TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2607, 13 May 1869, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Bankruptcy. —Meetings of creditors were to hare been held yesterday morning in re John Kenwood, Alexander Elder Waddle, and John James Turnbull, but they lapsed through non-attendance. Leitueield.— An .accident of rather a serious character, occurred at the Flax Mill of Messrs Benn and Walker, on the Bth inst. A lad .named Knowles, stout fourteen yean of age, waa engaged in taking the flax from the "ispMuo as it was dressed, but by some means the toy’s arm became entangled in the flax, and was pulled through the “beater.” The little sufferer was Mk tended by Dr Morris, who dressed the wound. We lean that the boy la progressing fateurably. ■ I i : ■

Gust District— The threshing in this district being nearly all finished, and the corn carted away, the farmers are busy ploughing and getting the ground in order for sowing. There will be fully three times the acreage in crop this year compared with last year. The crops hare turned out very middling. The average yield may be estimated at about 15 bushels wheat, 17 barley, and 18 oats, which average scarcely reaches that calculated on in February last. The root crops are very indifferent, particularly potatoes, which will not exceed four or five tons per acre. The early crops were stunted for want of rain, and the late are cut off by frost. Turnips, mangolds, and carrots are very indifferent indeed. The bell for the church is not yet erected, owing to the want of funds. Subscriptions are being actively canvassed for, and it may be put up in the course of a week or two. Lincoln Racks.— These events come off to-day near the Wheatsheaf Hotel. The arrangements made by the Stewards are calculated to make the meeting successful, and the entries, as will be seen by the following list, promise good sport Hurdle Race, of 25 so vs—Mr E. Evans’bg Peckham, aged list 71bs ; Mr W. Maxwell’s b g Centurion, aged, list 71bs ; Mr G. Osborne’s b g Trump,aged, list 71bs ; Mr Middleton’s g g Albatross, 12st 3lbs ; Mr Hill’s bm Kathleen, list 71bs. Maiden Plate, of 20 sovs—Mr J. W. Cottrell’s b g Dutchman, aged, 9st 9lbs ; Mr Marchant’s bg Marquis, 5 yrs, 9st Blbs ; Mr R. M. Morten’s b g Atlas, 4 yrs, 9st 3lbs ; Mr A. W. b g Tiverton, aged, 9st 9lbs ; Mr E. Johnstone’s b f Neglect, 2 yrs, 6st 71bs ; Mr H. Fenwick’s b g Fly, 3 yrs, Bst; Mr J. W. Mallock’s ch g Igrndon, 6 yrs, 9st 91bs. Lincoln Plate, of 50 sovs—Mr J. Morrison’s blk g Backbiter, 6 yrs, 9st lOlbs; Mr G. Welbourne’s b g Wildboy, 4 yrs, 9st3lbs ; Mr W. C. Webb’s bm Tantrum, aged, 9st 13lbs; Mr W. C. Webb’s ch g Bobby Burns, 3 yrs, Bst; Mr J. W. Mallock’s ch g Lyndon, 6 yrs, 9st 13lbs. In addition to the above events, a saddle and bridle presented by Mr Angus, and whip presented by Mr Haskett, will be run for. There will also be a Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs, added to a sweepstake of 1 sov each.

RsroßM and Retrenchment.— The Superintendent of Nelson, in opening a session of the Provincial Council on April 27, made the following remarks :—A* soon as the actual state of things became apparent to me, I reduced the expenditure upon public works, so far as was consistent with engagements already entered into, to a point within the diminished means at my disposal, and devoted my attention to all practicable reductions in the departmental expenditure of the province. By the estimates which will be submitted to you, you will find that the reductions which have been made effect a saving to the extent of between £12,000 and £13,000 in the annual expenditure of the province in salaries and contingencies. In making so sweeping a retrenchment 1 have performed a difficult and extremely unpleasant duty. I ask for your support and encouragement in a task which I have endeavoured to execute with as little inconvenience to the public, and as little hardship to individuals, as under the circumstances was possible. The principle upon which 1 have mainly effected this large reduction in our expenditure has been that which invariably guides commercial establishments in a similar position, namely, the reduction in the number of officers employed, and not the reduction of the salaries of those whose services cannot be dispensed with and whose work is in many cases largely increased. When the estimates for the current year, which are now in course of preparation, are placed before you, you will see tbit I have abolished the formal distinction of “Departments ” in the provincial service, and have classed them in groups under distinctive headings. Each officer will be required to give bis services in any way in which they can he made efficiently available, -an arrangement which, although only occasionally practicable, will probably prove nseful with a staff so greatly diminished*