CHRISTCHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume VII, Issue 230, 10 August 1867, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] August 7, 1867. A8 the weather we have had " baffles all description," I will not attempt the impossibility, and the more readily as accounts from you report similar visitations from the S.W. Our paddocks have been flooded, our roads resolved into slush ; our West Coast mail, ■with Commissioner Sale, snowed up ; telegraph lines demolished; Kaiapoi flooded and almost every disaster realised, which any! one witnessing the continuous downpour during' the first half of the week could imagine. The most; serious item m the week's news is the loss of two coasting craft, with two lives, near Lake Ellesmere. The weather yesterday resolved itself into a brisk nor' wester, but it was welcomed as at all events not wet for the inauguration of the Godly statue. The case of palings had been removed, and the tarpaulins. Stands had been erected on either side, with flags streaming m the gale, and an estrade prepared for those concerned more immediately m the ceremony, and as the hour announced was twelve, people patiently waited till one. About that time a straggling procession of banner and emblem bearers wended an easy way through the most obliging of crowds, and evidently with a grateful appreciation on the part of the Foresters and other odd fellows, of the abstinence from chaff of their fellow citizens. The violence of the wind rendered inaudible to the masßeß the prayer of the Archdeacon, as well as the oration of Mr Bowen, which, I am informed, contained several, very sensible allusions to times past and present. The band striking up the National Anthem notified the conclusion of the proceedings, and the lieges were dismissed to enjoy the balance of the public holiday as they might think fit. The statue is an unmistakable likeness of one of the chief founders of our settlement, and, moreover, as an admirable work of art, would grace any site. For the rest of our week's news I may add that the Commission on the unemployed have sent m their report, m which nothing new is recommended, and that Mr Dobson is gazetted as Railway Engineer.