TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1331, 15 December 1864, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Detention of Steam ekb. —A case of import* ance to those connected with steamers was tried at our Resident Magistrates' Court this week. A person having taken his passage per steamer Geelong, sued tiie agents for detention in port in consequence of her non-appearance at the advertised time, nor for some days after. It was proved that the steamer had been taken off the advertised line to suit the owners, and that no accident paused the delay, and consequently the plaintiff won his case. This ought to be a caution to agents not to take passage money until the vessel advertised is in port, as many disappointments of this kind constantly occur to passengers on this coast. JLtttklton Regatta.—The arrangements for our annual reg&tta*are almost complete, and from what we can gather this onght to prove the best yet held in Lyttelton. The -Njbw Riflb Range.—We understand that Messrs. Holmes and Co. hare erected a platform for the use of the volunteers close to the new rifle range and have arranged to take volunteers in uniform at half fares by all trains. Diving Appaeatds.—The New Zealand Insurance Company have imported one of Heinke's patent diving apparatus complete for two divers. It will not only be of great use to the Company in the recovery of property from wrecks and the examination of the bottoms of vessels, but as it is to be secured by other persons on certain conditions, niaj be made of considerable public use in the harbour and elsewhere. The apparatus is in charge of the agent o the, Company at Auckland and can be procured by application to any of the agents of the New Zeaian insurance Company. . Pbovincial Engineer.—We hear that Mr. A»w', who receutly arrived from £ngland to undertake duties of this office, has received his dismissal, reported that w disobedience to orders" is the caus of this step having been taken. . Scholastic.—The examination and distribution prizes at the College, and the High School of Ihr * church, took place yesterday, but in consequent the pressure upon our columns occasioned y arrival of important intelligence from the flo . are compelled to defer a report of them un

lext impression. . Wn Akakoa Pokt Reoulations.—We have bee quested to call the attention of matters ° . vessels to the fact that there aw port reguU now in force, and that by the code, pena • . ail those who may disregard the ntit y posed. We are given to understand that; q of stone ballast has very recently been thiowi board, immediately in front of Mr. Wilso jyard, in Duvauchelle Bay. If this be so. esS . express a hope that the proper offlcer will be.u fat iu getting a conviction against the p thus ignores the interests of others. __Everr A. " Vkum Gbrichtb " in Cantbrburt._ one has read or heard of the secret nr i 2 inated the title of the Vehm Gerichte. Ho "' in the far-off days of Charlemagne and^la tea increased power for centuries; ,10W ilt the Nobles of the highest rank were BU^™°'r obey its instant to appear before its tribunal , lu a,Hi:ites behests; how its emissaries foli' ow< ;. j ss j on; how of their superiors with the blindest su but f.uietl; tim|>erors and Kings strove I to 8U was thought and how the last remnant of the . te lung to have been abolished by Jerome . B °X' dv i je dly, of Westphalia, in 1811. We say the for we believe—do not be alariued i t | Kl t its Vehm (ierichte exists in Cantcrbu y. whole raiuilications are widely spread bentatn other surface of society in Chnsteliurcii . - t() t ], e famous societies it iias learnt to a p g n ; u g. manners and customs of the age, . . tsc lf j n teentli century it appears t0 V?^ ri)Ul ' title of the this city under the modest, utili n 0 f j ts officers Licensed Victuallers Association, une gl|lli , no t lias written us a letter—we | l 0 . t | ie dead of be translated from our quiet |it P(I />ood and diy) night and submerged in the celli> (® r itinff tin'sof some m.mber of the Society, exercijßt l by whi-h shows clearly the rlbI «P° e d man fails this dreaded association. A wretched ()f its suspicion : straightway a setr of llie s »ii member <is convened, no doi^Lj m 's fute if sealed ccllnrs of ilit* institution. Hie t() do tlie fordiwiili; four members are r ike f our •ieu'lly—nut to say dirty'—'work. ' (lee ,i j 3 done. tlwy niiirt'li to tlieir destiny and t |,c rest i»>>* Those of the pt»;>lH> wlK \^i^ e t l °et*erfrom M r Trlbe ' read the police reports and t

