TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1440, 24 July 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The English Mail.—The mail arrived at the Post-offlcej Christchurch, on Saturday, at one p.m.; it contained 6208 letters from England and other places. The letters were date-stamped by Mr. Wright's machine in 52 minutes. The letters were all sorted in three hours from the time of the arrival of the mail, and the delivery from the windows commenced at 4 p.m. Timaru Boat-Shed.—Thia shed, a fine roomy building, will be completed in about three weeks. The machinery for hauling up the boats arrived at Dunedin July 13. The Hospital.—We have been requested to mention that donations of old linen, &c., will be accepted at the hospital just now, as there are so many surgical cases. Ladies will confer a great obligation if they will kindly endeavour to supply this requirement. Parcels addressed to Mrs. Cook, the matron, will be gratefully received. Princess' Theatre.—On Saturday night, the " Green Bushes" and " Paddy Miles' Boy " were played here. The first piece was remarkable for Miss Cooper's excellent impersonation of Miami,the wild affectionate Indian huntress. To-night is fixed for the benefitof the trustees of the theatre, and to-morrow night Mr. Coker's complimentary benefit will take place. On this occasion he will appear as Jack Gong in the "Green Bushes," and in the " Middy Ashore." Deputation.—On Saturday forenoon a deputation of the watermen of Port Lyttelton, comprising Messrs. G. Messiter, G. Agar, and others, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent, with a view of laying before him a statement of the grievances under which they allege that they are labouring. His Honor received the deputation very courteously. They complained of the low fares appointed by the new Port Regulations. They were at present only able to earn i' 2 per week, whereas they assert that their earnings ought to be 108 per diem. The chief subject of complaint is clause No. 6. Formerly they were permitted to charge double fares between sunset and sunrise. This privilege has since been abrogated. Again, they are compelled, when going out to reach a steamer which is about leaving, to take two men, for which they receive no extra remuneration. They are frequently exposed to the

inclemency of the weatKto pn these occ*.ions, andbeMdes befnir thoroughly drenched themselves, the gear of tl»<i*bo*ti getsout o£ order.' They alio requested thatboat-wsys nlffht be formed, to ai to enable them to launch and beach their bo»t» without injury. They asserted that hitherto none of the public had complained of the scale of fares. His Honor remarked that with regard, to the boat-ways, the subject had been occupying the attention of the Government. They would be supplied as soon as possible. The work would have been put in hand some time since had the funds at the disposal of the Government permitted it to be undertaken, With reference to the other complaints mentioned by the deputation, the whole matter should be referred to the Port Officer, together with their statement, for his consideration and report. The deputation thanked his Honor and retired. The Late Accident at the Rakaia Pass.—Some little time back it was announced in this journal that a man had been accidentally shot near this spot. I)r. Leech started in order to render him medical assistance, and travelled about eighty-two miles. The sufferer was conveyed across Lake Coleridge in a boat, and taken to Major Scott's station. This gentleman and the Hon, J. Hall behaved towards him with the utmost kindness and attention. Major Scott lent his trap, in which the patient was slung, and brought to Christchurch late on Saturday evening. On his arrival he was found to be in a dangerous condition. Dr. Prins at once saw that the only possibility of saving his life was by amputating the leg at the hip joint. The shot had entered above the kiee, and had passed out at the groin, completely shattering the bone and muscles. A consultation was held with Dr. Stedman and some other medical gentlemen, who concurred in the opinion that the operation alluded to was indispensably necessary, and it was accordingly performed yesterday morning. The poor fellow remains in a very pecarious state. His name is Joseph Traunce, and he arrived in this province by the ship Bellissima. He is a married man, but has no family. Great credit is due to Dr. Leech for his promptness in undertaking the journey, and for his kindly efforts to alleviate the man's sufferings.

The May Mail.—The Argus gives the following particulars:—The P. and 0. steamer Jeddo, Captain Farquhar, arrived at the Sound at 4 a.m., on the 7th inst. She left Galle on the 20th June. Commander Goss, naval agent, is in chaige of the mails. The Bombay, with the Australian April mails, broke her shaft four days after leaving King George's Sound. She arrived at the Mauritius, under sail, the 21 st May. Having been repaired, she took the mails on to Aden. The Madras, having sprung a leak on the passage up, was sent to Bombay for repairs. She has been replaced by the steamship Jeddo. The April Mail.—From the intelligence received regarding the accident t> the Bombay, and the period of her detention at Mauritius, it appears possible that she might reach Aden in time to catch the boat with the Calcutta mails due in England (by Marseilles) on the 27th of June, which would cause the Australian April mail to be delivered only a fortnight late. At the worst, the detention would not be greater than three weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dillon.—These eminent tragedians, having completed their professional tour through the Australian colonies and New Zealand, take their departure in the Greyhound, from Lyttelton, for Callao, on their way to the United States and Great Britain. They are accompanied by Mr. George Fawcett.

The General Assembly.—The Lord Ashley, on Saturday afternoon, sailed for Wellington, having on board the greater number of the Canterbury members of both Houses of the Legislature, on their way to attend the session of the General Assembly. Emigration Societt.—The annual report of this society, for the year 1864-5, has been received. During the past year 288 persons have been assisted by its means to emigrate to the various provinces of New Zealand. Of these many, as shown by letters received from them, are doing well. Several have repaid the amount of the money-advances made to them. The following is an extract from the conclusion of the report:—" To enable the society effectually to continue its operations, it is necessary that its funds should be increased. Unless larger funds are forthcoming, the work of the society will fall short of what its friends must desire and consequently it must restrict the relief, through emigration, which it is anxious to afford to the large class of persons who are unable to obtain regular employment at home, or who feel that the remuneration which they can obtain is inadequate to the support and education of their families. For these persons there is a large and constant demand in the labour market of the colonies. An earnest appeal is therefore made to the friends and supporters of the society, and through them to the general public, for such pecuniary assistance as is necessary adequately to maintain the society as a permanent institution, and to carry out the benevolent and useful objects for which it was established." The balance-sheet for the past year is annexed to the report, from which it appears that the. receipts amounted to £1611 8s lod, the expenditure being £1049 15s Id,< leaving a balance of £561 13s 9d to the credit of the society.