TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1549, 29 November 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Volunteer Artillery. — I This evening the members of this battery will parade in their new uniform for the first time. It is proposed to call a church parade on Sunday next. Rifle Match.—A match will be fired on Saturday next, between No. 5 (Kaiapoi) company and No. 7 (Christchurch), Engineers. The conditions are —eight men from each company, with five shots at 200, 300 and 400 yards, Hythe position and targets. Each company fire on their own ground. Theatre. — Last night " Everybody's Friend " and " Fra Diavolo " went very well to a moderate house. The burlesqtie, from its unusually musical character, brings out Miss Julia Mathew's powers ; and she iB supported by a company strong in burlesque. To-night"Masks and Faces" will be the first piece. The Electric Telegraph.—We are informed that the long section of the interprovincial line of telegraph, which connects Christchurch with Picton, will be open for use about the 14th of next month. The stations thus added are Picton and Blenheim. The further section to Nelson may occupy some two months longer in erection, when the two extremes of the island will be connected by the telegraphic wire. Rifles. —Last evening, after parade, the members of No. 1 Company decided upon accepting the offer of the Lyttelton Battery of Artillery to exchange the medium Enfield rifles of the latter for the Lancaster rifle of the former. The accoutrements go with the rifles. The exchange has been determined on by No. 1 Company entirely on the ground of the superior efficiency of the Enfield weapon, and in spite of a strong preference for the more sightly belts which are issued with the Lancaster rifle.

Kaiapoi Municipality.—The polling for the various candidates for municipal honours took place on Monday last, and caused no little excitement. Shortly after four in the afternoon. Dr. Dudlev, who acted as Returning officer, declared the state of the poll as follows :—A. A. Dobbs, 58 ; M. Hall, 42 ; B. Ellis, 37 ; J. Hen wood, 33 ; J. Moore, 31 ; — Woodford, 25 ; G. C. JJlack, 24 ; J. Alexander, 20; G. F. Day, 15 ; J. Mathews, 13. Dr. Dudley declared the first four on the list duly elected. The successful candidates having returned thanks, the proceedings closed.

Magisterial. —At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, yesterday, before W. Donald, Esq., the following civil cases were determined:—Cole v. M'Cosker, debt, £11 15s.—Plaintiff proved his claim, which had not been included in defendant's schedule when he obtained protection. Judgment for plaintiff, for full amount and costs. Lyttelton Municipal Council v. Geo. Messiter, claim, Bs. 4d., for rate.—Defendant said he was a weekly tenant, and not liable to be rated. Judgment for plaintiffs, for full amount and costs. Same v. R. Belgrave, £3 10s., for rate. This was a similar case to the former. Defendant denied the power of the Council to levy the rate, and refused to pay it. Judgment for plaintiffs, for full amount, with costs.

New Zealand "Gazette."—No. 44, dated Nov. 18, is before us. A proclamation declares the Westland district to be a district for the formation of jury lists, and it defines the limits thereof. An order in Council fixes the scale of fees to be taken in civil cases in Resident Magistrate's Courts in the colony. Former fees are abolished, and the new scale came into operation on Nov. 15. The hon. H. J. Tancred is appointed a Commissioner nnder the Native Reserves Act, 1862. A warrant defines the judical district of Canterbury and Westland as set forth in a proclamation of Oct. 12, to be Sheriff's districts. The powers of the Governor, under the Post-office Act, are delegated to Mr. Stafford, as Postmaster General. A Governor's order appoints the river Grey a warehousing port. A dispatch from Major-General Chute is published, referring to the late engagement at Taranaki. An interesting paper, on the artificial propagation of Salmon, is published for general information. The election of W. H. Eyes, Esq., as Superintendent of Marlborough, is notified. The appointment of Messrs. Back and Sale as Sheriffs within this province, are cancelled. The former is appointed Sheriff of the new Canterbury district, and the latter of the Westland district. The contract for the mail service with the Otago steamship company, between Melbourne and Dunedin, is published. The telegraphic engineer, Christchurch, is authorised to frank and receive letters free by post. It is notified to the Collectors and Sub-collectors of Customs that they may refund the duty on all articles classed under sub-section 14 of section 3, of the New Customs Duty Act, 1864, to the various merchants and importers who have paid them under protest. A return of the gold exported from New Zealand up to June, 1865, and a return of the Customs revenue for the quarter ended Sep. 30, conclude the number.

