TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1451, 5 August 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Pkovincui. Gazette, No. 43, dated August 1, has been published, Mr. R. F. Holderness is appointed an Inspector of Sheep, and T. Perhara, Assistant Draughts* mail in the Survey Office. ' Some lands—de-scribed-Tf-are reservedfor railway, Provincial Government, and other public purposes. Notices respecting the Debtors and Creditors Act conclude the Gazette.

Accident.—Yesterday, about 5 p,m., a hansom cab, conveying a gentleman inside, was passing the City Hotel, when a dog ran between the horse's legs, throwing the animal down. The passenger was pitched out, but did not sustainany damage. , The horse was greatly injured, and the harness almost destroyed.

Cathkdral Square,—Thealteration of the line of road through the square is nearly completed. The curve lately formed is metalled; and will soon be ready for traffic. On one »ide of the curve, a footpath, twenty feet in width, will be formed. A row of the trees, , which formerly stooid in the square garden, will be planted round it. Some of them will occupy their original position, ojihem being,transplanted. Many of the trees, which are, for the most part„poplars and blue gums, together with some larches, are of considerable size, ,aad it has been no easy matter to remove them. A few, of too large growth to transplant, have been cut ; down. Mr. Barker, the Government : gardener, who has undertaken the task, is sanguine as to the result of the experiment. The removal of large trees has been practised in England for some time with almost unfailing success. An ingenious expedient has been adopted here to effect the object in view. Thetrees are removed with as much earth about the roots as possible. In this earth a cavity W made, and the tap-root is eut through with a saw. A plank is then placed in the cavity, and the tree is lifted bodily from its 'old site, and removed to the hole prepared for its reception. This is very laborious work, jand, in some instances. it required the aid of ! several men to lift the tree. When the work of forming the road and footpath is finished, the gardeu, which was formerly enclosed, will be turfed and thrown open to the public as an esplanade. The Godley statue will be placed on a slight eminence in the centre facing jthe Cathedral. Near this spot is a clump of blue gums and larches, which will be preserved. These will form a pleasing background to the statue, one of the gums being of fanciful and picturesque growth. A fountain—easily enough obtained in these days of artesian wells—would forma desirable and ornamental addition.

Lkoal.—His Honor Mr. Justice Gresson sat yesterday in chambers, at eleven a m. .The following business waa disposed of;— Greenwood v. Caverhill j Mr. Garriek appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Trovers for tlie defendant. An order was made for the settlement of the issues. Greenwood and Others v. Greenwood ; Mr. Garriek for the plaintiffs ; rule for the security of costs made absolute. In re Law Practitioner's Act; in this case, Mr. Garriek appeared and obtained an order for the assignment of the articles of clerkship in the matter of Arthur Robert Guinness, an articled clerk Rowlands v. Wakefield, Mr Wynn Willinms for the plaintiff. This case was ordered to | stand over ijtitil Tuesday. Creyke v. Stewart, Mr. J. S. Williams for the plaintiff, Mr. Tra- 1 vers for the defendant. An order for interpleader was granted, subject to an arrangement between the counsel as to the terms upon which the Sheriff shall retire fio n possession of the run and stcck. The qu< scion at present turns upon the validity of a bill of sale In the matter of ,T. Wicks, a debtor. Mr. Meager applied for some expenses inrurred byliim. His Honor conceded some of these, but remarked, that while he was anxious to do justice to both parties, he must refuse his sanction to some of the charges made. The Receiver of the Court was entitled to any un-

avoidable outlay which he might be called upon to make, but care must be tajren to limit that expenditure as much as possible, In order to protect the estate for tibe benefit of the creditors.

