TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1386, 13 April 1865, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

HoimcDtTUiur. Society.—A meeting of the committee of this society was held on Monday night, at seven p.m., in one x>f the rooms attached to the Town Hail. Mr. W. Wilson occupied the chair. Mr. W. Hislop read an interesting paper on " Plantations,'* giving some useful ideas as to the best plan for laying oat ground in Canterbury, and the trees best adapted for cultivation here.. He remarked that, in forming a plantation, all straight lines ought to be avoided; they were not only unsightly, but injurious to the growth of young trees. If one looks at a natural forest, it will always be found that nature avoids straight lines. And the reason is obvious. Trees, when planted in a convex form, are much more liable to escape the effects of high winds. Now, although plantations are the reverse of those formed by the spontaneous growth of natural vegetation, the planter cannot do better than follow nature's rule. In this province the trees destined to form a plantation should always be made to grow in a con rex fonri, so as to form a screen against the north-west, southwest, and easterly gales, which prevail here with so much force, and are so detrimental to the growth of young timber. Another necessary thing to be done is the trenching and draining of the land on which it is intended to form a plantation. This might, in some instances, be an expense, but it is one which soon repays itself. In Lord Abercrombie's estate in Clackmananshire, this system of draining had been followed with the most sucessful results, and a piece of land, heretofore utterly useless, had, by dint of perseverance, been converted into a thriving plantation of larches, and the ground, which had previously been a swamp, was, by the growth of the young timber, effectually and permanently drained. On the other hand, land which had at one period been covered with trees had, by their removal, been changed to a marsh. Mr. Hislop proceeded to give some account of the trees best calculated for introduction into our province, either on account of their rapid growth, the utility of their timber, or the ornamental character of their form or foliage. The principal of these were the oak, elm, sycamore, poplar, willow, birch, alder and lime. The first of these thrives luxuriantly in New Zealand, and in the course of time we may hope to have samples rivalling in size and durability those raonarchs of the forest so familiar to us all in the dear old country. These should be planted some distance apart, when they generally do well, the intervening spaces being filled up with other trees, technically termed "nurses:" this not only helps the growth of young trees, but also economises space. Amongst the ancients the oak was the emblem of strength, constancy, and long life. Some varieties of this tree are natives of Europe, others being brought from America. The elm thrives well here, and is almost invaluable for its timber, which is excessively durable, and is capable of being turned to an almost endless variety of purposes. The sycamore has long been introduced into England, but the exact date is not known. Tradition saya that Mary Queen of Scots brought over from France a little sprig of the sycamore tree, planted it in the gardens of Holyrood House, and from this have grown all the fine sycamores in Scotland. The tree is mentioned in the Bible, and, as it would seem from an allusion to it, it fruits in the East. The wood is light and durable, and very useful for the turner. The poplar was introduced from America into England about the year 1692, the Lombardy poplar being brought from Italy in 1758. Of the willow there are many varieties, the Basket, the Weeping, the Huntingdon, and the Scotch and English sorts. The willow grows most luxuriantly here, and forms a most ornamental addition to our somewhat uninteresting plains. It was first brought from the East, and gradually introduced into Western Europe. The soil of Canterbury seems to be peculiarly adapted for the growth of this tree, as may be seen from the numerous fine specimens now in the province. The birch was first introduced into England from North America in 1736. Mr. ♦Gordon brought the Betula pumilia into ,Kew Gardens in 1762 ; this was the origin of all the specimens of this variety now grown there. The alder and the lime were the next trees noticed by Mr. Hislop ; the date of the introduction of the latter is unknown, but the large specimens now growing in St. James' Park, London, are said to have been planted at the suggestion of the great and good John Evelyn, who first recommended the cultivation of odoriferous trees in England. The suggestion will be found in hig work "Fumifugium," published in 1661. The tree is very durable, and the wood useful for a great many purposes. Altogether, Mr. Hislop'a address was a very able contribution, and at. the close a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to him. Some fine specimens of silver beet were exhibited and two capital seedling pansies. The latter were shown by Mr. Angus. Mtt. Kjvbii's New Stobb.—Amongst the improvements in the street-architecture of Christchurch may be noticed the new store just erected for Mr. Kiver, in Cashel street. Those who were familiar with the old cob-house cannot fail to be struck with the new and handsome building which occupies the site. The former structure is now a thing of tfie past. Certainly the present building is a great improvement. To be strictly correct, two shops should be mentioned, for the existing structure is divided into two stores, though they both form one building, und are comprised under the same roof. The one for Mr. Kiver's use is fitted up as a commodious shop, having large storage-room on the first floor ; the other also consists of" a large shop, but is finished off with rooms for residence over it. The whole of the establishment is plastered througiiout. and i« entirely fire-proof. The side walls and those composing the back of the building are made of rubble, the front being of Ashlar work. The effect of the whole is that of a good, substantial building, the large blocks of stone with n chiselled face having a massive, yet simple, appearance; this is heightened by a well-designed and hold cornice, also of