NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 777, 16 December 1876, Page 2

NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

“ Under which King Bezonian ” is now a question of vital interest in Lyttelton ; two candidates for the office of Mayor are in the field, and both of these have filled the office well in the past. I heard one independent elector say, “ Well, I don’t know, pills is good in their way and so is paint, but both is werry nasty out of place, we puts in one of them and, as a natural consequence, the other is out of place, and very nasty accordingly.” I only hope one thing, and that is that every one who has the privilege of voting will resolve to use it, so that the man elected will really he without doubt the choice of the borough. The excitement about the regatta is on the increase. On Wednesday the yachts Annie Ogle and Fleotwing sailed for Akaroa; there was a pretty fresh north easier, with a tolerably heavy sea running outside, but after a little tumbling about both arrived at Akaroa next day. I received the news in the following telegram, which may prove interesting, it is from that hardy young son of Neptune, the gallant commander of the Lyttelton Yacht Glub’s cutter yacht Fleetwing ; “Akaroa, 4 p.m, December 14th. Arrived here at 2 p.m, thus beating the Annie by one hour, the captain was rather sea sick ; rough weather prevailing Ih .-oughout.” The dark horse, however, at tne Akaroa regatta is the “Jim Flynn,” owned by Mr Morgan, of Pigeon Bay. She has been admirably built and rigged in a masterly style as a cuuer ; her measurement is about 20 tons, and she should give a good account of heisdf. The Lyttelton watermen have also sent three of their boats to compete in the Bailing race, viz, Mr Roberta's Edith Wynns

(not the old boat that has scored so many wins, but a new one named after her), Mr Smcaton’a Waterlily, and Mr Walsh’s Dauntless. Ail three are smart boats, and have been carefully got ready. Mr Petberbridge also sends a boat, named Qafr y Myndd, for the small boat race. A boat from Christchurch was also to go down by the steamer this morning. Taking it as a whole, to day’s racing at Akaroa will be the best contested that has yet taken place. As to our own regatta I am glad to say that there is a better prospect of the rowing events being contested than there was last week. I hear of no leas than sixteen youths who propose to row, and, in order .to equalise the chances, they have resolved to go in watermen’s boats, tossing up for choice. The Ringarooma’s crew will be the same as last year, with one exception, but the only opponents I hear of their being likely to meet are the Wrights of Akaroa, who have purchased the Timaru—the same boat the Timaru crew got from Hobart Town last year—and, I hear, intend to endeavour to wrest the champion whaleboat race from the “ Miller and his men.’’ Several of the ships are also getting ready their boats for the contest. Our boys did get a good threshing last Saturday, but they knew how to take it, and I am not sure if Lyttelton had been placed in the same position, whether some of our men would have shown to such good advantage. lam afraid a portion of us are rather petulant on the ground, and want several good beatings to be convinced that we are only a lot of game duffers after all. The Athletic sports in London street are coming to a head—the Council have given permission to the committee to use the streets, and it is rumored that Dr Donald, and Sergeant-Major O'Grady will superintend. Let us hope this is true and that the superintendence of these gentlemen will be during and not after the contest. Meetings are now held regularly at the Albion, under the auspices of a gentleman who occupies a distinguished position in this t own, and has always been knownjas a brick. His principal supporter “ cousellor and friend ” is one who some time past en| deavored to enter the political arena but was rejected by an undiscerning public. We know it has been the custom for years past to prefix to the appelation of anything particularly Jgood the name of the great northern county, thus we speak of “ Yorkshire Relish” and “Yorshire Stingo,” and so Lyttelton has in like manner named this gentleman “Yorkshire Joe” a sufficient proof of the great estimation in which he is held. These gentlemen are supported by others of nearly equal merit, so that the meetings which are held are not merely gatherings for the simple transaction of business, but as it were a training school for higher things, being intended without doubt like the debating clubs at Oxford and Cambridge to fit the gentleman, by giving them the power of free and eloquent speech, to be our political leaders. I should warn people not to visit one of these meetings unprepared or the brilliant scintillations of wit may be too much for them. I can certify that such was the effect of the last meeting on me that I was in convulsions of laughter nearly the whole time, and I observed others were similarly affected. You have all seen how tenderly the mother bird teaches her offspring to fly, how at first, it is simply a feeble flutter and yet by gentle Jand almost imperceptible degrees the boldest flights are eventually attained. Even so does that distinguished politician, and able orator, the chairman endeavour, with tender care and intense application, to lead his neophytes up to that exalted pinnacle on which he stands when he is not soaring over the political horizon. Yorkshire Joe is no doubt rising but many remain in the “ feeble flutter ” stage. Perhaps we might feebly attempt to describe one of these “ intellect gatherings,” as they might well be called. Imagine a long, low room, with the picture of a very jovial looking gentleman on one side and of a bull dog and gamecock on the other; various other prints decorate the walls, but on the long table that runs down the room, is the principal object of attraction. It is what at first sight appears to be a vessel of burnished gold, containing liquid amber, but is in reality, a copper measure that holds a gallon of beer. Heaps of valuable documents strew the table, at one end of which grasping a tumbler is the worthy chairman. Notice how his strongly marked features are working with the intense interest he feels in the subject under discussion, and well they may, for it is a matter of great importance. He is advocating that a prize should be given for grinning through a horse collar. But space is limited, and we must turn to other subjects whilst Mr Fenton, the secretary, is reading the rough minutes.

It was hard, very hard ; he had had bad cards all through, and when he did get an alone hand, and was proclaiming it to the world, to see the glitter of that bull’s eye, and hear in that Milesian dialect the words, “A nice game, gentlemen, a very nice game, but rather illegal at this time, I fear.” Ah, well, you see, he was euchred that time, after all, in spite of having an alone hand. He is sitting there In his civic chair, And his glance is keen and free, But a cloud of care His features wear, “ The fact of the matter is, says he, The fact of the matter is.” No matter what question is forward brought, Whether water or gas, to him it is nought, For whatever the information sought, “ The fact of the matter is, says he, The fact of the matter is.” His Worship, he sternly bent his brow, And said, sit down, and don’t make a row. He growled, but obeyed him anyhow, “ For the fact of the matter is, says she, The fact of the matter is.” Ten times these mystic words he spoke, In spite of Councillor W’s poke, But it finally got beyond a joke, And at last they rose, but his final croak Was, “ the fact of the matter is, says he, The fact of the matter is.” More next week from Fortoxiax.