LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 248, 17 March 1855, Page 5

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

LYTTELTON AND PORT VICTORIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A meeting of the Provisional Committee took place pursuant to advertisement oh Monday evening at the offices of R. Wormald, Esq. ' Communications were read f from the Rev. O. Mathias and Mr. Wilson requesting to be enrolled members. The committee confirmed the proposed title of the Society. Resolved —that three Shows be holden yearly on or about the first weeks in December, January, and March, for flowers, fruits, and vegetables, the precise days to be advertised at least one month previously. The prizes to be in money or otherwise, as hereafter to be determined. Each prize to be accompanied by anjengraved certificate. The amount of subscription to be 10s. 6d. due yearly on July I. A meeting of members to be called for May 1, 1555, at noon, in the Town flail, to appoint officers, Committee of Management, frame bye-laws, and for general business. The Hon. Sec. was instructed to wi te to the Commissioner of Crown Lands o request the reservation of a block of land lor the purposes of a Botanical Garden in the vicinity of Lyltelton.

Registration of Voters.—His Honor, J. E. Fitz Gerald, as member for Lyttelton in the General Assembly, has addressed the following letter to the Lyttelton Colonists' Society, who have appointed a Committee ts further the end proposed. We understand that a similar letter has been addressed to the Christchurch Colonists' Society. Christchurch, Feb. 9, 1855. Sib, —It is probable, judging from what occurred in the General Assembly at its last meeting, that efforts will be made to re-dis-tribute the representation of the several Provinces in proportion to the number of the electors in each. In such case it will become a matter of the greatest moment to the interests of the Province that all those who are entitled to vote should place their name on the Electoral Roll. i^-This seems to be a matter in which the Colonists' Societies of Lyttelton and Christchurch may legitimately interest themselves, in order to protect the interests of this Province by providing some effective machinery for the registration of the name of every elector on the roll, in the annual registration during the month of April next. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, James Edwael Fitz Gebatjo. Member for Lyttelton in the House of Representatives. The President of the Lyttelton Colonists' Society. Metbohtc Light.—Early on "Wednesday a brilliant meteoric "ght was observed in Lyttelton, followed by a loud explosion. We are requested by a correspondent to invite the attention of travellers to any aeorolitic stones they may observe, and to ask for communications on the subject. Aerolites are generally of a metallic appearance, shewing on the fractured surface a radiated and sometimes a damasked appearance. We have since been informed that the light was seen at Wellington also, though the report of the explosion was net heard there. A Modern Raid.—The following account of the most daring robbery which has yet been committed in this Province will interest our readers. It is a letter received by the Messrs. Rhodes from Mr. Sidebottom at Timaru. Level's Station, Mar. 6, 1855. To Messrs. E. & G. Rhodes, Gentlemen, I hare just returned from the Snowy Mountains, where I have been to fetch some sheep back which were taken away by a man named Mackenzie. The particulars are as follow. Last Thursday I was at the Cave paring the sheep's feet, when Seventeen came over in great tribulation to tell me that the Scotchman had taken away the biggest part of his flock, and that he had tracked them as Jar as Campheli station. EarJy on Friday morning I started, taking Taiko and Seventeen, and sure enough we found a fresh sheep-track, with the steps of une n:an and dog. That day (Friday) we followed the track, which was very indistinct for some way, to the .bushy gorge of the Pureora. Saturday we followed the track to a branch of the Teiiiiawai. On this day we saw the track of a bullock and another man for certain, and a third man's track doubtful. I went to the Cave for (rrul>; and sent for two more hands, and went back to the track, where we camped. Sunday we continued tracking. I sent Taiko back to look for the two men I had sent for from Level station , in the afternoon, and Seventeen and I collared our swags-and tracked on. Just before sundown we c;nn» to the pass to the West Coast through the Snowy. Mountains, and on looking; down a very ahnipt hill, we saw the sheep and one man keeping iK-in together. I waited for Taiko, and ha came back on Jenny just as the sun had set, without finding the men I expected. I then started down a steep gully, and •after some considerable difficulty persuaded the two Maories to follow. When I got on the flat below the marl was preparing to turn in for the ujgbt. I rode up and collared Mm, (Mackenzie,)

and tied his hands. Being regularly knocked up, I meant camping tor the night, so I laid down, and took a feed of his damper, wmMon, tea and sugar.' Foolishly I untied his hands, but took his boots away, thinking three were surely enough for him. After we had stopped about two hours, we heard some suspicious calls, the dogs [began fgrowling and the sheep broke camp. Mackenzie started up, and began whistling and cooeing. I had to force him down again, and told him to lie still, or I should be under the painful necessity of administering a bark poultice to his head. Thinking it not safe to remain, as the two Maories were positively worse than nobody, and fearing the advent of his mates, I packed up and started, making Seventeen, armed with a goodistick, walk by Mackenzie's side, telling Seventeen if he offered to move to knock him down. I made Mackenzie lead liis bullock (which I forced him to load hirriself,) and up this awfiil hill we started at about ten o'clock, by moonlight, but the fog was very tliick.^ We had considerable 'difficulty/ in forcing the sheep up, and I, who intein led keeping behind oiir prisoner, was obliged to move off aibput- 50; yards, to turn the sheep up ; as soonas I was at the head of the sheep, the man bolted, and the fog being so thick, we could not find him, although Seventeen caught liim once, just after he had started, but he could not hold him or manage him. till I got up, not being strong enough and being afraid of the man. I was very anxious now to get away as fast as possible, as I feared he might find his mates, and attempt a rescue (which I could not have . : 'pre..rented). We drove all night, and all the next day, bringing his bullock, dog and blanket with us, and the sheep camped about five miles above the cave, after having been driven about 25 miles (as I reckon) over a rough country. I went on to .'the Cave, and Billy went out to, Taiko and Seventeen with bread and to stop all night. Soon after I got to the Cave, Stubbs and Jack came up, having been unable to find us. I-left Jack to help, them on with the sheep and came here this morning (Tuesday), and having nearly finished this intend going immediately to the pah to send Old Johii up with it. I should tell you I have found old sheep tracks (large tracks of a goi)d mob,) leading up to the same pass^tberefore I have a strong opinion thisis not tfie first mob that Mackenzie has driven off. ; •■'.■'"..■ •■'.■.■'•■ '':'.'• .. .-; ■'■ The bullock some of the men think belongs to; j\Jr.; Innis;/oHowever- we. have him safe at ■prese\\i^^: : /:::.'" '.[■■■■■:*■'''"■:/ X"..■■.'".,'' ■ There seems to be a fine plain just at the back 6f the Showy Range, and a first-rate pass through the mountains to it. Hoping soon to see more hands, I am, Gentlemen, / Yours to command, V John H. C. Sidebottom, P.S.L should wish you to send down some pistols and bullet-moulds, as I do not think it safe, while these men 'are about, leaving the Cave without firearms. Nor would I follow mcii again without pistols myself. I have just received Mr. G Rhodes's note, and am sorry to hear of his ill-luck with the sheep. Taiko's dog has come back all right. Mackenzie was captured on Thursday night by Sergeant Seager, of the police. He intended to have got away in the " Zingari." He was committed for trial yesterday.