JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 14 June 1851, Page 5

JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

The principal topic of the current week, that which is in every body's mouth, is undoubtedly the furious gale with which we were visited on Tuesday, and which continued from the south and south west with more or less violence until Thursday night. The " Pauline," brigantine, which was riding off the town, dragged her anchors on Wednesday night, and came on shore just opposite the house of the Hey. H. Jacobs. She had two anchors down, but all her yards and topmasts aloft. The " Perseverance," which was riding close to her, drove in, but getting her yards down in time, she held on at her anchors a short distance from the shore. The " Flirt " came on shore close to the jetty, and was much damaged. The long boat of the " Duke of Bronte," and a boat belonging to Mr. Pollard, which were moored to the jetty, were almost knocked to pieces, and several smaller boats suffered more or less injury. The " Steadfast," Captain Spencer, arrived on Monday -with about 130 passengers. She sailed from London three weeks after the "Duke of Bronte," but had a favourable and rapid passage, especially to the line. Owing to the violence of the weather, her passengers could not be landed until yesterday. She drove down the harbour on Wednesday night, but held on with a second anchor. We were glad to see her choose the first fine day to regain her ground, and even come higher up, within view of the town, nothing daunted by the late weather. ' The " Duke of Bronte " has landed all her steerage passengers. It is evident that our harbour, although tolerably sheltered, ought to be supplied with good moorings. This is not essential for the large ships, the holding ground in the .middle of the harbour being good ■enough, but vessels at anchor in front of the town, ought either to be secured to good moorings, ot else to get under weigh before a south-west gale comes on, and bring to under the opposite shore, where they can ride in perfect safety.

We desire to call the attention of the settlers generally, but more especially of the land-owners, to an important letter appearing among our other correspondence in the present number. The subject of Iceeping the settlement free from diseased sheep is a vital one, involving as it does nearly the whole of its future success, and threatening to interfere materially with the return the colonists should expect for all their pains and expenditure. We trust the subject will engage the attention of the Society of LandPurchasers when they next assemble ; but even this is barely sufficient; and we would recommend that a public meeting should be called without delay, to ascertain both the amount of the danger, and the best" means for preventing the calamity referred to in the letter of our correspondent, whose warning remarks are entitled to the greatest attention.