CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 63, 20 March 1852, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Siu, —On perusing; youv paper of the 6th inst. I find a statement of JVEr.'Cridland's relating to the expence of working coals from the pjfto Christchuroh. v I will not attempt to dispute Mr. Cyidland's abilities as an engineer; he has already made public the expence of making- the Sumner-road, a tunnel through the hills, a road to the coalpits, a tramway to the same, and other works,' which probably a Brunei or a Stephenson could not have calculated to such a nicety, but when he meddles with a subject with which he cannot by any means be acquainted, I venture to take up my pen to correct his statement, practice, I believe, being- preferable to theory. Mr. Cridland's first item of expenditure is 100/. for three horses ; every one knows a good cart-horse at the present time is worth 501. I will therefore increase that sum to ]001.

The next item is 33?. for a waggon to carry two tons. Now having for years built my own carriages in England, I can safely affirm, that | one properly made to carry such a weight never cost me less than 40/., and if one could be made ; here, it would cost at least 60/. ; I will now proceed to horse-keeping expences: a horse to work a regular daily distance must be stable-fed, and requires 3 bushels of oats and 140 lbs. of hay per week ; at present prices this would be 18s. per week for oats and 7s. 6d. for hayj or 255. 6d. per week per horse. Next comes a carter. I will put that down seven days per week at 6s. per day, 425. /■- It is considered in England, on the best ;A Macadamized roads, that two tons is a good Xogii for three horses, even with the best concarriages; in this country, on a heavy drawing road, I much doubt whether three horses would draw more than a ton and a-half. The average number miles a coach-horse in England was allowed to travel was 50 to 60 miles per week, carriers horses about 90. Mr. C. states that two journies a week can be made, making an average weekly distance of about 140 miles per week per horse. Now I beg to state there never was a horse that ever performed this distance for any length of time, and that three journies in two weeks would be all that could be done. My calculation would therefore stand in this way :— * Cost of three horses . . 150 o*o Waggon . . . . 60 0 0 Harness . . . . 20 0 0 £230 0 0 Keep of three horses at 255. 6d. per week . . . .3166 Carter 2 2 0 Cost of 2 U tons coals at pit . 011 3 Wear and tear . . .0100 10 per cent, on outlay . .090 Share of interest on sundry expences . . . .14 0 jfß 12 9 Making the actual cost of coals very much like aif.Bl. 17s. per ton. Mr. Gridland asserts that one ton of the best English coals is equal to three cords of firewood, (wilful), by the bye, he says, costs 30s. per cord* when the price is only 235). Has Mr. Cridland tried one ton of the best English coals, or one ton of New Zealand coals, against three cords of New Zealand firewood? if not, I apprehend he cannot calculate " margin of ■profit !" Hoping I have not trespassed too much on your columns, I remain, Sir, your humble servant, Anii-Humbdg.

ChristcUurch, March 4, 1552.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir,—Since my arrival in this colony I have remarked with sincere regret the absence of those means for social intercourse which binds man to man, and of those amusements which tend to make the individual cheerful and virtuous, and society happy. I need scarcely remind you, Sir, of the greatness of that evil which besets most of our colonies, —the inordinate love of intoxicating drinks. I am no teetotaller, Sir, for I love at times " To toom a cup of kiudness yet For Auld Lang Syne." but lam a foe to intemperance; and for this reason I am anxious to assist in producing1 some means of weaning my fellow men from the degrading influence of the " grog shop," ere the all-damning sin of drunkenness has taken too deep a roof In a settlement so young as ours, the existence of a theatre is not to be expected, but are there not a sufficient number of young men who c^iMi form an Amateur Dramatic Club; or what wouls,,be much better, could we not get up a WorkingVMan's Literary and Scientific Institution, where working men, and their wives, and-their families might meet to enjoy ■k. --I:' " The feast of reason Hi** And 'he flow of soul." Lord Chesterfield has declared that, " a well regulated stage is an ornament to society, a school for morals and good manners, and' an encouvager of wit and learning," but I think Sir, that a Mechanic's Institute far exceeds the stage in usefulness and morality, I shall, therefore, be happy to join with any of your readers in forming one, having had some experience in those matters. I have a few books which I shall be happy to lend or give as the commencement of a Library.

Being1 a stranger here I have no private circle of friends to whom I could communicate my ideas, I shall therefore feel obliged if you can afford me a space in your columns, and beg to subscribe myself, Sir, your's most respectfully, Charles J. Hae.

Papanui, March 10, 1852

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times,

Sir, —Some five or six months ago our " acting assistant postmaster' busied himself in collecting contributions for the purchase of a clock, to be placed outside the post office, for the use of the good people of Lyttelton, so that all might know how soon they could obtain their letters in a morning, and how late post their letters in an afternoon, and thus remedy the nuisance to which the " acting assistant postmaster" was continually subject, as he himself stated, by parties applying for letters or information either for some time before the postoffice was open or long after it was closed. Subscriptions, I believe, were at the time liberally obtained. Eighteen or twenty pounds were collected, and " a suitable clock, to be placed outside the post-office," as liberally promised by the " acting assistant postmaster."

Now, Sir, for some time I have noticed, when waiting at the post-office for my letters, a dial clock in a mahogany case, worth, I presume, some £4i or £5, suspended over the fire-place inside the office, I suppose for the use only of the " acting assistant postmaster," who, I believe, closes the office according to the time indicated by the clock, which, as I am informed, is always in advance of the real time. Be this, however, as it may, my object in addressing this letter to you is more particularly to ascertain whether the clock inside the post office is the private property of our " acting assistant postmaster," or has it been purchased, as I am given to understand it has been, out of the funds collected by him for a different purpose? and if so, what has become of the balance ?

Perhaps our " acting assistant postmaster" will find an opportunity, during the time the post office is so often and for such a length of time " closed (though I don't say unnecessarily) for the departure of mails," to enlighten the inhabitants of Lyttelton on this subject, and at the same time inform them whether he intends (and if he does, how soon?) to grant us the boon so much needed—of placing a clock outside the the post office for the use of the public as well as himself, or, if the one he has now got is to answer that purpose? and if so, whether, haxing spent £4 or £5 in the purchase of it, he intends to return to the contributors of the fund the remaining 15s. in the pound, or how otherwise he intends to dispose of the same ? If, as I am informed, the balance has been spent in the purchase of" the royal arms," which at one time so tastefully adorned the south end of the post office, and attracted so much notice by their unique appearance, and which I believe are now undergoing fresh painting and gilding preparatory to their replacement, I for one shall be satisfied, and remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, A CoNTKIBDTOR XO THE CLOCK FuKD. Lyttelton, March JB, 1852.