Wjbslhtan Crouch. — The numerous friends of the Rev. Jame» Buller will W, glad to hear that he' left the Bealey Accommodation liou«e en' route from Hokitika, on Thursday, and may be expected to arrive in Christchurch this day. He will probably conduct the services at the Wesleyan Church to-morrow. With reference to this gentleman, we extract the following from the West Coast Times of July 29- " A meeting of the members and friends of the Wesleyan Church was held on Monday evening last, in the store of Messrs. Morrison. Law and Co,* at which the Her. J. Buller, Superintendent Minister of the Christchurch Circuit, presided. The object of this meeting was to take into consideration the subject of erecting a church in this town, and, after some conversation, a building committee was appointed, consisting of Alcorn, Brent, Cross, Cone, Hogden, Jones, Longbottom, Parry, Powell, Scott, and Upjohn. The meeting was informed by the uev. Chairman, that the Her. G. S. Harper, of Christchurch, may be expected to arrive here by the William Miskin on her next trip, and j has been appointed to labour in Hokitika, and hence the necessity of a place of worship being built as soon as possible. The committee held their first meeting on Wednesday evening, and resolved to build a church, on a site reserved by the Government, which shall seat not less than three hundred persons, and each member of the committee was provided with a collecting book for the purpose of receiving subscriptions towards this object. The committee are confident that a liberal response will be made to their appeal for the first place of worship in the rising and populous town of Hokitika."

Attempted Suiciidb —On Thursday afternoon the residents of the usually uneventful district of LeithfleW, Kowai, were startled by the report that Mr. John Leith, of the hotel there, had made a determined attempt at selfdestruction. The result of inquiry on the spot proved the report only too true, and further facts were ascertained which gives the sad affair a still more tragic aspect. It appears that Mr. Leith, who had been in Christchurch since Monday last, on returning to his home on Thursday, was observed to be depressed in spirits, which is stated to have been caused from disappointment in some matters of business. Finding also that one of his children was ill beyond hope of recovery, he became entirely unmanned, and gave way to uncontrollable grief. He appears to have been dotingly attached to this child, and giving the little sufferer one last kiss he turned away and immediately shot himself with a revolver. He must have pointed the weapon at his heart, but, aiming too high, received the charge in a less vital part. The revolver was loaded with slugs, which fortunately glanced from the bones and, not penetrating deeply, passed round the chest, inflicting a frightful wound. Dr. Morris was soon in attendance and, together with Dr. Turnbull; who arrived from Christchurch, rendered the sufferer every assistance in their power. We understand that,the surgeons consider the case a dangerous one, but give hopes of recovery. The child died' at eight o'clock on Thursday evening. The West Coast.—Mr. Shearman, the Commissioner of Police, returned to Christchurch, on Friday last. The journeys to and from Hokitika occupied six days each. During the time he was travelling, he experienced very fine weather, especially on the way thither, no rain having fallen. There was a good deal of ice on the Otira road, which rendered travelling along it on horseback, a matter of some difficulty. In several places he wa9 compelled to deviate from the road and to travel along the side gullies. Mr. Shearman speaks in terms of great satisfaction of the apparent richness and permanency of the goldfields. He describes the place, as being, in his opinion, one vast goldfield, capable of being worked for many years to come. He entertains no doubt, but that in the en- . suing spring and summer, a population of nearly 50,000 will be found on the West Coast. Some intention has been expressed on the part of the Government of establishing a (Srcuit Court at Hokitika; this is absolutely necessary, or the inhabitants will become thoroughly lawless, because from the difficulty and expense of attending at the Supreme Court, ib Christchurch, persons who have suffered a wrong, will naturally be indisposed to prosecute. On the whole, however, the population ■ is as orderly as can be expected under the excitement and the novelty of a goldfield. Benevolent Aid Society.—The committee of this society held their usual weekly meeting yesterday, at the City Council Chambers. The following members were present v His Honor Mr. Justice Gresson, Dr. Bad and Mr. G. Gordon, secretary. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the following visitors attended, with applications from their various districts, Revds. W. J. Haberis, W. Lee, and G. Carpenter. Applications were also received from some other districts. The secretary reported that donations from Captain Wilson to the amount of £6, being the proceeds of two lectures delivered by him, and of a case of wine from Mr. C. W. Turner, had been received, The thanks of the committee were ordered to be forwarded to those gentlemen. Mr. Knapraan's account for articles supplied was ordered to be paid ; the amount was £31 108. Twelve applications were considered, the following orders being made

Food in ten cases, to the amount of £1010s : fuel, 17 cwt, in six cases ; clothing, wine, and blankets, in three, to the amount of £3 14s, The committee adjourned until Tuesday next.