JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 1 February 1851, Page 3

JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Omitted from the " Lyttelton Times 1' of January 25.

On Saturday last, Lyttelton was visited with one of those strong- winds of which we heard so much in England. To buildings of the most ordinary degree of strength, there was nothing alarming, but the flimsy materials of which many of the temporary houses are composed, invested the wind with an apparent strength which it did not possess. Some houses of fern and wattles were blown down ; some tents overset; and we have heard of one V hut being blown away.

At the edge of the bush an alarming fire occurred, the high wind blowing the sparks of an open air fire against a neighbouring hut, built of dried fern and wattles. In an instant three cottages under one roof were in a blaze, and in less than ten minutes were consumed with the whole of their contents, the women and children having only just time to escape. For some time there appeared to be great danger of the bush being set on fire, which would have perilled the whole of the cottages now j built along its edge. But a number of men soon arrived from the town, by whose exertions the fire was extinguished. We hope that this accident will be a lesson to our fellow settlers to use the greatest caution in kindling fires out of doors. AH such fires ought to be placed in a deep hole in the ground, or surrounded by mud walls, to the height of three or four feet, in order to prevent the wind scatering the sparks amongst the grass, which is so dry at this time of the year, as to ignite like tinder. , r _Th_e. choice_of_tovyt)Jots.has_extended..as.L?L as No. 63 ; most of the recent selections being in the capital; but no advance has been made - with the rural sections. This is unfortunate,

as the importance of the land-purchasers getting upon their land, and not being compelled to squander their capital for an indefinite time before they can begin to invest it profitably, cannot be over-stated. There is said to be'a difficulty in consequence of the lines of road, in reference to which the land-purchasers are compelled to take a frontage, not being marked up in the map ; but we understand this difficulty will be removed in a few days. On Thursday the " Gazelle" arrived from Launceston, bringing six horses, and 700 sheep. The horses appear to be good strong carthorses, just the kind of horse of most value to the colony at this moment, but we are told the owner has fixed their price at fifty pounds a piece, which may render their sale problematical.

There is little news of importance from the plains. Settlers continue to arrive at Christchurch from the Port; and houses to spring up along the banks of the river. A temporary Church has been erected, which will be opened to-morrow. The Survey and Land office is progressing rapidly. A policeman is about to be stationed at Christchurch as a considerable quantity of property is daily arriving by the river from Lyttelton and Simmer.

We have heard of the intended formation of a Horticultural Society, which intends to apply at once for permission to cultivate a portion of the Botanical Garden, so as to afford means of preserving plants and seeds, of which many have been brought by the settlers, and which might otherwise be lost. The Society proposes to correspond immediately with, similar Societies at home and in the neighbouring colonies, with a view to the exchange of botanical productions.

A most valuable building-stone has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Quail Island, not more than two miles from Lyttelton. It is composed of a sand stone grit, and is found to work admirably for all building purposes. The new Gaol now in the course of erection is to be cornered and faced with it.