TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1620, 23 February 1866, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Akaroa Election. —We have been informed that Mr. Armstrong has been returned for this district by a majority of five, but we cannot vouch for the correctness of the report. Electoral.—A requisition is in course of signature to invite Mr. Sewell to come forward for Lyttelton, as a member for the General Assembly. For the Bays, Mr. Rhodes has accepted a requisition to represent that district in the Provincial Council, and Mr. Simmons is in the field for Sefton. The Lbnton Troupe.—This company, together with the juvenile Nathan troupe, will play for the first time at the Assembly Rooms, Lyttelton, on Saturday next. They will make their first appearance in Christchurch at the Princess' Theatre, on Monday next. Sudden Death.—Alexander Redding, a bush carpenter, well known in the Upper Waimakariri, was found dead in his bed yesterday morning, at his own residence, near Craigieburn. The death is supposed to have occurred by his own act, and the authorities have been communicated with. Submarine Telegraph.—We are informed by the recent mail that the telegraph cable for Cook Straits had been contracted for, by the agent of the colony in London, with a well-known manufacturer, who had undertaken to submerge it, and guaranteed to maintain it in good order and electrical condition -forxwevre months. Cheviot Election. —On Monday last, the election of a member of the House of Representatives for the Cheviot district took place at Messrs. Rhodes and Wilkin's wool-shed, St. Leonard's. There was a very small attendance of electors, and no opposition to Sir David Monro, who was proposed by Mr. Rutherford, seconded by Mr. J. Shrimpton, and declared by Mr. Birch, the Returning Officer, to be duly elected. Okarita. —We learn by telegram from Hokitika yesterday, that the Ballarat steamer had returned on Wednesday from Okarita. The news by her was to the effect that a small rush had set in towards Cook's River, about 25 miles southwards of Okarita. The ground, when prospected, yielded 2 dwts. to the tin dish. Gold also had been found in the bush not far from the Beach terrace, at the back of Okarita township, and was turning out well; claims were being rapidly taken up. Very little excitement prevailed in Hokitika ; but a number of diggers were preparing to start by the first opportunity. Prince op Wales Theatre.—The performances at this theatre last evening were for the benefit of Mr. H. Morison. In the first piece, " The Irish Emigrant," Mr. Morison took the part of Pat O'Ryan very successfully. The story is founded on the well-known ballad. Miss Herberte acted Mary very creditably. This young lady shows a marked improvement in her style of acting. During the interval of the pieces Mr. Wright executed a dance. The whole entertainment terminated with "Louisa's Lovers." To-night is fixed for the benefit of Mr. Graeme, who will appear in a piece written by himself. Attempted Suicide. —Last Tuesday, a man named Isherworth, residing in Kilmore street, attempted suicide by hanging himself to a bed-post. He was cut down before life was extinct, and was conveyed to the Hospital. Upon some pretext he managed to evade the vigilance of the authorities of that institution, and plunged into the river. He was, however, rescued, and re-conveyed to the Hospital. We believe that he will be brought up, when sufficiently recovered, before the Resident Magistrate, in order that his state of mind maybe ascertained. He has been suffering for some time fi om extreme depression of spirits. Volunteers. — An adjourned meeting of No. 5 company was" held in the large room of the Kaikainui Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Wednesday evening last, at 8 p.m. Lieut. Beswick occupied the chair. Several new members were sworn in, and the number of men who had signed and tendered their services to Government under the new Act, was increased to 40. Captain Fuller not being present, the secretary was directed to forward him a copy of the names, with a request that he would at once tender their services in conformity with the new regulations. The bi-weekly drill of the company was announced to commence on Saturday next. Saturdays are set apart for company drill, and Wednesdays for recruit drill. The match with No. 8 company was arranged to i ta.e place on Saturday week, the 3rd of March. The candidates are six men aside, with 5 shots each at 200,300, and 400 yards, and Hy the scoring, targets and position. The , meeting separated with a vote of thanks to the chair. The Culture of the Pkaoh —We have received from Mr. Swale, of the Avonside Botanical Gardens, a dozen of peaches grown by him. They are of very large size and weight, and fully equal to any grown in Kngland. They are of the sort known as the Uoval George These specimens show what can ■ be doneheie for the cultivation of the peach. The soil and climate of New Zealand are admirably adapted for this purpose, and it is a subject of regret that gardeners do not pay more attention than they have hitherto done to the oulture of this fruit, 'ihe bright sunshine we enjoy here is eminently favourable to their growth. The gardeners and timateurs, in too many instances, are satisfied with peaches, the ordinary production of the ground. Now, the climate is almost similar to their natural habitat, Persia, and with a little care and attention it is pos-

