TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1382, 4 April 1865, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The West Coast Road.—A well-filled subscription list has been got up to offer a reward for the discovery of a practicable route to the West Coast diggings. This will do more than anything else to procure the finding of an available pass, if one exists at all.

Mr. W. Seed.—This gentleman, who is Collector of Customs at Wellington, and has recently been on an official visit to the West Coast, returned yesterday by theAlhambra from Okitiki, on his way to Wellington, whither he will proceed by the first opportunity. The Alharabra called at no intermediate ports on her way to Lytteiton.

Curiosities of Registration.—Theclaims to vote, as furnished by the electors, show some eccentric ideas of registration on their part. Some of the claims had the name of no particular district, the designation being left blank. One voter claimed to vote for " the district of Canterbury I" But another went still further, and sent in h'is claim signed and attested by himself. It seems surprising that whilst the directions on the papers are so plain, and whilst persons profess to be so anxious to be enabled to exercise their privilege of voting, they should be so careless in having their claims properly filled up. Gaol Return.—The following is the gaol return, made up to March 31:—Christchurch—Male prisoners :sentenced to hard labour, 18 ; for trial at the Supreme Court, female side, I; hard labour, 6; imprisonment, 3; total prisoners iu gaol: males, 18; females, 10; discharged, fourteen prisoners, of whom three were females. Lyttelton—Male persons for trial at the Supreme Court, 2; hard labour, 59; imprisonment, 10; debtors, 24; total: males, 95; femaleshard labour, t; total in gaol, 96; discharged: tried before the Supreme Court, 1; tried before magistrates, 23; debtors, 9; total discharged thirty-three of whom one was a female. '

Provincial Gazette.—A Oazette was issued yesterday, with the appointment of Mr. Sale as Commissioner «id Warden of the>Qoldflelds, and SubTreasurer of the Provincial Government there ; also of Mr. G. A. E. Ross as Provincial Treasurer in Mr. Sale's place, and of his consequent resignation of his seat in the Council for the Rakaia district. Easter Monday and Tuesday are appointed holidays, and the offices of the Provincial Government will be closed on those days, which fall on the 17th and 18th of this month.

Lyttelton Choral Society. — We are glad to hear this society will not suffer from the loss of its late conductor, Mr. Flood. The committee have succeeded m securing the services of Mr. J. A. Waddmgton. The society will meet as heretofore on Tuesday ev nings. Kowai Road Board.—At a meeting, held on Saturday last, at Northport,—all members present were read and confirmed. Letters were read from th« Secretary of Public Works relative to the Amesbury road and North road. Tenders were

to be advertised for the formation of th/T^TT — road. The Government having agreed to m special advance of money to place the North * ~a repair, tenders for such work to be callr./? m once. The Clerk was instructed to writ* t , at Secretary of Public Works, and to enquire w l° u the Government will pay the bills of the Boar 11 necessary works by land orders. The conv f u Surveyor's report on the two north ronrU ordered to be forwarded to the Governmnnf Was bills to the amount of £70 Os 7d havintr wJ an ! i the Board adjourned to the Bth April. I)iil( *> Princess' Theatre.—On Saturday last the formances here were for the benefit of Mr p, ii Pe f" and comprised "The Momentous Question >> k ' variety of singing and dancing by Miss A Wi«L a and Little Laura, and the " Daughter of the )! ment." In the former piece, Mr B. N. JonM J Robert Shelly, sustaining the character verv m n ably. The piece is one of tha' class known a domestic dramas, and is founded on the storv often treated by novelists and play-wrights nam 1"° the career of a poacher. The prison scene i tableau from Frank Stone's well-known r)j ( . t S a bearing the same name as the drama. Mr wiir & the scene-painter of the theatre, made his first ' pearance as James Green, the rival sweetheart '„r \T village belle. He took the part verv fairly \r Hall was the heroine, and played as naturally am] gracefully as she always does in similar character- 11 In the last piece, she enacted .Josephine very prettiV singing most of the songs incidental to the niw, V excellent style. 1 tCfc m

Light ox Godlky Head.—On Saturday evening this light was exhibited for t'.ie first time, and win continue in permanent operation. A trial wmade on Friday evening, but everything bein« new* the light was not shown to the best advantage" The description of the light has already appeared—it k of the same class as the one now in operation in Cook's Straits—they having been found to answer well. This light illuminates an arc of 200 decrees and is visible at sea, in fine weather, a distance of:«) miles. A vessel on opening out the Peninsula win be able to see it. Capt. Boyd reports having seen i' on Saturday evening at least 25 miles off! The present consumption of oil is a little more than half a gallon. Captain Sharp has passed and surveyed the buildings on behalf of the General Government and Mr. Rollin has superintended fixing the optical apparatus, having come out from England for the purpose some time ago. Mr. M'Cosker put up the necessary buildings j the total cost will be aW£3OOO. All vessels arriving now are subject i, light dues from Id. per ton for coasters to 6d. f or foreign going ships. The dues are collected at theCustom House, Lyttelton.