LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 201, 4 October 1854, Page 6

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Colonists' Society.—At an ordinary meeting of the above Society the President in the Chair, the following Resolution proposed by Mr. Porter (Mr. Alport being unwell), and seconded by Dr. Donald, after some discussion, was unanimously adopted :— "That it is desirable that the number of members of the Provincial Council be increased to 24 at least." Dr. Donald then moved, seconded by Mr. Wiicox:— . " That a Committee to consist of Messrs Alport, Wiicox, Alhvright, Graham, Mayo, be appointed to draw up a petition to the Provincial Council to embody the foregoing resolution together with the resolution of the Society passed on a former occasion praying for the formation of a separate Lyttelton Country District." Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton. Sept. 21, Philip Ryan, a half-caste boy of about 13 years of age, charged by the Serjeant of Police with stealing a portrait from the house of William Deny, sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment. The boy's defence was that " plenty Maori boys steal." Sept. 22, Joseph Graham, charged by John Josling with having wilfully damaged a wall on his premises, sentanced to pay a fine of 40s. and costs. Sept. 25, William Clarkson charged with drunkenness by Constable Hurry. Fined ss. and costs. Sept. 28, George Boasted charged with drunkenness by the Serjeant of Police. Fined 20s. and costs. Sept. 29, Thomas Haycraft charged by the Serjeant of Police with using violent and"abusive language and disturbing the peace. Bound over to keep the peace for twelve months. Sept. 30, James Balbert charged by the Sevjeant of Police with drunkenness. Fined 20s. and costs. Oct. 3, George Davidson charged with drunkenness by Constable Hurry. Fined 20s. and costs.

CHRISTCHURCH,

A meeting was held on Monday last at the Golden Fleece Hotel to consider the means of communication between the Port and the Plains. The Chair was taken by Mr. W..G-. Brittan. We are compelled to defer our report. of this meeting,but we give tie memorial to the Provincial Council which, on the proposition of Mr. Joseph Brittan, seconded by Mr, Ollivier, was adopted by the majority of those present. "The Memorial of the inhabitants of the Pro-

vince of Canterbury in public meeting assembled to the honourable the Provincial Council, respectfully sheweth-— " • "That the present means of communication between the Port and the Plains is altogether unequal to the commercial requirements of the!. Province. That during the last few months the attention of your memorialists and the public has heen directed to various plans suggested by able engineers, by which the present difficulties may be removed, and the grea.t impediment to the commerce of the Settlement be overcome. ...,'*,.- "These different plans your memorialists hope your honourable House will without delay pro-' ceed to examine for the purpose of ascertaining which it may be the most prudent to adopt. "That as your Memorialists do not possess the means of sufficiently investigating the merits of the different schemes for improving the communication by land which have been proposed,' they abstain from any expression of an opinion which, may in any way fetter-the free judgment of your hon. House, but your Memorialists respectfully submit that if a road cannot be completed with great expedition and comparatively little cost, it would be highly desirable to ascertain whether the obstruction which is now offered to the navigation of the rivers Avon and Heathcote by the Sumner Bar cannot be removed, so that Steamboats of light draft, and sailing*, vessels larger than-those at present engaged in the river trade, may be able to navigate them.

"Without some improvement in the present means of transit for heavy goods, your Memorialists fear that it will be impossible for the proceeds of the approaching harvest to find their way to the markets beyond the Province, and scarcely less embarrassing is the prospect of the conveyance to the ship's side of the large amount of wool which may be expected from the coming clip. Upon these obvious facts your Memorialists feel it to be unnecessary to enlarge- They therefore simply add their earnest prayer that your hon. Council will take this Memorial into your immediate and serious consideration, with a view to the removal as speedily as may be practicable of the great obstacle which retards the progress of the Province, and prevents the full developement of its export trade."