CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 556, 26 July 1862, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

By the Omco, which arrived on Tuesday from Lyttelton, we have files of the Lyttelton Times to July 19. We make the following extracts : — • Want of sufficient wharf accommodation is an evil which daily press s upon the port of Lyttelton, and is exercising an ever increasing influence to its future detriment. Only this week another instnnep has occurred to prove the truth of this assertion. The Ornoo brought about 105 hordes from Melbourne for this port, but rather than encounter the risk of transhipment and the exorbitant charges here current for lighterage, the owners landed one-half of them in ; Otai'o. To the same cause may be attributed in a I measure the general range of high prices for nil im-poi-tal articles, especially bulky sorts, such as coal, \ timber, brk'k«, and firewood. There is no sufficient ' accommodation for the discharge of vessels, consequently traders Rive the preference to ports where ;' their ships can be quickly, cheaply, and safely dis- [ charged, livery captain who visits Lyttelton for the ; iirrft limp, devoutly hopes it may be the lost, and vents hh toolings in expletives by no means cornpli- ; mentary to the place. In the meantime our tiade is ', rapidly increasing. Exports and imports promise to he doubled very quickly, and everything portends a considerable enlargement of the shipping 1 trade during J the coming year. Haw is this to be accommodated ? Our present wharves arc quite inadequate to the wants of the place, and we hear of no steps being ' taken to carry them out into deeper water or othcr3 wise improve them. Rumor points to the time when * the railway is completed as that appointed for con- ' slrucling a deep water wharf. Surely it is not ne- \ eessary to defer such an undertaking for so long a period to the greit detriment of the character of the * port, iind therefore of the people of the province. * Trade cannot he kept within its present limits till the railway is finished. The population must increase 3 as well as the wool, and if the jetty is to be made, the present is not one moment too soon to begin it. ' By the Omco Mr Buckley has received three pp.ir.3 of Australian magpies, as a present from the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. The birds have arrived s safely, and will prove an interesting addition to the s ornithological resources of the country. " The celebrated comic vocalise Thatcher, who has d enlivened Dunedin by his inimitable performances :" dm-ing the past bix months, has ariived in the Omeo, accompanied by Madame Vilclli. The new Inspector of Police, Mr. Shearman, has c arrived from Melbourne, accompanied by two subII ordinntfts. Mr. Shearman brings with him the repus tation of being a most efficient otticer, and will doubte less biing bis experience to boar effectively upon the j re-organization of the police force of the .Province, a taak iv which it must be allowed there is ample scope 1 for talent. '> fn our last issue appeared the particulars of a ease tried before the Magistrates of Akaroa, which is unfoitunately of too common occu'rence iv that locality. 0 The indictmeut was against a person for abetting and c , harboring a deserter from one ot the few whaling \. ships which still frequent that line harbor. We are at a loss to understand the suicidal folly which 7 permit 1 ) a few knaves to destroy what might become a source of income aud prosperity to the place. Akaroa 'U is admirably situated for receiving whaling ships .. desiring to water and take in fresh provisions, and were the inhabitants uiive to their interests they > would do all in their power to foster the trade, |j by putting a stop to the nefarious practice t of encouraging desertion. It is not too 1 late to make the attempt even now, and we should f recommend the establishment of a vigilance commit.- . tee or something of the sort as a hist resource, before the few whalers which still visit the port are alto- ■ gather frightened away. , We arc glad to hear that the authoi hies in this pro- '' vince are taking decided measures to crush the har- / barous practice of prize-fighting in the bud. Henry '" Jones and George Barton, the two combatants in the ." recent light, have been brought up before the Bench '" of Magistrates at Christchurch and committed to take their trial at the ensuing sitting of the Supreme 1 Court, on a charge of "Making nn affray, to the ' terror and disturbance of her Majesty's subjects then ( l present." Bail was taken for their appearance ; their own recognizances in 1.300 each and tour sureties iv " L2OO each. Itobert Anderson and Charles Horegnn Z (the backers), Stephen Lawrence (the spongeholder), l'j and George M'Kevcher (the referee), were also com3 mitted to take their trial on a charge of aiding and jj abetting the affray. _ Bail was taken for their appeared ance, the priucipal iv L2OO each and two sureties to 15 each principal in the sum of Ll5O each. Mr. Travers conducted tho prosecution on be-half of the Provincial 3e Government; Mr. Slater, Mr. Wynn Williams and 1C Mr. Oaks appearing for some of the prisoners, Mr. l( l Travers stated it was his intention to instituto pro- |. c ceedings against several of the parties who had in- , e terfered with the police on the ground. Full particulars of the case will bu given in our next. g The gieat success of the dinner given in Lyttelton . ' to inaugurata the connection of the Port and Plains gf by means of the electric telegraph, seems to have inI, duced the citizens of Christchurch to honor that 101 0 ovent by a similar banquet upou a larger scale. To c the energy of Mr. John Olliyicr may be attributed ,P in a great measure the imposing gathering on Thurs- ,_ day_ evening. The Town Hall was the scene of tho r . festivity, and Mr. Birdsey the caterer. Upwards of j. 120 persons sat down to the entertainment, which l): was of a recherche character. , r John liall, Esq., R.M., occupied tho chair, supl3 noitetl on his light by His Honor the Superintendent. J. The Venerable the Archdeacon of Akaroa, the Pro- ' vincial Solicitor, George Buckley, Esq., and It. I Wilkin, Efq. ; on the left, by W. Donald. Esq., I K.M., the Provincial Secretary, 11. P. Murray Ayns- ,' Icy, li'sq., and Julius flaast, Esq. John Ollivier, Esq., j^ was vice-clmirman. The company comprised many .. 'members of the learned profession! bankorF, mer"i chants, ami wealthy settlers. A powerful band of musicians, led by Mr. Bonuington, occupied the galI lery, and at intervals played a variety of appropriate ;f airsd ~ ' d The Pmoh op Gold.— The anticipated rise in the 11 pi "ec of gold, on tho a]>proacliing reduction of the " c duty, iacans't)^ holders of alluvial to keep back their '* parcels f-om sale. Wo ob3Civo some lar<,e storeJ t kpepra pre already purchasing at £3 16s per oz., y but, it is thought by many that next month thero wi'l '"- be a fir uhcr a Ivauco of 3J. per oz. Whether this io wi'l prove to be the case is uncertain, though tho ex- " pejtation of a higher price must tend to unsettle the ' a inp v ket. When the reduction shall come into opera[d tion and the effect on the rate of gold be ascertained, *; there w!H bo a decided increase in the quantity ofFored 1 to purchasers. Our pudc'les nrc now everywhere io ful'y supplied with thc'meajis of reducing- their stuff, '6 aud aro washing with a vigor proportioned to the d length of time they have been idle.— M. A. Mail. l - Poi.iTi3 Inijkko.— Aaother story is told illustratn ing in a remarkable manner tho prevalent custom of vi taking oil' hats, but for the accuracy of which I wi'l not vouch. A poor fellow was once crossing tl i stream' aliovo Troihatfcan, when he unfortunately got crvied into a pait of the rapids where the cuVrent was so Btrong that he lost h'l command over his boat. As he apprpach;,- the falls, ; he obseryed several ncople it on th« bank, .wh^ had come to sea if ib was possible a; to render him riny assistance, 'whereupon he politely r. rpia\l his hat in t6ken of their sy'itiputhy', nnU'^then )f was" dashedoyer <thb- edge ot the preclpico.-»-i2'A'e c. 1 Morthttn Cirwit.l „ t _ . ■ ,3 > v i; .