TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2330, 11 June 1868, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Football,—A match will come off in - atimer Square at half-past two o'clock, on Saturday next, between the boating men aud cricketers.

Wesiund County Council,—The Council is convened for dispatch of business, on Tuesday, June 16, at the Supreme Court House, Hokitika. Tii.o Carandinis.—Madame and the Misses Carandini, and Mr Walter Sherwin, arriTed here by the Tararua yesterday morning. They will reappear at the Town Hall on Monday evening next. Mayor's Banquet.—We understand that a banquet, to celebrate the election of Mr William Wilson, as Mayor of Christcliurch, will take place In the Town Hall, at an early date.

General Assemblt.—A proclamation by

the Governor dated June 9, is gazetted calling the Legislative Councillors and members of the House of Representatives to a meeting of the General Assembly at Wellington on July 9, for the despatch of business. Meeting op Creditors.—A meeting of creditors in the estate of Samuel Baird, the younger, of Mount Grey Downs, farm labourer, was to have been held at the Registrar's Chambers at 11 o'clock, yesterday, but

lapsed through non-attendance. The liabilities in this estate amount to £75, and the assets to £SO, as estimated by the bankrupt. Garrick and Cowlishaw are the bankrupt's solicitors Delegations to the Scpbrintendent.— By orders in Council dated May 23 respectively, all the powers of the Governor under The Diseased Cattle Acts, The Marine Act, 1866, and The Protection of Animals Act are delegated to William Holleston, Esq., Superintendent of Canterbury. A notification by the Colonial Secretary dated June 8, also delegates to the Superintendent his Excellency's powers under The Prisoners Removal Act, 1865. The Mayokalties.—After the transaction of business yesterday, the Mayor of Christchurch and Councillors, proceeded to Mr Wheeler's photographic studio, Colombo street, and had their portraits taken. They were accompanied by the Borough Clerk (Mr Gordon), and the urveyor (Mr Cuff), whose portraits will also be included in the group. An interchange of congratulations took place by telegraph between the Mayors of Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Kaiapoi, shortly after their election. Criminal Practices,—Two men named Henry Montgomery and John Lambert have been arrested at the Ashburton and brought to Christchurch by Sergeant Horniman, to account before the Resident Magistrate for

their proceedings. It appears that on Monday last they proceeded to Mr Page's livery stables and hired a buggy for a couple of hours or so, leaving the name of Chr:'|ty as the person whom Mr Page was to hold responsible for payment. They drove up to the Selwyn, where tl.ey halted at the house of Mr Cook, and had their horse fed. In payment of the feed they gave Mrs Cook an order on a Mr Thomson. On Mr Cook's return home lie was suspicious of their honesty, and on looking over his place, found that a horse cover was musing. The pair had taken their departure before this was discovered, but Mr Cook immediately followed on their trail, and came up to them at the Ashburton, where they had taken up quarters at the Ashburton Arms Hotel. Here they represented themselves as being in the employ of Mr Charles Read, for whom they were bringing up a mob of cattle. They " stuck up " their tea, bed, and breakfast, and stabling in Mr Read's name. By this time Mr Cook had given information of his loss to Sergeant Horniman, who proceeded to the stable and found the missing cover on their horse. They still persisted in the statement that (hey were employed by Mr Head, but could not account for their possession of the cover. The Sergeant, in order to teßt the truthfulness of their statement, sent a messenger to Mr Head, and an answer was returned to the effect that he

knew nothing of them, and had no cattle on tlio road. While the messenger was away the two men managed to inovo on; and the Sergeant haying searched the township went in quest of the fugitives and found them concealed in a (lax hush, about six miles from the Ashburton Arms. lie made them prisoners, and brought them in the buggy as fur aB liolleston, and from thence to Christchurch by train last night. It is supposed that the intention of the couplo was to proceed with tlio horse and buggy to Otugo, obtaining provisions by false representations as they went along. They will be brought i before his Worship this morning.

Panama Branch Ltne to Tahiti.—The Wellington Evening Post of June 8, states that advices have been received in town from Sydney to the effect that tho commander of a Trench man-of-war was on hiß way to Wellington for the purpose of endeavouring, on behalf of his Government, to initiate some arrangements with tho Panama Company, in order to secure to tho Island of Tahiti the benefits of tho Pacific lino of steamers now running to Panama. The Imperial Government, it is stated, has authorised the gentleman in question to make term# and enter into engagements with Cnpluin Benson, with a view of ascertaining the most suitable means to further the establishment of ut branch line from Tahiti to Opara, and vice versa,

Mr Bubht'b Land Claims.—The Auck-

land Herald of June 2, BaysWe understand that the arbitrators appointed to enquire into the merits of Mr James Busby's land claims—lands alleged by Mr Busby to have been purchased from tho natives in 1839, and at other times—have awarded him some ten thousand acres of land at the Bay, and land scrip to the v ine of between £30,000 and £40,000, the land to bo chosen from the provincial waste lands of this province. We understand that, acting on this award, Mr Busby applied for land for Parndl, open for selection, but was politely informed that all provincial lands have hocn withdrawn from sale or select on. Mr Busby is about to take proceedings against the Provincial Government, for the purpose of compelling them to throw open the Provincial lands recently reserved by notification in the Provincial Gazette from sale and selection. His Honor, we believe, has retained the services of the first counsel in Auckl nd on behalf of the province. Tiie Cabinet.—We (Auckland Free Press) understand that Mr Stafford has hcen trying his hand in an attempt to strenglhen his position as Premier, by adding to the Kxecutive another Auckland member. Accordingly, Dr Pollen, Government agent here, has been induced to join the Executive, with a seat in the Upper House. We congratulate Mr Stafford on obtaining the services of the ablest man, we shall say, at present in the Executive, for, however much we may have differed from Dr Pollen, we have been at all times ready to acknowledge his great political ability and business capacity.

Mr Stafford has therefore, imported talent into his Executive a commodity in which the Ministry was sadly deficient, The changes which hare led to this reconstruction of the Cabinet would appear to be these: Mr Harris, owing to the state of his private affairs, was forced to resign; Major Richardson claimed exemption and the Speaker's chair in the Upper House, Mr Stafford having provided for bis near relative by a special pension bill to make things sure beforehand; and therefore there was no one to conduct the Government business in the Legislative Council. Dr Pollen was, for many reasons, the best man they could get. Of couse, we now expect to find Mr Carleton hand-in-glove with the Doctor; but we can assure Mr Stafford that however well laid hiß plans may he, the end of Auckland is not yet.