CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 608, 25 July 1863, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

OfRGM THE DAILY TIMES CORRESPONDENT.') Cbristchurch, 15th July. Of all the duties imposed up m its 5-i vants by that exacting mistress — a newspaper — commend me to those of "our own correspondent." Hp belongs to no party ; no question of expediency obliges him to bolster up by specious arguments which he knows cau be refuted, the weak points of a policy simply because it is the policy of the party to which he is wedded for better or for worse. Far above thesa minions of the press, '• our own correspondent," honestly reveals facts, dispassionately analyses mothes, and nods approval or frowns disapprobation in accordance selely with the dictates of his own c nscience.

A worthy neighbor of mire keeps pigs. I was veiy much struck the other day by observing the lady in question instilling into the minds ot the porcine occupiers of a Jargi sty the necessity of keeping within bounds, by giving every porker who thrust his snout through a gap which exi>ted in the fence, a smart rap on the protruding member. I then and there resolved to apply a similar treatment to the little community at present under my surveillance. I shall carefully watcli for the appearance of an offending snout, administer a slight tap. and, v iless the delinquent prove refractory, shall mercifully allow him to return to his iellows without too severe a punishment. During the month which has elapsed since I la>t wrote you there have occurred remarkably few incvlents which will bear reproducing for the delectation of an extra provincial audience. Almost the only one is the commemoration of the Prince's Wedding. The whole affair was got up in a insnner most creditable to all concerned, and passed off without accident or any material hitch. In the procession, which is supposed to have consisted of some 2000 persons, the various trades, companies, and guilds vied with each other in completeness of appointments and splendor of flags and trapI ings. 1 refrain from troubling you with particulars which might be uninteresting to non residents ; but it any of your readers feel any curiosity on the subj ct, they will find detailed a'counts chronicled in the page 3of the local papers. I caunot, however, quit the subject without a few words atout the children's feast. It took place in Barnard's Horse Repo-

sitory, the " largest establishment of the kind in the

southern hemisphere, as tue pioprietor iuforms the public. It was tastily decorated with, flags and evergreens, but the sight was the children themselves. On entering, each child was presented with a ticket marked W — a voucher commanding attention at the " Wittleing" department. The rapidity with which the eatables and drinkables disappeared was, as a cynical bachelor friend of mine'iemarked, illustrative of the responsibilities attending matrimony in this part of the world. A battalion of doctors was in attendance, each armed with a stomach-pump, but 1 hear of only one case which required their assistance. The weati er, iv the early part of the day very unpromising, was all that could be desiiel during the procession. In the evening the pro -eedin^a were wound up with nn illumination under difficulties and a feeble display of damp fireworks. Are solicitors (being barristers of the Supre?ne Court) entitled to wear wigs 1 This knotty point was brought to an issue duriDg the late Civil Sessions by the appearance of an eminent solicitor iv horsehair. It was thought at first that Mr Justice Gresfcon would refer a point so vitally affecting the privi'eges of the subject to a full Bench of Judges, but ultimately his Honor decided that although solicitors certainly were allowed to act as barristers, yet as no legislative Act had hitherto awarded to solicitors liirsutory ornaments, he must order the learned gentleman to remove the article in question. The rapid spread of scab through the province is attracting considerable attention, and causing much uneasiness among sheep farmers. The papers have commenced an elaborate discussion ou the subject; tor the moment, however, they have both lost the thread of their argument, and are busily discussing the point, whether prevention is better than cure* or visa versa ; no doubt they will resume the argument iv due course. On the occasion of the opening of the new Music Hall, The Canterbury Musical Society, with the assistance of Messrs Poussard and Douay, gave a very good vocal and instrumental entertainment. The President and Vice President entertained the members of the once rival, but now amalgamated Musical Societies at a " dansante musicale," no doubt, with fie intention of drowning past differences in the bowl (rftea). The man Lawlor, who was brought up before the bench of magistrates some time since, on suspicion of being the notorious Gardner, has, after numerous remands, been set at liberty. The bench was obliged reluctant y, to adopt this course, as they had received no reply from the S.,dney authorities to their request fjr assistance, in establishing the identity of the suspected person with Gardiner, Mr, John Hall has resigned the Resident Magistracy of Christchurch, as also, the sub-treasurership. Mr. C. R. Bhikiston has received the last appointment, and it is generally believed that Mr. Joseph Biittan is to be our future R.M. A sad accident happened to fhe youngest son of the Rev, James Buller, the Wesleyan Minister. The unfortunate lad was handling a loaded pistol j it went off accidentally, causing almost instantaneous death. The warm north west wind which has pveva'led lately has cau ed very high freshes in the rivers. The fresh in the Kakaia was two feet higher than on any other known occasion. A considerable quantity of water escaped by (.verflow from the channel of the Waimakariri, and flooded some distance down one of the old watercourses in the direction of Christchurch. some anxiety was naturally felt, as it is a well established fact, that the Waimakariri's bed is at a considerable elevation above Christchurch, and that the course of one of the old river beds of the Waimakariri is through the centre of the town.