TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1287, 6 September 1864, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Coach Accident. —On Saturday last Cobb and Co.'s four-horse mid-day coach to Kaiapoi met with an accident, which, though happily unattended with any serious consequences, appeared at the moment to be of a serious nature. The coach left the office with a fair load of passengers, including five ladies who travelled inside. . About half a mile beyond Papanui, at Mr. Thomson's cross road, Mr. Treleaven's light dray with a load. of flour, having met with an accident, was unloaded and undergoing repair, the flour being stowed on the road. The coach horses shied at the flour bags, at the same time running down the steep siding on the near side of the road, by which of course the coach was at once capsized. No one was at all injured, and the front of the carriage immediately disconnecting, the horses had no chance of dragging the passengers. Ail American coaches are built on the disconnecting system, being provided with a loose ring-bolt which, in case of a capsize, invariably comes out, so that in the event of the horses bolting they can injure nothing but the wheels and pole. In this case the team bolted, but, by breaking their bars, the leaders soon proved themselves to be members of the service unattached, while the wheelers were safely secured close to the Seven-mile Peg. The driver, Mr. High ? one of Cobb's most experienced men both in Victoria and Otago, is exonerated from blame, as he did all in his power to prevent the accident. Word was forwarded to town and another coach was at once dispatched, whicli took on the travellers to their destination, and it may not be deemed unworthy of notice to mention that, in spite of the unavoidable delay, the mails from the North were delivered at Christchurch within five or ten minutes of the regular time.

Public Footpaths.—A recent provincial Gazette states that the following are footpaths in every sense of the Ordinance relating thereto, and are to be " deemed and taken accordingly," but whether the paths are in Christchurch or Timbuctoo the Gazette as a formal publication does not say ; however, we give the list" Durham-street, east side, from Peterborough-street to the Papanui-road-, St. Asaphstreet, both sides, from Colombo-street to Montrealstreet ; Cashel-street, both sides, from Montrealstreet to Antigua-street ; Market-square, north side, both sides, from Colombo-street to the Papanuiroad; Peterborough-street, both sides, from Colombostreet to the Papanui-road ; Peterborough-street, both sides, from Montreal-street to the Papanuiroad ; East Town Belt, west side, from Armaghstreet to Ivilmore-street; Lichfield-street, both sides, from Montreal-street to Cambridge-terrace; Lich-field-street, both sides, from Sumner-road to Bar-badoes-street ; Colombo-street, both sides, from Avon River to Cashel-street; Tuam-street, both sides, from Ferry-road to Madras-street; Antiguastreet, east side, from Oxford terrace to St. Asaphstreet. Gazette. —We have received the 35th, 36th, and 37th numbers of the Provincial Gazette, dated respectively the 27th and 31st August, and the 2nd September. The first of the three contains the appointment of Messrs. Brittan, Creyke, and Jollie as Revising Commissioners under the new law, together with the places and times of revision for each district. No. 36 notifies several gravel-pit reserves, and reproduces the general and public works estimates now before the Council. No. 37 contains a proclamation setting apart a quarantine ground in Camp Bay, Lyttelton Harbour ; a water space for the vessels, and a land space for the people and goods are both marked out. Edward Dobson, Esq., C.E., is appointed to act on the local committee of the Exhibition. Arthur and Sarah Smith are appointed Barrack Master and Matron of the Immigration Barracks. Certain footpaths are declared to be such in a legal sense. Mr. Alexander Lean's appointment as Returning Officer for the Rakaia and Ashburton districts, and that of Mr. W. S. Peter, as Registrar of Marriages, &c., for Ashburton, are reproduced from the General Government Gazette. So also is the appointment of Mr. Robert Abbott, as Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court in Christchurch. And from the same source the naturalization of Hein Ecker, and the delegation of the Governor's powers under the Goldfields Act to the Superintendent are republished. The order of sequestration in the case of Charles Jolin Hubbard, a debtor, closes the Gazette.

Diorama.—We notice that a diorama representing some of the principal localities and scenes which occurred during the Australian exploring expedition of Burke and Wills, which had so melancholy a termination for three of the exploring party is about to he exhibited here. The paintings are executed from sketches taken by Dr. Becker, the artist to the expedition, and the description, which forms the subject of an explanatory lecture, is from the narrative of King, the survivor, who owed his preservation to the Cooper's Creek natives. The entertainment lias been extensively patronised in Australia, and will no doubt excite considerable interest in this city. Princess' Theatre.—Last night the " Corsicau Brothers " and the " Bride of Abydos " were repeated. The house was but thinly attended. This evening is fixed for the benefit of Mr. Shiels, and the Adelphi drama of " Two Loves anil a Life " will be played. Miss Aitken has kindly volunteered to read Douglas Jerrold's well-known lecture to poor Mr. Caudle, when that unlucky individual joined the Masonic body. The drama of " Gilderoy "is also announced. Mr. Shiels having achieved so much popularity in Christchurch, may confidently reckon upon a numerous attendance, especially when it is remembered that Jock, the herd, is perhaps one of his best impersonations of Scotch character. The scene in which he exhibits such a keen relish for his " parritch," is sure to create much amusemeut.

Boat Accident.—We have received intelligence by telegraph that as Stanley's whale boat was returning to 1 ort from Pigeon Bay yesterday, in charge of two men, when near the Port Levy rocks, tby some means the boat capsized, and one of the men, named 1< rank, was drowned. The other man was saved, but he is very much bruised. A PiiiEST-iuDDKN Pkovixce.— The Auckland Herald has at its command a writer who represents perhaps more fully than any other the sentiment that New Zealand consists of Auckland and an appendage. The same pen which suggested a short time ago that it was worth enquiring «whether there was any building stone in Acw Zealand,' because some had been heard of in the north (of Auckland), and lias since then constantly gratified us with similar expansive views, fn the Herald of the 20th docs Canterbury the honour, while recounting the news from this province, to say that here—" Considerable irritation has been caused in Chureh circles b} the attempt of the Diocesan Bishop to impose upon the Church Synod a plan for obtaining effective discipline in the Church, winch nffects clergy and laity alike. The people of Canterbury, pricstlidden as that province appears to be, appear indignant at this attempt to force upon them the commencement of a system which their ancestors shebk off at the Information." Let lis accept the epithet "priest-ridden" for the sake of the very gratifying compliment which the "w liter pays at last to the holy indignation of our people in the cause of the Reformation. But he h;is missed the point. The Herald should have shown how the people of Canterbury are so bowed down beneath the ecclesiastical yoke which they ha"C taken upon themselves that they can endure no m #|l * am^low even such poor human nature as-

theirs revolts against an addition from without to their burden. For the tyrannical "attempt" which is spoken of is not that of the Diocesan Bishop, as the Herald thinks, but of the Metropolitan, whose diocese is around Auckland ; and the " system " is that which Auckland has accepted, but " priestridden Canterbury " wo'nt endure ! Tiie Yot;no Salmon. —It would appear that the number of young salmon and trout is double what was anticipated. The Hobart Town Mercury of the 3rd ult. says "A most interesting and gratifying fact in reference to the condition and prospects of the young salmon and trout now occupying the breeding ponds at New Norfolk has just been made known to us, upon the best authority. It is no less startling a circumstance than that it is now ascertained that the number of living salmon in the ponds, instead of about 3000 as estimated some time since, is not less than some 6000,' and there is reason to believe may be as large as 10,000, and that of trout there are quite 400, instead of 200, as was at first believed to be the case."