Bible to raise peaches equal to those grown on walls in England. -The cbMsSeqipites are to thin out fie ctijp, ,»#ltf&ciou3 IflHjlning, to admit a frefeciltelation oi'hght S$W the trees. By *]§f Jffia ns^ he frmt |arger and be^'fl||Jßfred. tibial of thisMlgtee took place m & the Present fiaptsfi Stkfclard in theJcltJtßr, Lieut. Cook, U t. m»m Mmmw I *' s £ r ? eant - Majbr Urqunirt, Sergeant Alton, Privates Barnes and Ballard. The chairman read a letter which h</hftd forwarded/to I. Luck, Esq., informing that gentleman of the result of the late competition for the cup kindly given by him to the Christchurch Volunteers, and stating that the committee were making arrangements for its presentation by him to.the winning Company. A letter frou* Private Blakiston was also read, stating his opinions with regard to certain resolutions of the General Committee, proposed to be included in the rules and standing orders. The draft rules and standing orders were then carefully considered; having been revised and corrected, the chairman was requested to have them printed for the use of the committee and for the information of the Volunteers generally. The committee then adjourned until Thursday, March 1, being the next ordinary sitting. BisHOPi of New Zealand.—We learn from the New Zealand Gazette that the petition of the Bishops of New Zealand has been presented to the Queen. The document, which is of considerable length, and which is signed by all the New Zealand prelates, sets forth that their letters patent were signed after the colony had become possessed of an independent legislature. In consequence of the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the case of the Bishop of Natal, they beg to surrender their letters patent, and to be allowed to rely for the future upon the powers inherent in their office for perpetuating the succession of their order, within the colony, and securing the due exercise of their episcopal functions in conformity with the Church Constitution proposed to be established. Allusion is made in the petition to the resolutions adopted at the last meeting of the Diocesan Synod with regard to Church discipline and management, and it is mentioned thai the principle of the civil equality of all religious bodies has been affirmed by a resolution passed by the House of Re* resentatives of New Zealand. The annexed paragraph taken from the petition will set the matter in a clearer light. "Your Majesty's petitioners therefore humbly pray that all doubts may be removed as to their status, both ecclesiastical and temporal.—l. By the acceptance of the surrender of their letters patent now declared to be null and void. 2. By declaring the Royal mandate under which your Majesty's petitioners were consecrated to be merely an authority given by the Crown for the act of consecration, and to have no further effect or legal consequence. 3. By recognising the inherent right of the Bishops in New Zealand to fill up vacancies in their own order by the consecration of persons elected in conformity with the regulations of the general synod, without letters patent and without Royal mandate, in the same manner as they have already consecrated a missionary bishop for the islands in the Western Pacific, after communication with your Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and with the Attorney-General of New Zealand." Literart SocisrT. — Last night this society debated the question, "whether the time spent in acquiring a classical education is well bestowed." In the affirmative it was agreed that in the Latin tongue we find a degree of force nowhere else apparent, and in Greek, sentiments and ideas of beauty and pathos unequalled in any other language. The absence of auxiliary verbs in these languages produces an excellence unknown in English. These studies cause men to be looked up to. Latin and Greek are the groundwork of English, and therefore must be worth understanding. The English mind could not express its ideas without help from Latin and Greek. The intellect is greatly developed by the study of idioms, and the accurate translation of Latin and Greek into English. We thus gain a wealth of ideas and similes, a vigour of style and an elegance and finish of education not otherwise attainable. The classics are more studied in England than in Scotland, and the English are therefore much the better students of theology. On a comparison of classical and mathematical studies the former are found to enlarge mind and the latter to narrow it. A mathematician is fit for nothing but to be a mathematician. On the other side it was contended that a little classical education is very well, but that a good deal of it will not repay the time spent in acquiring it. A great classical student will be able to detect the slightest false quantity, and to write verses ; but he will be unfit for ordinary life. These, studies