TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1192, 4 February 1864, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

CimiSTCiirRCH Hospital.—Foremost amongst the requirements of any civilised community stands tho necessity of providing an asylum for the relief of those suffering from the effects of sickness or accident. Accordingly we find that in every age and country attention has been paid to (his important subject, In England, many of the hospitals were founded by the different ecclesiastical bodies in the time of the prevalence of the Roman Catholic domination, and at the Reformation were transferred to the secular authorities. Some of these retain traces of their original foundation, as for instance, Bedlam for the reception of persons afflicted with insanity, which was formerly the monastery of Bethlehem. Others were founded by private benefactors, and it is rather a singular fact that most of these were established by persons who were noted for their penurious, not to say miserly, habits of life. Guy's Hospital is an instance of this. In France and other parts of the Continent the hospitals continue under the direction of ecclesiastics, as the Hotel Dieu, and others which might be cited. In England they are managed by Boards of Directors, and it will be seen that we in Canterbury are about to carry out the same system for the regulation of the hospital recently established in Christchurch. By a proclamation just issued by his Honor the Superintendent, the direction of the Christchurch Hospital will for the future be vested in a body of governors to be chosen from among the subscribers to the institution. Contributors of thirty guineas in one donation will be considered as governors for life, whilst subscribers to the amount of two guineas will occupy the same position during the payment of that sum. It has been resolved that any firm, corporation, Sec., which may pay the former amount shall be entitled to nominate one person as a life governor. All the affairs of the Hospital are to be under the management of two Boards of Governors, to be entitled the " General Board" and the " Board of Management" respectively. The former is to meet four times a year at least, or oftener if necessary, and the absolute control of all matters connected with tiie establishment shall be vested in it. The Board of Management is to consist of the President, Treasurer, and nine members to be selected from the body of subscribers at the annual meeting of the General Board. Six of these governors are to retire at the expiration of one year, but are eligible for re-election. The management, of the hospital will thus be virtually entrusted to the public, and it is to be hoped that they will attest by liberal subscriptions, and by every other means in their power, the interest which they take in the institution. It has always been found, that asylums of a similar nature thrive better whon removed from Government interference, and committed to private benevolence. A great public trust is now thrown into the hands of the inhabitants of Canterbury ; let them shew by their readiness to accept it, that they recognise their duty and are ready to perform it. Every one has it in his power to aid this good work ; even casual visits and a few kindly words will do much to testify to the poor suffering inmates that they are not forgotten or overlooked by their more highly-favoured neighbours. Donations of fruit will bo gladly received as well as any newspapers, periodicals &e., which will materially tend to alleviate the dreary hours of sickness, and perhaps the still more wearisome period of convalescence. We must not conclude

this notice without drawing the attention of the authorities to the state of the drainage of the Hospital, which is alleged to be very defective. It is only just that the institution should bo put in thorough order before the transfer from the Government to the new management takes place. The Rev. Henry Torlesse is the Chaplain of the Hospital, and from him all information relative to it can be obtained.

Agricultural and Pastoral Association.— At a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday last, a contract was entered into with Mr. C. J. Hubbard to supply posts and rails for the crection of the new stockyards. It was stated that the Government contemplated removing the present pound from the Market Place to the grounds of the Association.

The Committee have agreed to offer three prizes of £5, £3, and £2 respectively for the reaping machine best adapted to the requirements of this province. The trial will take place shortly, of which due notice will be given by advertisement. Tun English Cricketers.-— -The Alhambra,having these gentlemen on board, readied lort Ola - mers Heads about miduight on Saturday, the 31st, ult. Her arrival, which had been looked forward to with much eager expectation, was heartily welcomed. The representative of Mr. S. Jones was in attendance, and arrangements were soon eftected for their debarkation on the following day. Hie Alhambra also brought the English Mail from Melbourne. East Lincoln Road Boaud.—A meeting was held on February I, 1864, at Mr. Hodgson s residence, Springs road, for the purpose of electing the first lload Board for the East Lincoln District. Mr. W B Tosswill occupied the cluiir. The following are the names of the gentlemen elected:—Messrs. J. N. Tosswill, E. Marchant, 11. Bennets, A. Hodgson, arid J. Broadbent. At the first meeting of the newly constituted board held immediately after the election, Mr. J. N. Tosswill was unanimously elected cliairm Another New Paper.—Southland seems resolved to follow in the wake of the other provinces as regards newspapers, one, under the title of The Riverton Times' having just made its appearance

there. Accident. —On Tuesday last an accident occuired at the new buildings in progress at the Town Hall. There is an inclined plane, termed a gangway, leading to one of the highest portions of the works; this gave way, and two men were thrown off it. One had the misfortune to fracture his leg, whilst the other escaped with a few rather severe contusions in his head and face. Both were conveyed to the hospital, where every attention was paid to them. The former is going on well, and the latter is almost recovered, and will soon be able to resume his employment. The late Captain F. Liardet, R.N.—Some tirne since in noticing the death of Captain Francis Liardet, R.N., we gave a sketch of his career in life. We are glad to insert the following paragraph copied from the 'Morning Post' of the 26th October last:— " A life-like bust, splendidly executed, of Captain Francis Liardet, R.N., late one of the captains of Greenwich Hospital, was on Saturday placed in the Painted Hall of that noble establishment by his stepson, Lieutenant Gregorie, R.N., in the name of the widow and family of the gallant deceased officer. The bust, which is by Mr. T. Milne, of 40, Eustonroad, was uncovered in the presence of a nupierous assembage of officers, including Captain Aldham, Captain Parker, Staff Surgeon Grahame, Mr. Nicliolls (secretary), the Revs. J. G. Goldney and E. Ketson, Lieutenant Wentworth, Captain Tomlin, &c., to whom and by whom the gallant officer was well known and greatly beloved. Captain Liardet, well known before as well as abaft the mainmast as ' Frank Liardet,' was one of the finest and bravest sailors of his day, and his separation from old shipmates and friends occasioned deep and lasting regret."