TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1673, 27 April 1866, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Acclimatization Society.—The usual monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society will take place this day at 2 p.m. Return op the Superintendent.—His Honor the Superintendent, who has been on a tour of inspection of the Hurunui roule, the Teramakau, and the Saddle, returned to town yesterday by the Otira road. Curative Mesmerism.—A meeting of Captain Wilson's newly-formed class for instruction in the art of curative mesmerism will meet at the Masonic Hall, Hereford street, on Monday next, at 7 p.m. Scholarships. We are requested to remind those interested that the last day for sending in names of candidates for the scholarships offered by the Board of Education will be Monday next the 30th inst. We believe that names have been sent in already from almost all schools except thpse of a higher class in Christchurch and Lyttelton. West Coast Traffic—The following return gives the number of people and stock which have passed Bealey, to and from the West Canterbury goldfields, for the week ending April 21 :—To the goldfields, 9 persons, 17 horses, 95 cattle, 708 Bheep. From the goldfields, 15 persons, 9 horses. Residents at Bealey, 14. During the same period 183 cattle have passed Mr. Blake's camp for the same destination. Fine Aht.—lt will be remembered that Mrs. I. T. Cookson contributed to the Bazaar recently held at the Town Hall in aid of the Female Home, some fine drawings of New Zealand scenery. As the pictures were not disposed of on that occasion they will be raffled for as soon as the list of fifty members at jEI Is each is filled up, The raffle will take place at Collins's Hotel, the proceeds to be devoted to the same charitable institution. Wur the Writs Have Not Come Down. —An explanation of this will be found in the paragraph headed Gauttes. The last advices from Auckland state that the Governor left Kawau for Kawhia on the 14th inst, and it was supposed that he would also visit the Bay of Islands. The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance was sent up to Auckland by Mr Stafford for the Governor's assent, and, at the same time, the writs and proclamation dissolving the Council were forwarded for his Excellency's signature. The former has come down, the latter have not. Canterbury and its provincial elections can wait. Gazettk.—The New Zealand Gazettedated April 24, contains an Order in Council abolishing the poundage hitherto allowed to country postmasters on the sale of postage stamps. Messrs. Matthew Price and Michael Keogh are appointed Wardens and Judges of all Warden's Courts within the goldfields of the Province of Canterbury. The Port of Waikonaiti is no longer a port of entry under the Customs' Act. A letter is published from Sir Redmond Barry containing instructions

as to the mode of obtaining statistical information upon New Zealand subjects for tho International Exhibition at Melbourne. The return of the members chosen to serve in The House of Representatives is ■ also published. Mr. E. J. Lee is. appointed Revising Officer for tho Electoral Districts of the City of Ohristchurch and the Town of Lyttelton. The balances from Intestate Estates now in the hands of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Westland are given. The Provincial Government Gazette of Canterbury, dated April 26, contains a proclamation of the assent of His Excellency the Governor to "The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance 1866," and "White's Little River Tramway Bill." The following extract from a letter from the Colonial Secretary will show why tho writs for the new elections hare not yet come down, " When this Ordinance (The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance) was forwarded to the Governor, a proclamation dissolving the Provincial Council of Canterbury, and warrants for the appointment of Polling places, and Writs for the new elections were also sent for His Excellency's signature, but have not yet been returned, the Government is consequently unable at present to move further in this matter." The appointment of George Dale as gaoler at Hokitika gaol concludes the Gazette.

The Army Estimates.—The Timet of February 25, commenting upon these estimates, says:—" The most satisfactory items in the present Army Estimates are those which point to the termination of the war in New Zealand. We flattered ourselves,indeed,' last year that the war was then practically closed, and the Estimates submitted to the House of Commons discounted a gain which was never realized. This year there is reason to hope we shall not again be diappointed. The withdrawal of the troops from the Colony occasions a saving, through the reduction of the general staff, but the great effect of the cessation of the war is felt in the vote for the commissariat department. The total saving in the vote is £91,000, most of which is attributable to this cause. There is a saving of £21,200 in the allowances made to officers stationed abroad on account of the difference in the price of provisions, £15,000 of which is the decrease due to New Zealand, and £4700 is the reduction in the allowance to officers at the Cape of Good Hope. The vote for provisions has risen (not fallen, as stated in the supplementary paper issued with the estimates) £2,135, but the increase due to the general rise in the price of provisions would have been much greater but for the lessened demand in New Zealand, The estimate of the cost of forage in the colonies has fallen from the same cause from £106,898 to £81,445. and the gain forthesamereasonin the item of Commissariat Transport in the Colonies is represented by £36,362, the difference between £90,383 and £54,021. Themilitary expenditure thrownupon the United Kingdom by the colonies remains so large that we may he excused for congratulating ourselves on being spared the further burden of a war which we did not originate, and over the course of which we had little or no control."

Cantekbdkt Riflk Association.—Last night a meeting of the council of this association, was held at the Criterion Hotel, Mr. H. P. Murray-Aynsley occupied the chair. The following members were present. Messrs. Murray-Aynsley, Steward, Alport, De Troye, Harman, Cook, Hawkes, Hilton, Blakiston, Boss, Hargreaves, and Packe. The chairman said that the first duties of the council were to appoint a patron and an hon. secretary to the association, The Superintendent of the province having been nominated for patron by the general meeting of the association, the council resolved that such nomination be confirmed. It was also resolved that, with the consent of Mr. H. E. Alport, that gentleman be appointed hon. secretary. Mr. Alport consented. The appointment of treasurer being vested in the trustees, those officers notified the appointment of Mr. E. B. Bishop as treasurer. The chairman read a note from Mr. Wynn Williams, enclosing a cheque for five guineas, as that gentleman's subscription to the association. Captain Steward brought up a draft of by-laws for the association, and proposed that they be adopted, The laws were read, and it was resolved that they be adopted subject to confirmation at a future meeting, when they should be submitted for individual examination. It was resolved that until the next meeting of the council all cheques f or preliminary expenses of the association be signed by both the Secretary and Treasurer. It was also resolved that the Treasurer be requested to deposit the funds of the association in the Union Bank of Australia ; thatthehon.sec.be requested to prepare a list of the names of gentlemen likely to subscribe to the association, and that Christchurch be divided into districts and canvassed by the council. In answer to a question by Captain Steward, Captain Packe stated that Mr. Weld had given a prize of £2O, to be shot for by the association. Lieutenant Harman desired to call the attention of the council to the fact that in England the prizes given for shooting were becoming quite burdensome to the givers; they were out of all proportion to the prizes given for excellence in any other manly sport. He hoped this system would not be imitated by the public of New Zealand. He thought that volunteers might be stimulated to useful competition by much smaller prizes, and he would move at a future time a resolution limiting the value of prizes to be shot for in one year. The chairman thought that Lieut. Harman deserved the thanks of the council for his remarks, and said that in lus opinion, it would be preferable to give prizes for judging of distances in shooting than for shooting at a target at fixed distances. On the suggestion of Lieutenant Cook, the secretary was requested to write to the Rifle Association of Dunedin, to ascertain how a supply of ammunition could be obtained from Government, for the use of the association. The council then adjourned to Thursday, the 10th of May.