NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 771, 9 December 1876, Page 3

NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

It is quite true that in these busy times sentiment is to a great extent forgotten, but in quiet spots it still lingers lovingly. Lord Byron, it will be remembered, erected a handsome monument over the grave of his dog, and wrote pathetic verses on his faithfulness as contrasted with the fickleness of mankind, and in one green, retired spot on the Peninsula I have discovered a kindred spirit. At Port Levy there resides a gentleman named Mr Harris, who possessed a large pig dog to which he was much attached. In the course of nature, or by the effects of poison, this faithful creature shuffled off this mortal coil, and Mr Harris resolved that bis services should be commemorated. Not content with going into mourning and burying him with all due ceremony, a headstone was ordered, and one of our principal painters was employed to inscribe the following epitaph upon it :

“ Beneath these stones Lie Hector’s bones, There is but one opinion— No better dog Ever held a hog In her Majesty’s dominion.” S-'lccp well, gallant Hector ! Like your great namesake, you fought well whilst living; but, happier than he, your body suffered no indignity ! No insulting victor dragged you at his chariot wheels, but under the soft green turf on which you had often chased the grunting porker, you were laid quietly xo rest,

The heat in Port during the past week has been intense, and the sewers are beginning to send up their savoury summer odours, but by far the worst nuisance is the rats. One of the favourite sports in Lyttelton is rathunting, and, as the game is plentiful, lovers of the pastime find no difficulty in indulging their tastes. Early in the morning it is usual to see one or more happy individuals hastening, with traps containing incarcerated rodents, to the residence of their favourite dogs ; an enthusiastic knot of people gather round, the captive is let free in the street, there is a scuffle, a chase, a shake, a squeak, and all is over—but—the smell —for the body is invariably left in the road —and on the second or third day, according to the heat, the rat’s revenge begins : smashed up by the wheels of passing carts, trod upon by incautious bipeds, there he lies, filling the air with fragrance, till at last the kindly sun dries up the putrid juices, and the dried skin is all that remains. The nuisance is really intolerable. Surely something might be done to stop it ; and if people cannot be fined for throwing dead rats into the streets ; at any rate, one of the Council’s men might see to the matter.

There is a lamb connected with the harbor department that has developed a new taste. These playful animals have generally been remarkable for a fondness for soap, pinafores, &c, &c. ; but the one I am speaking of has burglarious tastes—he eats keys. The question as to whether that lamb will die, or if, like the ostrich, ho can swallow scrap iron with impunity, is (occupying a good deal of attention in certain circles.

The Cricket Club is full of vitality ; there was a good j)ractice on Thursday, and to-day for the first time conclusions are to be tried with a rival club. Our opponents are a Christchurch club, and are cdled “ Our Boys,” and we Portonians confidently hope that “Our Men” will lick them.

The departure of the Waitangi last Saturday was quite an event. It is perfectly amazing that so many people leave things to the very last moment. One interesting married couple were standing by the Titan just as she went off to the ship, when after a short confab, the man ran wildly into the town whilst the lady proceeded on board the steamer; the ship was reached, the anchor was weighed, and the vessel slowly proceeded down the harbor, but still he came not, and the lady became more and more agitated ; but at last a small boat hove in sight, and after a short interval of suspense the truant arrived and climbed the ship’s side, bearing triumphantly in his hand the article for which he had nearly lost his passage, a “tin meat dish.” A gentleman well known in Christchurch left a portion of his traps behind him, but he was too wise to risk losing his passage, so he told our Captain George that if he could catch the ship and get them aboard he would give him £5, but there would be no pay in case of a failure. The things came down by the 11 a.m. train, the Lyttelton was equal to the occasion, the ship was caught, and the money made.

Lyttelton seems very apathetic”; regarding the regatta, and one hears of few preparations. The Annie Ogle Pleetwing are, I hear, going to compete at the Akaroa regatta on the 16th, but I have heard nothing of any rowing men going. A new’- yacht has been launched at Pigeon Bay. She is a beautiful model, and will be about twenty tons yacht measurement. Her owner has not yet named her. The celebrated Auckland yacht Secret, about whose wonderful sailing qualities I have read much in northern papers, and Mr Street’s Wynona, from Dunedin, also a powerful and speedy vessel, will, I understand, compete in our champion yacht race, but I have not yet heard of any others that intend to come. From what I hear, the champion sailing race will bring a lot to the post, and generally there seems a very good prospect of the sailing events being well contested, but one hears little or nothing as yet aboul the rowing. Ido hope some of our jolly young watermen will go into training, and keep up the reputation of Lyttelton in the champion whaleboat race.

Where shall we bathe ? is a question now frequently asked in Lyttelton. At the present place the water is very dirty, and outside the breakwater there is the fear of sharks, as well as the place being at a distance. Many Lytteltonians seem to think that a floating bath would be the thing i bathing could then take place at all hours, without any offence to decency, and there would be no danger. But the luxury is more than Port can afford and the only way to f ont it would be by getting a number of subscribers from Christchurch. What a splendid thing it would be for those confined to business all day in the dusty city, if they could come down to Port by the early train, and have a refreshing dip before work commenced. Talk about city baths, what are they, what cau they be compared to the sea. Who is going to be Mayor ? All is mystery regarding the question, but Portonian is too wise to give the information till next Saturday. Adieu till then. PORTONIAN.