United Methodist Free Church, Addington.—The first anniversary of this church was celebrated by a tea-meeting on Monday evening; about ninety sat down to tea. After the tables were removed, a public meeting was held, when several gentlemen addressed the meeting on different subjects ; whilst Mr. Smithson and other friends with him at intervals, enlivened the meeting with select pieces of music. The proceeds of the tea, with collections, realised about £12, to be applied in liquidating the debt on the chapel. The friends, who filled the chapel broke up about ten o'clock, evidently well pleased with the treat they had enjoyed.

Gazette.—We have received the Provincial Government Gazette, dated Nov. 27. It contains proclamations by his Honor the Superintendent under the Diseased Cattle Act, 1861. The effect of them is to appoint all that portion of the Province of Canterbury to the west of the dividing range to be a quarantine ground under the said act. The infected districts are the same as under the proclamation of Sept. 23, 1865, but they can land cattle upon the quarantine ground by observing certain formalities, which are prescribed. A Customs' notice, under the hand of J. W. Hamilton, Deputy. Commissioner, appoints Spence brothers bonding warehouse at Hokitika to be a warehouse for securing goods under bond; also those of Messrs. Thompson and Company at the Grey; and Messrs. Beswick and LeCren, at Timaru. The following notifications of the return of new members for the Provincial Council are given:—Messrs. E. Barff and.E. Prosser for the West Coast; M. Dixon for Mandeville; and W. Gosling for Geraldine. VV. M. Cooper is appointed an assistant and mining surveyor on the West Coast. A notice under the Debtors and Creditors Act concludes the number.

