JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 12 July 1851, Page 5

JOURNAL OF THE WEEK.

The first half-yearly General Meeting of Subscribers to the Lyttelton Reading1 Room was held on Tuesday last, at which the officers for the ensuing half year were elected. The subscribers to this institution number forty or thereabouts. A fund of amusement was supplied during the week by the sale of a heterogeneous mass of goods, more or less damaged, from the wreck of the brig " Torrington." The surplus stores from the " Bronte " and " Steadfast " were sold by Mr. Alport, at auction, yesterday, and realised an extraordinary advance on the last sales of the kind. Flour sold at 80s. and 82s. 6d. for the cask of 200 lbs. At the meeting of the Society of Land Purchasers, on Thursday last, it was arranged that the election of a new President and Council should be postponed until Monday the 28th instant, in order to give every possible facility to those who may wish to . offer themselves as candidates. We beg to call attention to an advertisement in this paper relative to certain subjects upon which notices of motions have been given.

Our readers have no doubt already become acquainted, through the placards, with the subject of the Meeting to be held on Monday next, at 5 p.m., at the " Mitre." The danger to the town from fire is a topic that will call forth, we expect, much anxious consideration.

We have just l-eceived by the "Return 1' the Wellington Independent to Saturday last, too late for extracts. We observe, however, that in the Legislative Council the proposed duty of 11. upon every ton of imported flour has been remitted for one year. A long debate upon the Provincial Councils Bill is reported, the pith of which we shall give in our next.

The extra duty of one shilling per gallon upon spirits has been confirmed, and made to include all spirits at present in bond.