LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 198, 23 September 1854, Page 5

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Colonists' Society.—On Tuesday evening last, Mr. M'Cardell delivered, according to advertisement, his Lecture on Music. The audience was more numerous than from the severityof the weather might have been anticipated. The lecturer.concisely but carefully traced the history of music, both vocal and instrumental, from the earliest periods; pointing out the most striking peculiarities of each age. Apt and illustrative quotations from both ancient and modern writers were judiciously interspersed. Of most of the leading styles of vocal music, illustrations were given from the works of eminent masters. These were rendered by several members of the Choral Society in a very effective manner, reflecting great credit on the Society and its conductor, and highly delighting the audience. At the conclusion of the lecture, the President of the Colonists' Society proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. M'Cardell and his assistants, which was acceded to amid general applause. Mr. Spowers then announced that the conclusion of Mr. H. J. Porter's lecture on the subject of his tour through Sweden, would be given on Monday next. CHRISTCHURCH. Our correspondent's usual letter has not reached us this week; we therefore take from the Canterbtiry Standard the account of the meeting of the Colonists' Society, on Tuesday last. "Colonists' Society.'—This Society met on Tuesday, the 19th inst., H. J. Tancred, Esq., in the chair. The subject of the Communication between the Port and the Plains was adjourned to the 3rd of October, to allow time to obtain Mr. Hughes' plan, and to afford the Secretary the opportunity to invite by private letter the attendance of the several engineers engaged in the survey and in drawing up the report which was submitted to the Provincial Government. Mr. Wilson then drew the attention of the meeting, to the course pursued by Mr. E. J. Wakefield at Auckland. After a speech of some length in which the policy of Mr. Wakefield was severely condemned, Mr. -Wilson moved the following resolution— - "That this Society views with regret the position assumed by Mr. E. J. Wakefield in the House of Representatives, as not being consistent with the pledge given to his constituency that he would supportjany measure having for its object the delegation to the Provinces of the entire control of their own j Waste Lands—aiding by his votes and opposition a factious minority in the overthrow of an efficient and liberal Government and the benefits which this Colony and this Province in particular would have derived therefrom." Mr. Guinness seconded the resolution. A very spirited discussion ensued, in which Mr. Packer, Mr. J. Bealey, Mr. Ollivier, Mr. S. Bealey, Mr. Invvood, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Joyce, took part, after which the resolution was put to the meeting, and carried." — Canterbury Standard. Since the above was in type, we have received a note from Mr. Wilson, stating that the resolution has been wrongly reported in the Standard, and requesting us to publish it in the following form: — • "That this Society views with regret the position assumed by Mr. E. J. Wakefield in the House of Representatives, as being inconsistent with the pledge given to his Constituency, that he would support any measure having for its object the delegation to the Provinces of the entire control of their own waste lands; aiding by his vote and opposition a factious minority in the overthrow of an efficient and liberal Ministry, thus retarding the establishment of Responsible Government, and the benefits which this Colony, and this Province in particular, would have derived therefrom." Pigeon Bay.—On the evening of Wednesday the 6th instant, a Lecture was delivered in the School-house of this bay, by Mr. E. H. Reed (late of Kew) on the general features of botanical science. The Lecture, which displayed a practical acquaintance with the subject, and ~*^vas well received by a somewhat numerous audience, bore especial reference to the vegetation of these islands, and was illustrated by specimens of some of our native woods ; among others of the stem and edible crown of the Nikau Palm, the latter adding palatable morceau to the more intellectual enjoyments of the occasion. OTAGO. We have received two copies of the Otago Witness by the " Thetis," but no news. That journal appears now only once a fortnight, and seems to have plenty to do in publishing the slightly acrid correspondence which still pours in upon its columns.