inducement held out to them in the shape of employment. We trust the practice will be checked at once, as it is already endangering the commercial interests of the colony. Electro-Biology.—On Thursday next Captain Wilson proposes to give a lecture upon mesmerism at the Town Hall, Christchurch. He will demonstrate by experiment some of the wonderful effects of this mysterious science. Cricket. —A meeting of gentlemen interested in cricket was held last evening at the Royal Hotel, when it was resolved —" That a Committee be formed to call a public meeting, to ascertain the views of the public on the question of bringing the " All England Eleven " to Canterbury, the committee to consist of Messrs. Stevens, Bennett, G. Turner, Harston, Wakefield, and C. R, Blakiston, and that the committee shall communicate with the Government on the subject. Sheep Tables.—The ' News of the World' has the following review of this useful work " Sheep Tables. Compiled by the late Claude Morton Ollivier. [Christchurch, New Zealand.] These ingenious, interesting, and very useful tables were compiled in order ' to meet the repeated applications of persons having sheep on terms, as to the amount of increase they would be entitled to receive at particular periods.' The exhibit the increase in a flock of one thousand ewes, from one to five years, at various rates per cent, per annum ; together with the value of the fleece. It is impossible to estimate too highly their importance to large numbers of the colonial population, who will also find therein much cause to regret the premature loss of their young and gifted compiler. In the summer of last year, two spirited and enterprising young men, Messrs. Claude and Charles Ollivier, sons of a much esteemed and popular colonist at Christchurch, undertook an expedition for exploring the west coast of New Zealand, with a view of discovering the capabilities of a portion of the middle island of which but little is known. One of these young adventurers sank under the fatigue of his great and honourable exertions. The colonists have in the " tables " before us means of appreciating his abilities and usefulness, which we are sure they will acknowledge; whilst the memory of his personal worth is cherished by numerous friends. Akaroa Election.—The nomination of a representative for the House of Representatives was to have come off yesterday. We hear that Mr. L. Walker, the only candidate in the field, attempted to reach Akaroa in time, but that, owing to the Geelong being late, he was obliged to give up all idea of addressing the electors. It is to be hoped that at the last minute the Akaroa electors may not in consequence get up a " requisition" to some unknown man to stand. They have done as strange things before, nevertheless we believe there will be no opposition to Mr. Walker. Inquest.—A coroner's inquest was held on Thursday before Wm. Donald, Esq., on the body of one of the late seamen belonging to the ship British Crown, named McPherson. Although the remains were in a very decomposed state, he was identified by the clothing, &c. A small memorandum book found in his pocket had his name written in it in several places. He was drowned on the night of the 16th of August. The jury returned a verdict of " Acci* dental Death by Drowning." Alpacas—We extract the following from the 'Wellington Independent':—"The speculation of bringing alpacas to Australia has resulted in loss to its projectors. We learn that the Nelson Acclimatisation Society endeavoured to procure some for that province, with what result will be seen by the following extract from a letter, received by the Secretary from the gentleman in Sydney who had kindly undertaken to procure the alpacas for the society, which states all the facts attending his efforts on its behalf 4 The New South Wales Government, or, rather, the Minister of Lands, does not at the present moment feel at liberty to grant my request on behalf of your Acclimatisation Sopiety. On being made aware of this, I at once put mysplf in communication with Messrs. Clough and Co., of j

Melbourne; and the Julia Farmer, from the west coast of South America, having put into this harbor ; for water with the alpacas on board for Victoria, I telegraphed to Clough and Co. to know if they would sell two or three of the animals here, when they telegraphed back to their agents to detain the vessel till the arrival of one of thenpartners in Sydney, who would wait upon me. lhis he did; but it resulted in my not getting the alpacas. He explained the why and wherefore. It appears to have have turned out a ruinous speculation ; 640 animals were started, out of which only 315 reached the place of shipment; 103 died on the voyage to Sydney ; and they did not expect to land in Melbourne 200. To pay the shippers, they would require £150 for each animal. They consequently declined to sell the alpacas here, in the hope that, if they could not get a high price in Melbourne, the Government there would be prevailed upon to give them a grant of land of so many acres for each alpaca, I therefore think it would be useless moving further in the matter ; but if you are determined to have a few at any price, you had better communicate with Messrs. Clough and Co.. who are now apprized of your wants, and will further your views if in their power. I think, however, if an application was made by your Superintendent to our Government, for a sura for the purchase, or loan, of a male and two female alpacas, the request would be granted as a matter of course. A Tender Reminiscence. —Those of our readers who remember the early days of Canterbury cannot have forgotten Mr. Jackson, the " Bishop Designate " who came out to surprise the settlers by his eccentricities. The story of his visit to Canterbury appears to be known elsewhere. The following extract from a recent article in the 'Saturday Review' entitled "The forthcoming Ass-show," may amuse those who are acquainted with the manners and customs of the divine, whose ministrations we have happily escaped:— _ _ "An advertisement inserted in the ' Times of Monday, and clearly prompted by the fervid letter from Paris on Saturday, makes us tremble for the future usefulness of the Society. We subjoin it: — ' Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. —It is intended to hold at an early date, a Prize Show of Costermongers' Donkeys, with a view to the encouragement of humane owners among the poor, and the wellbeing of that useful and too often misused animal. Persons desirous of co-operating are requested to communicate with the Rev. Thomas Jackson, M.A., Rectory, Stoke Newington, N. Mr. Thomas Jackson's name was familiar to us as one of the most ecstatic orators at the International Congress of the Society held at Sydenham last year, and, omnes solus, he formed the deputation which visited Germany some two years ago in the interests of the same body. Is it possible that the Society is going to divide the whole animal kingdom, and to assign the several departments of protection to special guardians ? The flea will probably have its own guardian in a Bralunin ; the old Egyptian cultus of crocodile and ox may be revived, and to M. Jules Gerard, who spoke at Sydenham, but not in favour of the prevention of cruelty to elephants and lions, may be assigned the protectorate of some ignoble race, the slaughter of which is not to his taste ; but how is it that a clergyman who is Prebendary of St. Paul's, and rector of a suburban parish, should' come out as the special champion of the costermonger's donkey ? What are the particular affinities between the parson and the ass ? What is the tie between the London clergy and the costermonger's donkey ? We do not recall any particular instance of long and protracted torments from a stronger race, to wliich the clergy are particularly exposed. One, to be sure, in which the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ought to have interfered, occurred some years ago, in which an eloquent divine was selected for the office of Colonial Bishop, and was actually sent out to the Antipodes, to get some experience in the sphere of his future labors. On his return, he is said to have anticipated his consecration by purchasing and wearing the full episcopal costume. A hitch occurred, and "the Bishop Designate" was not thought strong enough for _ the place, and remains a priest to this day. _ By degrees, and one by one, the unfortunate victim was compelled to drop his dignified habiliments. First, he was shelled out of his shovel hat, then he was unfrocked of his apron, afterwards he was shorn as to his episcopal gaiters; and lastly, the rochet and lawn sleeves were offerer! for sale at an alarming sacrifice. It was a regular case of a parson subjected to vivisection in its severest shape. The Bishop Designate was unbishoped by slow agonies and protracted torments far worse than any inflicted in the notorious Veterinary Schools of Lyons and Alfort. It may be that this shocking instance of cruelty to the clerical animal still survives in the recollection of the clergy, and possibly in Mr. Jackson's. But this solitary case of tormenting a curate hardly accounts for Mr. Jackson's self-appointed office of protector of the asinine race."