CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 553, 5 July 1862, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

By the arrival of the Geelonpr. we have dates from Lytteltan and Christchurch to June 2(5. We make the following extracts: — The sittings of the Supreme Court were commenced yctiinhiy; only one ease was disposed of— namolv, that of Ja'oob Small, an African, for r.i[>e. Mr. Slater was retained by the (Jourt as counsel for the prisoner. After going fully into the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of " Guilty." His Honor the judge perfectly concurred with the verdict, and tbe prisoner was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. Our space prevents us giving a report of the proceedings in full this week. — Standard, June 19.

On Saturday afternoon, the inhabitant of Lyttelton were startled witli an alarm of fire. The accident, if such a term can bo applied to it, occurred on the premises of Mr. Kcllaw.iy, in Canterbury street, an.l was caused by the owner leaving a large cauldron of tar boiling in an upMair apartment unattended. The CJiiteuU of the boiler caught tire and the room was quickly in flames. Fortunately, help was handy, and the fne w.is at "nee got under without difficulty. It is ncodle-ift to observe that circlesHness le^ardint; fire in .such a town as Ljt'eUon is peculiarly iv publij o.f<uic<}.—r,ytteUon TLnes, Juno 25.

By an ndvcr.isement which a^pesira in our columns, we observe thnt a branch of tho Trust and Aarenoy Company of Australasia ha? commenced huoiiu'a* in Christfhmvh, under the ninn-igviueut of C. it. Blakiitnu, E-<q. — I/.id.

The electric telegraph is now in good working ord<T, though not open to the public. On Thursday morning a succession of telegrams passed between Lyttelton and Ohri-tehurch of a nature complimentnrj to the occasion. At the Christchurch end his Honor the Superintendent, and a large party of gentlemen interested in the matter, assembled at the Government Buildings, and tested tne ciipabilities of the instruments and the officials by a variety of mesdiujts, which were at once responded to from Lyttelton. Yesterday a trli^vnin announced the arrival of the English mail within a quarter of an hour after the steamer hiid appeared. Many applicants have been .\1 ready much disappointed at not. being able to avail themselves of th« advantages of communication. We understand that on the day of its public opening, the Ist July, a dinner will be given in Lyttelton to celebrate the occasion. — Lyttel'on Times, June 21.