CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 176, 20 May 1854, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —Glancing over your paper of last week, I was surprised, in common with, every one living in this district, that owing to the lawless set common to all newlysettled districts, the Provincial Government have decided upon forming a Bench, of Magistrates, and that Mr. Revel, a gentleman, has acquiesced, at the request of His Honor, to stand as constable. Now this is considered by every person here as a foul stigma upon every one and all of us. As for the lawless set, the question is, are they the few who have struggled hard to overcome the difficulties that naturally present themselves to every one who reclaims his home from the howling wilderness, the pioneers of a scattered society; men who have opened up the finest district in the Canterbury block ? I ask, is this class of men worthy of such a character? No! Then is it the class that afford bone, and sweat and sinew, to saw timber, to build houses, to break up and fence in land and property for the class of settlers immediately above them, men that are essentially necessary to the foundation of society r Though this class now and again indulge themselves in a bottle or the pipe, one never sees the shoutings and tipplings that present themselves to the eye of the stranger in town. As for the crimes that are designated as lawless, thanks to our good sense as Englishmen, a case has never happened in the district, at least not to my recollection ; there is no thieving, nor house-breaking, nor smashing ; in fact, considering the circumstances under which we are placed, I think no one has any occasion to complain. Strangers coming here find us sober, industrious and hospitable ; perhaps as much so as any other body of settlers in the province. We have no street loungers, nor loafers, nor beachcombers, anywhere, and every one is industriously employed to the benefit of himself and his neighbour. Is this the lawless set of which your paper complains : If not, who are they r Query, echo answers query. Considering the thing fairly, the character given us may be detrimental to each and all of us in the neighbourhood; supposing your paper to be read hy a party ot' emigrants newly arrived, would they not con-

sider us as dangerous characters, or as the scum of Kenningtou Goirmon, or worse than that, as old hands from the other colonies : if so they are greatly mistaken, Let a stranger come and see what we have done amongst us, and he will never for a moment entertain such an opinion. In fact, every one here considers it a gross insult. Owing to the scarcity of labour, which is performed by some ten or twelve hands, we cannot perform what under the present circumstances is impossible, but I can say with a firm conviction that a more industrious body of men than there is at Kaiapo.i can • be found nowhere in New Zealand, but we have unfurled the banner of progress and our watchword is Go on! Not to stop yet. As for forming a Bench of Magistrates I believe every right thinking person would be glad to see it; it would be the means of sparing much annoyance and expense that we are now subject to, should any petty differences arise betwixt us; and as fora constableship being performed by any one, ■why it must be as good as |> little sinecure for some time to come; but of course as there are now and again a few little public duties for some one to attend to, why every one looks up to the gentleman in question to perform them whether he will or not. Mr. Editor, trusting that you will excuse this as an answer to the paragraph in question, and to repair what every one here considers an injury, I beg to request the insertion of this in your next week's paper, and subscribe myself, A Sawyer. Kaiapoi, May 9 th, 1854.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sik, —Would you be so kind as to inform me through the columns of your valuable journal what are the business hours at the Post Office ? and if the Post-master is bound on the receipt of a mail to delh er it within a certain period, or to keep it and deliver it at his own time and pleasure ? To me, Sir, " time is money ;" my time is too precious for me to be continually going to enquire for letters, and on arriving at the Post-Office, to find, as I generally do, either no one at home, or a " Notice, Letters not Sorted." I remain, Yours, &c. A Ballakat Widow.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir,—-I think that the enquiries made by your correspondent last week, will be more satisfactorily answered by private communication. I shall be happy to give verbal information as to the arrangement of the school about to be established, or to communicate by letter with those parents who find it inconvenient to see me here. I am, your obedient Servant, George Cotterjxl. Lyt'elton, May 11th, 1854.