Lytteton.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1282, 14 November 1857, Page 3

Lytteton.

[From the Lyttelton Tinies, Oct. 21.] Owing to the late severe illness of the Chief Justice nt Auckland, and the continued indisposition of Mr. Justice Wakefield, Mr. Gregson has been requested to hold courts at Welington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, under an acting Commission as Judge of the Supreme Court. He will probably commence his circuit at the beginning of the next year. The first load of wool for the season 1857-8 • -Hnie down to Kaiapoi, on Wednesday last, from he station of Messrs. Marchant and I’olhill, ol Double Corner. It has by this time reaches Lyttelton. This is an unusually early com-

nience ‘ ent of lhe clip, neighbouring flockmusters genrrMly preparing to commence about the first of next month. Some few. however we hem-are fol ward ; afraid perhaps that nt a Inter >eason the attractions of lhe Nelson Gold Fields may cause a rise in the price of labour. With things as they are, how ever, there is not likely to be tiny unusual deficiency in the supply of hands. Kaiapoi will receive upwards of a thousand bales for shipniet’t this sensor. Messrs. Cookson and Bowler are erecting n powerful hydraulic press at their wharf on the Cam, which will increase the rapiiiily of transmission to Lyttelton. A new jet’v is, we understand, being constructi d on the Courtenay, a little below the junction of the streams, by another firm, with a view to increased convenience of shipment. Kaiapoi has at last, bv a proclamation just published in the Government Gazette, become ofliciellv n township. We cannot pass over (bis event without calling attention to the rapid manner in which Kaiapoi lias risen, and the important place which it now occupies as the c. tnmeicial centre of the northern district ol this piovincc. In less than four years it has lu i n changed from a wilderness to a thiivmg ti.wn ; containing its church, school, r-ourt-hoUse, land office, merchant's offices, stores, &e., and numbering a larger constituency than Lyttelton, and within 53 of Ch i ts' churc h.

Rapid, In.weVer, as has been its progress hitherto, we mint, look lor still greater progress tn future ; for it is but just beginning to experience the full value of that which per, haps more than anything el-e conduces to the importance of a town. We allude to its fine river, which makes it the natural shipping port for all the pn dtice from lhe surrounding district. 3 here i« no doubt that the importance uf the W ainiakariii Inis been mm h over-looked, but it is notv thr.roug'y established as, next to Lyttelton, the safest and best shipping place on the whole coast -. I the province. Although vessels are arriving and departing no casualty worth noting ha< ever occuire l. This is the more lemarkable as neither the bar nor the river have vet been surveyed, and no landmarks erected to assist Vessels in entering it Atnongst other signs of progress at Kaiapoi, we note that a weekly mmket dinner w s inaugurated la-t Thursday „t the Kaiapoi Hotel. I here was a very respectable attendance. ami alter the doth was removed, Mr. Blakiston having been called to the chair, some useful tules were passed for its future regulation.

On the same day a sale of town land was I"bi bv Mr. Wylie, when several valuable -eelinns were offered, at upset prices averaging £:80 per acre. Owing to but short notice having |ge„ given of the sale, few purchasers were present, and most of the lots were bi.ueht in; hut those sold realised high rates, and we understand that it ost of the remainder h ve been sold privately at an advance on the upset price?*

The Bishop of Christchurch returned on Tuesday evening last, the 13th inst., from hm southern tour His Lordship had been as far as Jacob’s River, and had visited the various settlements mid stations on the war. The weather had not been very favourable.” but the journey was, we are informed, accomplished without encoun’ering any extraordinary difficulties. There was no general news of interest stirring in the O ago province. During hist week the reflection of large fires on the west side of the main ranges has been visible on the Plains. These flies ap.pear to be burning in the direction which explorers would take going up the Waiamakariri, or in the country between that liver and lhe Hurunui. This tends to keep up the excitement occasioned throughout the province by the recent discoveries of new country. \Ve may add that several parties have left Christchurch for the purpose of further exploration. No doubt the greatest portion of our unknown lands will be inspected during the ensuing summer.

The weathrr has been very changeable of late. During the last week vve have enjoyed a remarkable number of climates ; a damp and chilly one on M rdnesday last, one of tropical beat on lhe I bursdav. d'izzling and fi-mid on the Friday, bright and fresh on Saturday, a howling storm of wind, lain, and hail on Sunday and Monday, and yesterday, balmy, bright and calm as the English May ol lhe poets. If variety be chaiming we live indeed in a spleuJd cl. mate. ELECTION OF SUI’EItINTENDENT, [From the Lyttelton 'limes, Nov. 4 ] We are enabled to give the following rorrerted state <'.f the pod at all the polling places in the province, at tl e vi iichisiun ol the vi tjng for Superintendent in) Fml. y last. The figures here given will be L ::i’<i to lie cinicvt by the effi ial animmiciincut o: lhe poll by rhe Returning Officer -.it noon to-day. FIS at STATS UF THF FOT.r..

Total Majority for Moorhouse 375 Number of Votes polled 1079 Ihe following elections have taken place for the Provincial Council For Christchurch, Messrs. Packer, Bishop, Fooks, and Cass have been returned ; for Ashley, Mr. R. L. Hig. gins ; for Rnkaia, Mr. U. C. Hnleswood ; for Avon, Messrs. Thomson, Wyatt, Bowen, and Woodford ; for Heathcote, Messrs. Ollivier, Hale, Harman and Miln; for Lyttelton, Messrs. Cookson, Davis, Alport, and Waitt.

Moc Christchurch rhouse. 2(6 .. Brittan. 2(6 Lvitelton * J;0 .. 39 Kaiapoi.... * 114 .. 42 Papanui ... 26 .. 21 Kictarton 24 .. 8 Christchurch Quay .... . 23 .. 8 Lincoln Hoad —...... 3 Okain’s Bar.. 24 .. 0 Pigeon B.iv . 24 .. 0 Akaroa < 75 .. 8 I’urau (Mr. Rhodes’s) Governor’s Bay • 11 .. 0 5 .. 6 Teviotdale , 8 .. 4 Rangiora .. 0 .. 0 Mr. Hoss's (Rdkaia Dist.) fl .. 0 Mr. ( hapman’s (Riikaiaj . 4 Mr. Macdonald’s (Timaru Dis) 1 .. 1 1 ■ ay buna's (Titnaiu Dis.) 6 .. 2 'Jiniaru ... 4 .. fl Total 727 352