CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 470, 25 April 1862, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

{From the Times.)

Kaiapoi Company Rifle Volunteers.—The above company fired for Messrs. Hebbcrt and Co.'s prizes at their excellent range near Kaiapoi. The weather was everything that could have been desired, and the attendance of spectators was large ; the fair sex especially mustered in great force, and the company is much indebted to them for this graceful token of the interest they take in its proceedings. The ground wa3 gaily decorated with flags, and the band, which has greatly improved, played at intervals during the day. We may venture to say that Kaiapoi sand hills have never before been animated by so gay a scene, the impression of which will not soon be effaced from the memory of those who were present. The firing party consisted of 21 men, of whom two fired as honorary members of the company, viz., Messrs. Higgins and Wylde. The firing commenced at 10.30, and proceeded till the tenth round was completed, when refreshment for the inner man was the order of (he day. At 2.30 the firing was resumed, and was finished at 4 o'clock. The adjutant then gave out the scores, and congratulated the company on the fact of the highest score being ahead of any at present known to have been made in the competition, and also on the result, which he considered creditable. The following is the score :—W. Revell 28, S. Beswick 27, F. Day 25, W. Wright 25, R. Biggins 24, R. Wright 23, A. Blakiston 22, Edward Revell 20, H. Boddington 20, R. Matthews 10, Jas. Wylde 18, J. Fuller 17, G. F. Hewlings 17, J. C. Revell 14. Jas. Homersham 13, G. C. Black 11.

Good and Cheap Bread.—Sir—Why, when flour has come down from £25 to .£l4 per ton, does bread remain at its old high price ? Why does the same sized loaf cost only lOd. at Christchurch and Is. here, or 20 per cent, more ? Why is bread here so frequently sour and barely eatable, while at Christchurch it is sweet and wholesome, and palatable? Ought it to be here both 20 per cent, higher in price and at the same time 50 per cent, lower in quality ? Does flour cost more than £1 per ton to bring round to Lyttelton—that is to say, does it cost only about 7 per cent, more here than on the plains ? Does fuel for the oven cost about £2 per cord here, when it is £3 at Christchurch ? If fuel costs 33 per cent, less for baking at Lyttelton, and flour is only 7 per cent, dearer than on the plains, why should not bread be 26 per cent, cheaper instead of 20 per cecit. dearer ? If it be so, then in fact it might be madia here at a cost of 46 per cent, less than at Christchurch? Why do wo put up with high prices and inferior articles ? What are the obstacles to forming a bread pnd flour company to secure ourselves at all times the best articles at prices proportionate to tho value of wheat ?—Cheap Loaf.