stone, which runs along the entire extent of the building. A parapet of'pierced stone, which surmounts the house, gives an air of lightness to it, and serves to relievo the plain and almost severe character of the edifice. The windows are fitted in with sheets of plate-glass, the frame-work being of polished cedar; the effect of the colour of this wood, when varnished, is particularly good. The windows are circular-headed, and this arrangement diminishes the heavy unsightly effect almost always produced by large masses of glass when inserted in square frames. Besides, the natural colour of the wood when heightened and developed by varnish, is s great improvement upon the formal and antithetical effect, of the painted iron intc which plate glass windows, especially o any great size, are generally inserted. Paint is ai best but a necessary evil, and when its introduction can be avoided it is always desirable to do so. *oi this reason, varnished wood is being almost univer sally resorted to, and as in the colonies we have s many choice woods, whose beauty is only equalled bj

, their durability, it seams to be an unnecessary falling into an old groove to adoptjpalnted Iron for 1 external purposes, In any Instance in which It can 1 possibly be dispensed with. The windows of Mr. . River's building are nine feet In height, and three , feet six Inches in breadth. An Iron verandah, with glass top-lights, will be added prior to the completion 1 of the structure. The dimensions of the whole are : frontage. 37 feetf depth, 38 feet; height (two ' stories), 3 feet. Messrs. Farr and Cuff are the i architects, Messrs. Balcke and Brouard being the . contractors. The work reflects great emit on them, for it appears to be very completely finished , and very faithfully executed. These gentlemen have already been entrusted with the erection of many of the largest works in Chriitchurch-the i church lu Latiiner-square, the stores of Messrs. . Matron and Co., Messrs. Walton, Warner and Co., &c. VoLoirrEien Encampment.—Messrs. Holmes and Co. have acted in regard to this project with their usual energy and liberality. Thoy have taken every step in their power both to meet the public convenience and to assist the Volunteer movement. Trains to Hillsborough will run at short intervals during Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, whilst a special train, carrying Volunteers only, free of charge, will start at 7.15 a.m„ on Monday. The Provincial Gazette of April 10th, No. 18, contains a list of foreign residents in Canterbury who have been naturalized as British subjects. Their names have already been published in this journal. Dr. W. B. Chambers Christy having submitted his diplomas to the Resident Magistrate at Timaru, has been allowed to act as a medical practitioner in that district. A return of the arrivals and departures for the past month is also given, and a list of persons affected by the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862. Roval Princess' Theatre, LYTTKLTON.--On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings Mr J. Hall, the spirited manager of the Christchurch Theatre Royal, with his company, played before a Lyttelton audience. The New Assqmbly Rooms have been transformed into a very pretty little theatre. The first Siece selected for Tuesday evening was Oxenford's omesticdrama of the "Porter's Knot." Mr. Hall played Sampson Burr j Mm. Hall, Mrs. Burr. The artistes displayed great ability. The acting of Mrs. Hall shewed she was well suited for the character. The altered circumstances of poor old Sampson, in the second act, was a picture to the life. Mr. Smoothly Smirk, a difficult character, has not much to do, yet the old usurer found a fitting representative in Mr. South. The rest of the performers acquitted themselves creditably, although the assistance of the prompter was several times audible to those in front of the stage. Byron's burlesque of "Aladdin, or the Wonderful Scamp," closed the performance. Mr. Hall, as Widow Twankay, and Mrs. J. Hall, as the Young Scamp, have never failed to | send the audience home in a good humour. The house was well attended. We have forgotten to say that Miss Wiseman danced the •' Highland Fling,' and well deserved the encore she received; and Miss Laura, in the " Sailor's Hornpipe,", set the house in a roar. Wednesday evening, the pieces were Buckstone's drama of the " Daughter of the Regiment;" after which, Little Laura sang the H Maid with the Milking Pail;" and Miss Wiseman repeated her favourite dance of the u Highland Fling," concluding with the farce of "Paddy Miles' Boy." Altogether, the performance gave great satisfaction, and the house was well attended. Mr. Hall announced that, for the present, he would only be able to give one more performance previous to the holidays; after then, he would again visit Lyttelton with greater attractions. Telegraph.—The poles are now in position up to the corner of Montreal and Gloucester streets, and will be extended down the latter to the offices of the General Government. It is thought that the communication with the Bluff will be complete in a few days. Christchurch Pastoral and Agricultural Association.—The quarterly meeting of this association was held yesterday afternoon, at the Town Hall. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Wilson. The report of the society was read and adopted, as was also the financial statement. .„,-,. The Charge of Arson.—The Otago Daily Times of the sth inst, gives a report of the proceedings before the Resident Magistrate, in the charge against John Riordan, for attempting to set fire to premises in Walker street. Several additional witnesses were eaamined for* the Crown, and the case closed. A number of witnesses were then called for the defence, who swore that between the hours of three and six p.ra., on Friday last, the prisoner never left the Cafe de Paris, and, therefore, could not have been m Walker street at five o'clock, as sworn to by the witnesses for the prosecution. At the conclusion of the case, the Magistrate considered that there was sufficient evidence to send the case to a jury. He accordingly committed the prisoner to take his trial before the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. He reserved the question of bail, but we understand tUt in the evening the prisoner was admitted to bail.