lecretary of the laeemi Victualled* Atsociation. There are two thing! repellant as a general rule to no Englishmen's nature—acting the humbug and playing the sneak 1 and we must say that we have always considered them very excellent parts ia the composition of John Bull. >< Tolls ANi) ToLL«BARj9.--On Saturday last it was decided in the case of Pepperell v. White, by the Resident Magistrate, Christchnrch, that toll could be levied only once in' the day on- the same horse or vehicle. > The Ltttblton Municipal Council held a special meeting on Tuesday morning, to consider the invitation received ifirom the Yen. Archdeacon, Hon. Secretary of the Cathedral Commission, for the Chairman and members of the Council to attend on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Cathedral on December 16. On the motion of Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. Walker, the following resolution was carried:—-"That the invitation to attend at the ceremony of laying the foundation stone be accepted." The Town Clerk was directed to write to the honorary secretary to that effect. The Council adjourned after confirming the resolution passed on Friday night referring to Chalmer's account for stone kerbing.

Lighthouse on Godlrt Head.—On Tuesday last Mr. Thornton, the Assistant Engineer, in company with Captain Gibson, Port Officer, and Captain Robertson, the Secretary of the Marine Board, visited the works in progress at Godley Head for the lighthouse. This opportunity was taken advantage of in order to ascertain the angles at which the light will be visible at sea. The tower, which is of stone, is in a forward ftate and carried up to about half the height required. The dwellings for the lightkeeper and assistant are also well advanced, the walls being up and a considerable portion of the roof finished. The lighting apparatus wilt be dioptric of the second order, exhibiting a fixed white light visible from seaward about W. half S., round to the southward to about S.S.E. The elevation of the light will be about 440 feet from the sea level, and will be seen from the deck of a vessel, in clear weather, from 25 to'Bo miles. The whole of the necessary machinery has been safely landed and placed adjacent to the buildings. From the forward state of the works, it is possible that the light will be exhibited early in March next. The contractor, Mr. M'Cosker, would have been able to have had the works completed much earlier but for the loss of the schooner Hannah,, wrecked on Sumner Bar about four weeks ago, loaded with a quantity of material for the building. We learn that it is contemplated to make a roadway from the top of the Zigzag to, the lighthouse. Entertainment. —Professor Hall gave an entertainment in the concert-room, Eaikanui Hotel, Kaiapoi, yesterday evening, consisting of feats of strength, sleight of hand, &c, to rather a scanty audience. Some parts of the performance was very good, and were warmly applauded. A further performance is to be repeated on Friday next, at the same place. Imports and Exports.—The General Government Gazette of Nov. 23 contains, amongst other matter, a comparative return of the imports and exports during the quarter ended 80th June last. The following is an abstract therefrom:—From the United Kingdom to Auckland, £134,685 ; Wellington, £62,572; Napier, £10,719; New Plymouth, £11,777; Wanganui, X 1861; Nelson, £51,892; Picton, £277; Wairau,£72B; Lyttelton,£lls,oß7; Akaroa,£B3o; Timaru,£l992; Oamaiu; £740; Dunedin,£263,46B; Inverr cargill. £36,176; Bluff Harbour, £3555; Riverton, £30. Total, £696,394. • Corresponding quarter last year, £455,424. From the British Colonies and Foreign Countries, £957,098. Making the total imports to New Zealand, £1,653,492. Of this sum Canterbury has received imports valued at £186,020. The exports from the different provinces to the United Kingdom we place according to the amounts. Dunedin, £108,550; Canterbury, £103,009; Wellington, £65,833; Invercargill, £19,941; Auckland, £13,670; Wairau, £13,345; Nelson, £3639. Totals £327,988. Corresponding quarter last year, £654,724. The exports of other countries from New Zealand amounted to £648,232. Of this sum Otago exported £388,843 to Victoria. The total exports from New Zealand is represented by £976,220 as against £1,027,488 for the corresponding period of I*63* In the quarter there were exported 152,236 ounces of gold from the colony valued at £588,440. Otago contributing £534,874, and Nelson £32,448 to the amount. ■ ■