MR. LANCE AT COKER'S HALL. + A meeting of the electors took place last night at Coker's Hall, at the requeßt of Mr. Lance, to hear him explain his views as a candidate for the Superintendency at the next election. Mr. R. Symington took the chair. The body of the Hall was crowded, as also the gallery; and on the platform we observed Mr. FitzGerald and others of Mr. Lance's supporters. Mr. Lanci:, who was received on rising with much applause, said that he was about to explain his views on the policy of the country, and of the province, in order that they might judge of his fitness for the office of Superintendent. He would first say a little about himself—a task which was disagreeable to himself, but which was necessary on this occasion. He referred to his having been formerly in India, and having come to this country in search of health in 1848, when he formed a favourable opinion of this province. He afterwards returned to India about the time the mutiny broke out, and after seeing a little more service there, he went toEurope, and then came out to this province again. Hearing the present Superintendent was not going to propose himself for re-election, and knowing that he would he able to devote his whole time to the public service, he now came forward to contest the next election for the Superintendency. He was a new man amongst them and on that account was unfettered by any party feeling, he was not going to raise any electioneering cry about respecting the rights of the working classes, but it was well known that he had been a large employer of labour and had always treated his workmen with justice and liberality. He conceived it necessary to explain his views on general policy, for at this moment there was a question involving that policy before the Provincial Council on which the Superintendent would be called upon to express some opinion. If the next Superintendent entertained views in favour of the question of separation, it would be considered that the Province generally was in favour of it; it was therefore necessary for a candidate for the Superintendency to express clear views on this important subject. Mr. Lance then alluded to the late successes of the Colonial force on the East Coast, and to the murder of Mr. Broughton. If immediate steps had been taken to avenge that murder the Maori war would almost have been at a close, but the arrival of General Chute, which was somewhat inopportune prevented immediate steps being taken. If operations had been undertaken against those Natives who murdered Mr. Broughton at that time, success would he believed have, crowned the efforts of the Colonial Force and separation would never have been heard of. He approved of the policy of the late Ministry, and was of opinion that the British army was totally unfit from its organization for colonial warfare. With regard to provincial politics, they hinged chiefly on finance, and he would now enter into that question. There were three sources of provincial revenue, namely, customs and taxation, land revenue, and loans. The province had already had three loans; the Emigration Loan, which had been spent; the Railway Loan, part of which only had been raised; and the £500,000 loan, very little of which had been raised. The charges on those loans were altogether £350,000, leaving a balance after liabilities have been discharged of £200,000. This amount, with additions from the land revenue, he did not consider would be sufficient for all the requirements of the province, but they should see that they obtained the money before they undertook any works, or they might find themselves in the same position as the province of Southland. He might be allowed to express a doubt as to the manner in which the money had been raised for the construction of public works in the province. The plan which had been pursued in India, which was now intersected with railways, was to induce English capitalists to construct these works on guaranteeing them a certain per centage. By these j means India had obtained these works for almost nothing, and he did not see why the same plan should not be adopted here. With regard to the distribution of the land revenue to the outlying districts, it had been considered that 25 per cent, should be given to them, and a resolution to give that amount to the district south of Rangitata was now before the Council; he did not see why the other districts of the province should not have that benefit as well. He would now j say a few words on education ; he could give an opinion, but not a plan ; and he thought they could not do better than take the mother-country aa their guide in this matter. He was strongly in favour of endowed schools, and he thought the present time would be the best to make those endowments, for the necessary land could be set apart at a very small cost. He would now refer to a somewhat unpalatable 1 subject; viz., the struggle between the General and Provincial Governments. It was impossible to say how long that struggle would last, but it was certain that in the end the General Government would gain the day. The main duty of the Provincial Government was to undertake the colonization of the country; and as it was dependent on the land for its revenue, when the land was exhausted, as it would be in a few years, the Provincial system would supplanted. Meanwhile the interests of the province must be well cared for, and if he was elected as Superintendent, it would be his great object to promote them. Mr. Lance concluded amid loud applause, mingled with hisses and cries of " Moorhouse." A gentleman in the hall asked Mr. Lance whether he was aware that the following circular letter had been distributed at the doors Christchurch, November 28, 1865. Sir,—'May I have the honour of requesting your vote and interest in the approaching election for the Superintendency of the province ? I purpose addressing the electors at various places in the province, for the purpose of stating my opinions op questions of general and local policy. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. T. L. Travers. Mr. Lance replied that he was not aware of the distribution of those circulars; and he might say he had nothing whatever to do with them. He had also made no arrangements with either of the other candidates. Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Travers, and himself had lately met at Leithfield, and while they were conversing together, Mr. Moorhouse said to Mr. Travers, that he had heard that morning that he was engaged by Mr. Lance for a very large sum of money to work for him. That he (Mr. Lance) would emphatically deny, lie would repeat the words that were actually used. Mr. Moorhouse said that he had heard that Mr. Travers had received £2000 to work for Mr. Lance. Mr. Travers said, " I would do it for less ; I >vould do it for £1500 cash." Mr. Vincent, who, for some minutes, was unable to obtain a hearing, then came forward, and said he desired to give his views on the important question, who should be their future Superintendent ? Mr. Vinccnt was then going to explain hi in self more fully, when he was called on to " shut up," and he did so. Mr. Lance in reply to an elector, said lie desired the freest discussion. With regard to the railway system, he would say that this was a matter which did not rest with the Superintendent, but with the members of the Council. An Elector asked whether it was intended that English capitalists should lend money for public works or form a Company themselves. Mr. Lance replied that that would depend on the arrangements that could be made. Mr. Lance also in reply to another elector, who brought some accusations against him on account of his conduct in India, gave an account of the manner in which he had been engaged at Lucknow. This city was given up by Sir Colin Campbell to plunder for 24 hours, and he (Mr. Lance) got into a Treasure House with a soldier, to seek shelter from overpowering numbers of the enemy, obtained some pearls and afterwards received £1500 for them. He might add that when Sir Colin Campbell heard of it; he said " If Lieut. Lance has got that money, I am deuced

glad of it, and I wish every officer in the army had the same." Mr. Cookson proposed a vote of confidence to Mr. Lance. , A gentleman in the hall proposed as an amendment, that in the interests of the commercial class it is not desirable that any man shall be elected as Superintendent, whose interests are identical with any particular class, particularly that of the squatters. Mr. Cookson's resolution was carried, Mr. Fitzgerald proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting separated.