only cultivate the memory and the imagination, but other studies will cultivate the whole mind. The study of English authors will develope the mind as fully as will those of Greece and Rome. If we were to study Milton in the same way as men study the classics, it is obvious that we should derive asmuch benefit from him as from any of them. We can get all the ideas of the classics in English translations of them ; but the study of science and philosophy is better than that of Homer. The question to be discussed next Thursday evening "Jls Phrenology True ?" Heathcote Election. — Mr. Hall addressed a meeting of upwards of 150 of the electors of Heathcote last night, at Mr. Martin's shop, Hereford Street, as a candidate for the representation of the district in the next General Ass.mbly. Mr. Mountfort took the chair. Mr. Hall said that he had invited Mr. Buckley to be presei-.t, in order that the electors might hear both sides. The great question for the people of Canterbury to consider was that of Separation. It had been said that it wa* from ambitious motives that the leading men desired the unity of the , colony to be preserved, but it might be said on the other side that the Separationists were influenced by similar motives in their views. Mr. Hall then brought forward various arguments against the movement. He was opposed to Mr. Stafford, and should certainly do his utmost to turn him out of office, as he had obtained it by violent and unconstitutional means. Mr. Buckley, the rival candidate for the suffrages of the electors, differed from him on the question of Separation, but that gentleman had also introduced personal matters into the contest. Mr. Hall then read the reports in the Lyttelton Times and other papers, of the charges mnde ugainst him the other evening by Mr.Buckley at the Roadside School house, and proceeded to answer them. Mr. Hall also proceeded to answer certain chavges bronght against him in an anonymous advertisement. He then referred to his conduct with respect to the Grey River Coal Bill, and said that Mr. Buckley's conduct with respect to that bill showed his ignorance of parliamentary proceedings, and his consequent unfitness to sit in the Assembly. He also contended that Mr. Buckley was ignorant of the history of New Zealand. An elector asked Mr. Hall whether he thought it just, wise,Jor right, to raise revenue out of intoxicating liquors, which were the cause of so much crime and misery. Mr. Hall replied that he thought those were just the things which should be most highly taxed. In reply to another question by the same elector, Mr Hall said that he was much impressed with the evils caused by intoxicating liquors, and would he glad to have them moderated. In reply to another question asking why he i had voted for a Sepurationist at Kaiapoi, Mr. Hall replied that he had no vote in that district. Mr. Buckley then addressed the meeting, commenting on Mr. Hall's remarks. He contended that he was conducting his canvass in a fair and proper manner. It was most unfair of Mr. Hull to cast any blame on him for the dropping through of the Grey River Bill; any blame in the matter was wholly due to Mr. Hall. Mr. Buckley then spoke on this bill at some length. The remarks he had made with respect to Mr. Hall were about his public character, which was fairly open to criticism, and were made in Mr. Hall's presence, as it was said that he (Mr. Hall) had claims on the Heathcote district on account of his public services. It was a fact, which Mr. Hall would not deny that he was a member of the Railway Commission which selected a station on his land, although he might not have been one of them ]

who chow the land for ■tationi. Mr. Buckley then spok* on the Ferry road stating that the Government trapped into an arbitration, anjsnat tpwej; arbitrations should be put astopm a 8 vernment was robbed right and lift, by them.* He then commenced on Jjipnffc;of {the; observations whi<& jail Mr.* Hall, answering 'hfej rinarkfb against Separation. He would "*»k jMr. Hall whether he had reijgned-sl: in the Legislative b&ause ?M represented Canterbury there and if he resigned, it was not to be expected that Mr. Stafford would appoint a\Canterbury man. In conclusion Mr. Buckley said that if elected he would be able to give his whole time to the duties of his position ; but if anything should occur in subsequent sessions to prevent him from doing so, he would be happy to place his resignation in the hands of tht electors. Mr. Hall said a few words in reply to Mr. Buckley, stating that he had had some years experience in the General Assembly, and was of opinion that he could do more service to the province in the Lower than the Upper House. After a few remarks from Mr. Jebson and Mr. Cowlishaw, the following resolution was put to the meeting : " That this meeting desires to record the strongest disapproval of any attacks being made upon the character or conduct of the public men of the colony, unless those attacks are borne out by facts." The show of hands for and against, were pretty nearly equal, but the chairman declared it carried. After a vote of thanks to the chair- . man, the meeting separated.