THE CANTERBURY TIMES THIS DAY. TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1469, 26 August 1865, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY TIMES THIS DAY. TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Volunteers, —The match between No. 1 Company and No. 7 will take place this day, at Hillsborough. A train will run at 2 p.m. Total Abstinence Society.—The quarterly meeting of this association will be held on Wednesday next, 30th instant, at the Town Hall. Tea will be provided at 6 p.m., and addresses will be delivered. The proceedings of the evening are to be varied with musical performances. Eire. — Yesterday morning, about six o'clock, the alarm of fire was raised in the city. It proved to be caused by the burning of some gorse hedge-trimmings, in the paddock of Mr. John Anderson, in Cashel street. The paddock is not far from the Provincial Hotel which was at first supposed to be on fire.

Football. — Lyttelton and Christchurch., The return match between these clubs will be played this afternoon, in a paddock—kindly lent for the occasion by George Holmes, Esq., adjoining the railway cutting in the Valley. It will Jbe remembered that the first match this season resulted in a draw, each side having obtained a goal; it is therefore anticipated that every effort will be made by both sides to bring to-day's game to an issue. From all we can gather, the present is likely to prove the most interesting match yet played in the province ; the players chosen represent the pick of the clubs, the ground will be in capital condition, and each individual player feels that the honour of his club is at stake, and therefore will be on his mettle. We have not been favoured with the names of the Lyttelton representatives, but the following is a list from which the Christchurch team will be selected :—Messrs. A. F. N. Blakiston (captain), Bishop, A. Cuflf, A. Cottrell, Balfour, Fearon, E. S. Harley, Hay, Lloyd, Moore, Mytton, Mee, T. OJlivier, F. Ollivier, A. Ollivier, Parkerson, Simpson, H. Thompson, A. Thompson, N. Thompson, Sutcliffe, Willoughby, Walker, and Williams. Mr. Winter will officiate as umpire. Messrs. Holmes and Co., with their usual liberality, have arranged to run a special train from Christchurch at one o'clock, for the convenience of the players and that portion of the public who take an interest in our athletic sports. The match will commence at two o'clock, and in the evening the members and their friends will dine together in the new Assembly Rooms, Lyttelton.

Literary Society.—On Friday evening, the 25th instant, this society met to debate the following interesting ethical question :— " Is it ever justifiable to tell a lie ? " In the absence of Dr. Foster the Rev. H. Tori esse presided. Mr. Dexter opened the debate. He would define a lie to be an act of deceit, whether effected by word, writing, or action, and he thought that such an act was never justifiable. This view was shared by several other members of the society. They thought that novels, fables, jests, and parables were not lies, as there was in these no intention to deceive ; but that where this intention existed, an untruth was not justifiable, even if told to a madman, a robber, or an assassin. No matter how exalted the motive for lying, the lie was not justifiable. We hud nothing to do with expediency or utility ; these should be left to God. The rule was that we should not lie, and we were bound by it under all possible circumstances. On the other hand, it was contended that, although the doctrine thus laid down was substantially true, yet there were exceptions to it ; and, although the speakers felt that they were treading on dangerous ground when they adverted to these exceptions, inasmuch as people in general were too apt to excuse themselves when disposed to lie, yet they would themselves he committing an unjustifiable untruth if tliey withheld their opinions on this subject. According to the views of this section of the meeting, when God forbad lying. lie forbad the telling of untruths with on evil motive ; if the motive was good it justifies the untruth. It had been known to happen to a certain painter, that, while admiring one of liis pictures, he had continued to walk backwards until

he was on tho verge of a precipice. A friend, seeing his danger, had seized » paint-brush and threatened to daub the picture With it, on which the painter stopped forward to rescue it, and was saved. Hto friend had deceived him, for ho did not mean to injure the picture •, he} had acted an untruth to Have tho painter, and his motive justified it. A medical man lies to his patient by saying ho is better, when he believes him to be worse ; but if he told him the truth he might cause the patient to die rom apprehension. By tolling him an untruth he bids him hope, and may save him; and the end justifies the means. So of the tolling of calamitous news in general under circumstances where the strict truth would cause much misery. On ft show of hands being taken there was a majority of two in favour of the opener's view of the question. Legal.—His honor Mr. Justice Gresson sat in Chambers yesterday, at 11 a.m., when the following business was disposed of Lane v. Beetham,Mr. Gar rick for the plaintiff and Mr. Travers for the defendant; in this case the issues were settled, and a time of hearing appointed. Gobs v. Dcßourbel, the same counsel as before ; in this case a similar decision was made. Riseley v. Risely; in this case, Mr. Travers obtained a rule nisi. In re B. B. Leathwick, a debtor; Mr. Moorhouse obtained an order appointing a day for hearing, ad interim protection having been grunted. In re R. K. Kenriek,a debtor; Mr. Garrick obtained the usual order for sequestration and protection. In re Alfred Porter, a debtor; Mr. Wynn Williams, who represented several creditors, obtained an order for the withdrawal of the insolvent's protection. Fooks v. Church Property Trustees; this case was ordered to stand over.