LYTTELTON.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 619, 9 July 1851, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

[From the Lyttelton Times.'] We have to record this week the saddest event which has occurred, or perhaps can ever occur in the colony. Jt is the loss by drown-

ihg of Mr. Ward, and his brother, Mr, Henry Ward, of Quail Island. It appears they started from the Island on Monday morning, for the purpose of bringing home a cargo of firewood from the shore, near the head of the bay. Nothing was heard of them afterwards. On Tuesday, a party went over to Quail Island in a boat, which the youngest Mr. Ward borrowed, for the purpose of seeking his brothers. He took two men with him : they found one oar near the place where the firewood had been apparently taken in—about a quarter of a mile further up the harbour, the boat was found on the beach, bottom upwards. A quantity of firewood was drifting about the bay. On Wednesday morning, the dog which went with them, returned to the Island, having run round the end of the bay. As we are sending this to the press, intelligence has arrived that one of the bodies has been found. This sad event has thrown an indescribable gloom over the whole settlement. Mr. Ward was one of the first colonists who declared his intention of joining the body of settlers, he laboured for a long time as Secretary to the Society of Colonists, who used to meet in the Adelphi Terrace, before sailing from England. He sailed with bis two brothers and the families he was taking with him in the Charlotte Jane, and was one of the first to land in the settlement. He was esteemed by all, and was beloved as much as he was esteemed. Not only his friends and family, but the colony has suffered an irreparable loss, both in himself and in his brother.

A man named Hudson suffered a compound fracture of the thigh, besides ininrieß of the head, on Friday from the falling of a large block of clay in the excavation opposite the Custom House. The cutter Hat-k has gone to pieces, having met with very rough weather in crossing the Sumner bar, the men in her barely escaping with their lives. The greater part of her cargo was plundered from the wreck.— June2B. The turbulence of the elements were last week called upon to notice, has been succeeded in the present by an interval of delightful weather, favourable every way to the first operations of the newly-arrived settlers. Our harbour has been filled with vessels from other ports, and an impetus given to the business of the town. The road from Christchurch to Riccartou is now open for foot passengers. The results of the agricultural operations on the plains are beginning to be seen—ploughed and sown lands are becoming general, and in some places the crops of wheat are springing above ground, and present a very healthy appearance. We are glad to be able to announce that a Building Society is in the course of formation here, the first general meeting of which will must probably be held about the middle of next month. —June 21.