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Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 188, 16 August 1854, Page 2

tion. A grave assertion is put forth that the anchorage is dangerous, which, though devoid oi truth, would if uncontradicted vitally affect'the insurance of goods to this Port from England, Australia, and other places. I trust however for the well-being of this settlement, that the subject of our anchorage will be dealt with by those better qualified from practical experience to give an opinion upon the subject.

The next portion of the subject I approach with regret but without flinching. Whatever differences of opinion may heretofore occasionally have existed between the towns on local subjects, the discussion has been confined to personal controversy. Now however the banner of discord has been unfurled by the Standard, and we must as true men confront it with firmness. How stands the case? Is Christchurch and suburbs,with a population of 548, and 109 houses, coolly to override Lyttelton, with a population of 924, and 183 houses, assisted by the mere dash of an Editorial pen ? Forsooth Christchurch is to be the head and centre of the whole Canterbury Province, the depot for all the produce of our great Plains. The wool from Timaru, to the southward, and from Motunau, Amuri, Stoneyhurst, and Double Corner, to the north (all coastwise), is to be there concentrated. The agricultural produce of Kaiapoi, Banks' Peninsula, and other parts of the coast, is all to be collected in the vast storehouses ;and depots prepared to receive them, and then be transmitted for the second time per railway to the point of shipment.

Now, Six-, is it not self-evident that wool and produce from the places I have referred to, when once on board the small craft, would.- be liable to be forwarded to Wellington, and supplies drawn from thence without going to Christchurch at all, and at considerably less expense and trouble? Is Kaiapoi, now rapidly rising into being, and possessing a navigable' river to the town itself, to be dependant upon Christchurch, situated away from navigation altogether ? No, the whole scheme is truly ridiculous and evidently intended to bolster up Christchurch at the expense of the whole settlement. Imagine the business of Liverpool conducted at Manchester, and the Pos'> office, Custom House, and merchants' offices, removed to that inland town. Such a case would be analogous to the present proposition, and equally worthy of consideration. The (Storekeepers of Christchurch are too well satisfied with past and present prosperity, ,lo need adulation and puffing up from the Editor of the " Standard," and too wide-awake to have fun poked at them with impunity.

But let us analyse the shipments of produce this season. In nearly every instance the purchasers have been Lyttelton merchants. Their business has been transacted with the settlers direct, and the produce has been warehoused till shipment, at Cln'istchurch Quay, on the Ferry Road, a depot wholly independent of Christchurch, and distant at least two miles from that town. In several instances the produce has been trans-shipped at once for its destination, but when landed the whole of the have ..fallen,:. uponthe r. purchaser. Nq doubt aChnstchurcJi Merchant' would be afraid to purchase produce, and wonder how he could get it to the world at large, but the Lyttelton Merchant has no fears on this score, it^being |with him an every day transaction. All the wool from the interior during the last season was forwarded from the depot above referred to without resting at Christchurch at all.

Indeed, Sir, I will conclude this letter by saying that Christchurch is altogether a mistake* The trade to the north, and partially to the south of Kaiapoi, will be transacted at the latter town. Other towns in

the interior will progressively arise irrespee* tive of Christchurch altogether ; and the editor of the " Standard" plainly sees, that the consequences of opening a road from Lyttelton would be, that Christchurch would become an inland market village, visited by farmers to make small purchases and eat a dinner at the ordinary, but the real and important business would be directly transacted between the Merchants and Settlers without the intervention of any third party, thus bringing the points of production and that of shipment in close contiguity. I remain, yours obediently, Alpha. •Lyttelton, Aug. 12th, J854.

Extract of a Letter from the Chief surveying Officer of H.M. ship " AisherOn."

" A ship of 500 tons can anchor four miles and a half within the heads—and there the harbour is only open to one and "one quarter points of the compass. (E.N.E.) "

Sir, —I see by sundry articles in the '' Canterbuzy Standard" that certain parties in this settlement conceive that a jetty might be built in Gollan's bay, alongside which it would be practicable to lay ships frequenting-this port (alike from England, the colonies adjacent, and in fact from every part.) Now if you can persuade any soberminded, practical sailor, in the capacity of harbour master or pilot, to lay a ship alongside such a jetty after it has been made, or any sane underwriter to undertake any interest in such ship, the same will be a very mystery to me; and before these opinions were put forth in the " Canterbury Standard" it would have been quite as well to have asked Captain Parsons his opinion, perhaps he will favour you and the public with it. You were once shown that the only heavy swell driven into this harbour by any winds whatever was expended and ■lost before it reached the scene of industry between ship and shore at Lyttelton, and now shall we go down and meet it ? Robinson Crusoe met a great swell on the shore, and a little cove running inland, but with us when the first puts in an appearance the latter is always wanting. If the parties engaged in the advocacy of the Gollan's bay pier cutting, siding, tunnel, &c. &c, are suicidally inclined to their own interests, let them remember that they have a greater duty than a mere putting forth and dinning into the public ear some favourite crotchet of their own. A.nd let them also remember that if this settlement is going to be regarded by intending emigrants in England, and other countries, as a healthy scene for their presence and capital, it must be by the settlers shewing in their acts, sentiments, wishes and yearnings, that they are a bona fide practical and prudent people; who let not go the substance, to grab at the shadow, and Avho will enjoy gratefully and with an improving turn, the goods the gods have given them, so to deserve better things. One hint I will give you, that while a road is wanted, and a steamer is wanted, there is yet another want of a simpler nature than these, that is, cargo and coasting boats of a different -nature than those now engaged inour industries ; and to those 'vpha- 'have seen' the '•John TaySr;"" Admiral Grenfell," inour roadstead, it will be apparent at once that there is nothing wanting to relieve us from our present fix while the roads are making, than boats whose length of keel shall be five times their beam, sailing faster, carrying more, more seaworthy, and altogether cleverer than the " Palinurus" or "Fanny. Wishing you and your readers a speedy comprehension of the utility of beingprac-

tical, I am, Sir, your obedient servant, HobebtGbeaves.