LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 241, 21 February 1855, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

CxJUISTCauRCH. , [from a Correspondent.] The harvest is progressing most satisfactorily, the price of labour is however immense, so great indeed as to render profitable farming an impossibility. The charges whicli reapers are exacting will, however, be fatal to their future interests, since unless a very considerable amount of relief is afforded to the Agricultural districts by the introduction of labour, the farmer who desires to continue the cultivation of the land will be driven to the use of machinery as in America—-to the introduction of machines that shall reap and thrash the corn by one process, and that nt'the rate of some 10 acres , per diem. Rather than endure the extortionate exaction of £3 per acre for reaping, (for it amounts, in fact, to that sum, 50a. per acre for reaping, and the ad libitum use of the beer-barrel), it would well repay the farmers of bur Plains to club together for the introduction of these machines, and probably it would answer to send one of their body to the States for the purpose of minute investigation of the various labour economizing implements they have been driven to

produce. A course of self-protection under these circumstances has been adopted on the true principle of neighbourly assistance, originating; with the farmers- on the Lower Lincoln Road, and with very great satisfaction. They were co iiideiiliy relying upon, the reaping machine, but on its trial at Warren and Rewley farms, it was found that the land was too light, or not sufficiently; I« vel, ,to, enable it to work satisfactorily ; in self- 'ei'ence, therefore, many fields being already fully ripe, and labour more than ever difficult to procure, a party of twelve of them agreed to work under their appointed leader, the owner of barren farm, and as much as 50 acres of wheat have fallen within ten days. The example has been judiciously followed in other parts of the Plains, and we can bear testimony to the fact that a more harmonious party has probably seldom been seen. The labour its light, the amusement considerable, and the social principle it engenders affords ample proof that in such unions there is strength. The ripest field falls first, and the only care necessary is in the appointment of a careful, unbiassed and experienced leader, whose will for the time is law, his orders final, his decisions unimpeachable. But for such arrangements much more corn would have been lost to this settlement than has already fallen. Hereafter by an earlier combination of strength, we shall hope, in the absence of mechanical contrivances, to see our forces sufficiently strong to meet any and every emergency that may arise-

j C_Brn-CHUF.CH.~--At a meeting of the Colonists Society on Tuesday evening, the 6th inst.^ I Mr. Packer in the chair, the discussion was, for , the sth night, resumed upon the Government I Waste; Lands' Regulations. Our correspondent's report of the previous meeting on the 31st ult. Ims not come to hand. After some remarks on the meeting at 'Lyttelton by Messrs. Packer, Hichens, and John Hall, Mr. Ollivier proposed the following resolution :-r- ---" That the payment of a fixed sum for the fee simple of the land, and a rale extending over a series of years were as a fundamental principle satisfactory to the meeting, aud approved of by the Society." Considerable discussion ensued. Messrs. Hichens and In wood contending for the appointment of a committee to draw up resolutions to be submitted to a general meeting which should be conveued to consider the whole subI ject. i Mr. Ollivier objected. Five nights had already been expended in desultory talk, and they [ had not yet affirmed a single principle. Their ! business be thought was first to affirm a princiI pie, and then to take the discussion upon the details of the measure, and every clause approved or amended was so much done in a right direction. Their amendments might subsequently be submitted lo public meeting, supported by j the Society that bad passed them, in the form i of resolutions for its consideration. | Mr. Hichens objected to bind himself to an adherence to ihe principle of the bill, and he | saw no force Whatever in the arguments in its favour. There was nothing irregular or unu- : sual in the course he had suggested to be pur- j sued. ! Mr. Hall objected to the appointment of a ; committee. He contended it was necessary to affirm some principle ; without doing this it would be impossible lo act in concert with any committee. They should first decide on the fundamental principles of the three schemes now before the public. Mr. In wood objected to the whole ofthe schemes, and be altogether disapproved of tbe tone ofthe hon. gentleman who had addressed them. They were not bound to take any of the schemes. There was an attempt made he thought to cram these regulations dowu iheir throats whether they liked them or not. Tho resolution was then put and lost. Subsequently Mr. lii wood proposed a resolution lhat the* 10s. lor the fee simple, and the 50s. to be levied for revenues, together £3, i should be paid down in one sum. . ■■■. J Mr. Halt, immediately rose to second this . resolution pro forma, nol that he approved of it, ; but it was an admission at once of a principle, j

and they would have something to work upon— something agreed to—which a Committee, if appointed, could at once proceed with. The idea expressed in tbe resolution was ihe payment of the £3 in one sum. So far as he was concerned, he should be glad to see such a regulation acted upon. In one sense it would simplify matters. Still, during the discussion it had been argued that the extension of the rate for revenue over a series of years would be far more acceptable to the working settler, and in this'opinion he fully concurred. After a few words from Mr. Ollivier, Mr. Inwood's resolution, was put and negatived. Mr. Ollivier then revived and amended as follows his resolution—- " That the sum of 10s. for the fee simple of the laud, and 50s. for the rate, extending Over a series of years' were as a fundamental principle satisfactory to the meeting, and approved of by the Society." Upon this being put by the Chairman it was agreed to. Mr. fficHEJfS then moved that at the next meeting of the Society the regulations be taken into consideration seriatim. This was agreed to and the meeting adjourned.