CANTERBURY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1696, 24 December 1861, Page 4

CANTERBURY.

By the Storm Bud/ we have received our usual fijeshf papers up to the 21st iust. Wo extract the following intelligence from the Lyttelton Times ; — The Postmaster at Lyttelton has informed us that it is in contemplation to establish a system of Post Office Money Orders between the colonies and the United Kingdom. The places in this provinoe which will probably be money order offices' are Lyttelton, Christchurch, Akaroa, Timaru, and Kaiapoi. It is not, however, at jpresent contemplated to extend this system by the issue of inlaud money orders. The precise date at which this plan will come into operation will have to: be regulated by the further communications between the Imperial Government and the Hon. the Postmaster General.; The town of Lyttelton and its suburbs have been proclaimed, a Municipal district by -the Superintendent. The General Government have sent down by the present steamer 100 stand of rifles and a quantity of ammunition. This, though a small instalment of what is required, will be a welcome one, as it will raise the number of armed men in each company to thirty.; We hear that there will be another grand match for the colony, wTfiW'wlH, oome off earlier in the year than the last, and of whioh full particulars may be expected by the next mail. Mr. James Townsehd, jun., has been appointed- Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, for the distriot, in the, place of W. Donald, Esq., R.M., resigned. A public ball, held in the TowndHall, Christohurch, on Monday evening to oelebrate the eleventh anniversary df the colony, proved a oomplete suooess. The company was not so numerous as usual | owing to the short notice given, but ' nothing was left undone to promote the enjoyment of those who attended, and the result was evident from the .lively tone of the' proceedings. The room was tastefully decorated with engravings ; and Mr. Button's baud, ai usual, played witb their well-known skUl. Too. much credit cannot Be given to Mr. T. Wilson for his excellent supper, provided at tbe shortest notice, so short indeed that if was declined by other parties in the town. We are glad to hear that the oabbage blight which has so annoyed the gardener for two years past, seems likely to meet with a check this season. The attention of gardeners is called to a grub or maggot which has recently appeared on the plants affected, and which apparently lives entirely on the blight.