The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 8 October 1853, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

Oct. 8,1853. A reference to our report of the'pro.ceedings of the Provincial Council wilL'sheiiv that that body have not been indifferent to the duties entrusted to them. Since the opening of the Council by His Honor the Superintendent, its members have been earnestly engaged in discharging their functions. The earlier stages of their proceedings were devoted to framing and, passing Standing Rules and Orders , for. properly conducting and carrying business through the House ; regulating and defining their privileges ; and appointing proper Officers. It is satisfactory to find that ndthing has been done hastily or without due condidevalion, and we may express our hope that so auspicious a commencement may be.an earnest that every measure brought under the notice and consideration of the Council will undergo a similar ordeal of careful scrutiay and attention. It may, perhaps,.provoke a smile from the unthinking-portion of the community that the forms and usages of the English House of Commons are so closely followed ; but in this the public have the best guarantee that their interests will be attended to, r.nd that no business will be transacted by the House save in accordance with those time-honoured formula, so gratifying to the feelings of Englishmen. '..a? The' Council have taken good care to concentrate in their " own hands * as much power and patronage' as possible1. It was proposed that the Speaker should have the appointing a Clerk to the Council. With watchful jealousy the Council almost unanimously opposed the proposition and took upon themselves the appointment. In considering a proper person to fill the post, quite a gratifying debate of a rather warm nature ensued, in which, the advantage of having defined Rules was clearly shewn. Mr.Tancred moved;that Mr. Ross be elected Clerk. It was objected that several members were not aware of: the motion. On the other hand, it was asserted that the dignity of the House would suffer were motions, ot which due notice had been givem to be postponed to suit the"convenience of members. The House enforced their Rules in spite of a warm, almost an angry, opposition ; and Mr. Tancred's motion was carried. The House acted quite rightly, and has thus early asserted the principle that in adopting certain Rules, it was meant the) should be observed. As it is not alwaj* possible, however, for members to attend. care should be taken that due notice ac given to them of all important measures be submitted to the House. ■ Several important questions have shorJ}' be considered, of which notices have been given : the first is, the amending the existing Scab Ordinance with the view of rendeiu<, it effective in preventing and eradicating that disease. An important meeting «•- held on Wednesday evening, at U«« church, attended by the principal stocivowners, to consider the nuestion, ana « Committee formed to c<*sider the necessaij

steps to avert the evil with the view of memorialising the Council. inadequacy of the present postal communication be* * tween the Port and the Plains is to be consider eJ ; and Mr. Tancred ha 3 laid upon the table of the House a string of resolutions referring to, the Waste Lands of the Frovince. With the general tenor of these resolutions and the necessity of their being adopted, there cannot be two opinions in the Settlement. We have two Land De- , partments entailing a heavy expense on the Province, when one would suffice; to say nothing of the fact that for all practical purposes one has been, and still is, utterly useless. They must be amalgamated, and an officer, competent to discharge the several "duties connected with their efficient administration, appointed. The resolutions pro;pose. that addresses be presented to the Governor, and to both Houses of the General Assembly, praying that the Land Department be placed under the immediate ' control of the Executive Government of the Province, and that the funds arising from the Waste Lands be expended by the Exe-. ' cutive with the advice and consent of the Council. Such is a brief outline of the proceedings of the Council since its convention. They are most gratifying.' Our Legislators have' shown an aptitude fov business which reflects the judgment of the constituency in their election. We seem to breathe a freer . and purer air now that we are really enjoying representative institutions. The conviction that we have a tribunal competent to discuss and meet our wants, and that to

petition is not, as heretofore, a sham, removes many obstacles to our progress. If -the- members of the Provincial Council

continue to dischaige their duties as efficiently as they have inaugurated them, and * the management of the Waste Lands be handed over to "them by the General Assembly, a, future will dawn upon Canterbury : which willmor'e than realize the anticipa- . tions of its high-minded founders.

The ■" Lyttelton Choral Society gave a concert, or, as it was modestly designated, a musical rehearsal, to the members of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Colonists' Societies, on Wednesday evening, being the anniversary of the establishment of their Society. The talented conductor, in alluding to this, and claiming the indulgence of the audrence for what he described to be a simple rehearsal, said the merits and attainment's of his pupils would be more fully appreciated -when he mentioned the fact that when he formed the Society a year ago, there were but three or four who at all understood music. "With these prefatory remarks he would leave the public to form an estimate of what had been done to.promote the culture of harmony. The entertainment hardly calls for critical" remark, considering the circumstances under which it was given. We are bound, however, to say that the performance shewed a marked improvement upon the previous ones, testifying at once to the energy and skill of the conductor, and to the attention of his pupils. Several of the songs and glees were . deservedly encored. At the conclusion of the performance, Mr. Spowers, as chairman of the Lyttelton Colonists' Society, expi'essed the thanks of the audience to the conductor and his .class for their musical treat. He said that their performance had afforded unmixed gratification, and that, considering the brief period of the Society's existence, their progress was really astonishing. It was most gratifying to have such a Soci-ty in a Colonial community, where so few means of entertainment were attainable ; more especially as, unlike many others, it . afforded equal gratification and pleasure to those who performed as to those who listen-

cd. Mr. Sppwers concluded with proposing three cheers to the Society, and one cheer more to the lady members,which were heartily given. Mr. M'Cardell returned thanks; and, after singing the national anthum, the company separated. We may mention that an anonymous individual, in commemoration of the anniversary,presented the conductor with a very handsome music stand. It is in contemplation to purchase a piano, in furtherance of which contributions are needed, which we are persuaded will soon be forthcoming.

The Cattle Show on Thursday was a very successful affair, and attracted an immense gathering of people., The length of the proceedings, of the Provincial Council prohibit a special account this week; but we shall be enabled in our next to gratify our readers with a full and circumstantial report.