Lyttelton.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XV, Issue 1605, 19 December 1860, Page 3

Lyttelton.

(From the Lyttelton Times, December 12.) The Volunteers of Canterbury will be glad to learn that one important part of their equipment—the uniform —will soon be de livered to them. The contractor states that advices have been received of the shipment of a large part of the order in the Minerva, C.,pt. Merryman, from London, about to sail for this port at the end of September. The Lyttelton Companions will be pleased to hear of the successful selection and purchase in Melbourne of the instruments required for the band. They were submitted to and received the approval of the regimental bandinanster there, and will be forwarded as soon as the engraving upon them of the name, style, and title of the corps to which they belong has been completed. The Lyttelton band, which has already done well in the short period since it was formed, will now have the means of improving itself still more, and of adding still greater attractions to the town of Lyttelton. V’e hear from private sources that Captain Bancroft, aide-de-camp to Sir Henry Barkley,

has written from Melbourne, stating that the surn of .£llBB has been collected for the suf ferers by the Taranaki war in that city. We notice the arrival per Mataoka, of five Saxony Merino Rams, bred by Mr. Steiger, from the well known and justly celebrated Gadegast flocks. These rams were selected by Mr. Humphreys, the gentleman who ini ported them from Saxony, and are some of the finest stock ever brought into this colony. The Gadegast flock has been a favorite for many years with the chief breeders of first class stock in Australia, who have continually renewed their flocks with blood from this stock. A ram from the above flock took the prize of 2000 francs, as well as the gold medal, at the Paris Exhibition in 1855, and very recently, Mr. Kermode, owner of the famous “ three legs" brand in Van Diemen’s Land, purchased one of these rams in Germany for the sum of £l5O. Another purchase of ten being made at the same time on account of the Emperor of Russia, for the sum of £l2OO. The rams have landed in good health and condition, and are well worthy the inspection of the flockmasters of the provines. They are remarkable for the extraordinary fineness and closeness of the staple, and, as will be seen by our advertising columns, for the weight of their fleeces. A perusal of Burton and Metcalfe’s wool circular, printed underthe head of * Market Intelligence,’ in this paper, will show our woolgrowers that it is a mat ter of necessity not of choice for them to pay more attention to the improvement of their breed of sheep, unless they wish to be cut out of the market altogether. At about a quarter past seven on Monday morning the town of Christchurch was aroused by the tones of the fire bell attached to the engine house nt Messrs. Cookson, Bowler, and Co.’s store. The cause of alarm was a fire which had broken out on the premises of Mr. Howarth, Hereford street, a large gorse hedge surrounding the garden having been, it is supposed, maliciously set fire to- by a lad. In Jess than ten minules 23 out of 25 members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade Were on the spot, and by their active exertions succeeded in arresting the flames, by destroying the hedge on either side of the fire. Fortunately this accident was of no great importance, but it has afforded satisfactory proof of the zeal and activity of the brigade, than which no more useful body exists in the province. We trust that the number of honorary members will include before long every householder in the town, as from the funds thus subscribed

util be drawn the means of supporting any of 1 lu , nlcm hers who may meet with serious accidents in tho prosecution of those duties they have so spiritedly taken on themselves. Ibo engine on this occasion wasunder repair, but is now in working order again, artd in a short time the brigade will be equipped in uniform consisting of blue tunic and trousers, black belt and fireman’s helmet. We arc given to understand that arrangements are now in course of progress with the owners of the properties concerned to continue ( olornbo Street South in- u direct line to the junction of the roads leading to the bays by Dyer’s Puss nnd that passing along the foot of the lulls to Lyttelton. This will make one of the finest streets of Christchurch an uninterrupted drive of about four miles in length. We need not remark that this proposed alteration will confer great value upon the adjoin, ing property, and the owners of the land through which the line passes will meet with the reward they so justly merit in the large frontage thus given to the sections. Wo hope soon to be in a position to assure our readers that this desirable alteration has been made.