CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 21 March 1855, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH.

A lamentable accidentoccurred here on Saturday last, about I o'clock, in the destruction of 12 stacks of corn on the farm of W- G. Brittan, Esq. Preparations were being made for ploughing the land, and it was thought prudent to burn off the stubble. -Mr.' Brittan intended going up; the country to inspect the surveys in progress, and feeling some anxiety on the subject he desired to see his' land cleared previous to leaving home. A furrow was ploughed for the protection of the stacks ; but unfortunately the insidious nature of tlie fire was such that the stackswere, caught, and the result lias been -the-; destruction of the whole of theiri, with a loss to the: extent of, we are informed, nearly £1,666 in value. This isj deeply to be regretted,; the loss indeed is colonial; There is perhaps no man who has rendered so great service to this settlement in an agricultural point of view as has Mr. Brittan. He has been a most carefulcultivatbr, carrying away as we know the first prizes at the agricultural shows, and supplying to the settlement at large perhaps as fine a sample of seed as any that could be found in it. The calamity was so sudden and gained ground so. rapidly, that but little help could be afforded by the spectators. The only thing that could be done, was to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining sections. ; A Guaid was formed for - the -night-to: stay its progress, and prevent the possibility of accident during the night. We need-hardly add that no dissentient was, fouiid when the'invitation was given to the performance of this duty. It is a satisfaction/to know that the catastrophe, lamentable as it is, is purely attributable to accident. ■'-'■'//' /■*;/v / / CHURCH PROPERTY TRUSTEES. : An adjourned meeting of the Church Property Trustees/was"held in Christchurch, on Thursday; the loth irist./ /Rey. 0- Mathias in the chair. Revds: J* i Wilson, W Willock, and- H/ Jacobs, MessrsHall, Bo wen, Westen ra, Barker; and Thompson. ■.'.•/;'.' frhe.;rn'iriates of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Rev. H. Jacobs reported; the result of a conference; with/Mr/ Seweljuponthe articles of an agreement held by the Canterbury Association to the; Church Property Trustees, and read an alteration to the final clause,; which had been submitted to-Mr. Sewell. A lengthened conversation ensued upon the expression contained i%the clause as to the period at which the agreement was to come fully into force. It was proposed to give Mr. Sewell a release upon the ordinance coming into operation.; Objection was taken to the expression, and it was proposed that the release should be executed upon the allowance of the Governor of the ordinance, or the period of its;disallow-: anc_ expiring;, subject to this alteration the terms of the agreement were approved of. The Rev. W. Willock moved and Mr. C. Bowen seconded the following resolution,— "That the Trustees approve of the draft agreement with Mr. Sewell, and request the chairman to sign the same on behalf of the Trustees." , The resolution was put by the Chairman and agreed to.' The Rev. Jacobs, then brought up the report of the sub-committee in reference to the College, a copy of which we Subjoin. The resolution being put from the chair was agreed to, as was also the following which was moved by Mr. Hall, and seconded by Captain Westenra. "Mr. Sewell having explained his readiness to transfer to the Trustees such lands and buildings as the Trustees.-.may think requisite for endowments for the college, he be requested to transfer accordingly the lands and buildings mentioned in the re'portof the sub-cdramittee. " The meeting was then adjourned. RKrOET. The provisional committee having considered in pursuance of the direction of the trustees, the communications received from Air. Sewell respecting the college, and the steps requisite to he taken towards its'foundation,'.begto report that the following conditions appear to them to be necessary, viz.—

/I. A/site setaparVfor the biiildihg. . ■}] '.:-^;.;2^,Eridbwinents./'' ■■^i/./^VA^^r •'':.-;/; 3:/A i governing body. './• ;/.'■/jf/ 1. Witk regard to a site,—The y /beg to*^comriiend "that application be made to Mr. Sewell forthe transfer of Cathedral Square for the site of the College, subject to the reservatibu of an acre therieon for the site of the Cathedral: 2. With regard to ;endpwmehts,—Thst Mr.'■. Sewell be requested;to transfer;to the Tr^Hfies: in trust for the College/the tOwri "and ii ral sections contained in ;the report to the S ifjCoirimittee deputed tq make the selection, be ng.as nearly as possible one-fifth part of the/la Jis/ held in trust by the /Association forge» fal Ecclesiastical and Educational purposes. .7 jiey recommend further that this property be;burdened with a proportionate share of the geifltal debt to be undertaken by the Trustees. ;// I ; 3. With regard to the Governing B6dyj4-ihe Committee recommend that the gbvernih^hbdy should consist of a Warden, Sub- Wardpa,' and Fellows, the number of Fellows niit to|»e less than 6, nor.' to .exceed 25, subject, ho\wyer,- to increase in manner tp be provided; forfby/the statutes. That there should also be a^f sitor of .the; Col lege.;";'"; ' //,//'■'s//■:/ The above appear to be/the necessafr:cotiditions for the foundation of /a; College f; but, though not absolutely hecessaryj'• theyf consider; that it is highly desirable that amOruiiiancfe/of Incorporation shoiildxbe soughtfroriiitheJProviricial Council. In order that no time .maybe lost in this matter, they beg to recpmftiend that Mr. Gresson be desired, in conjurictibn* with the Provisional Committee, to draft an briliriarice of Incorporation, to be suhiriitted "to th|/f trustees at their next meeting ;iri such drafij • bftOrdinance the names of the first Wardeii,i!Si»b-War-den, and body of Fellows, to be left llank until the next meeting of Trustees. !//;,/ Mr. Thomson moved, and Mr. Boweis seconded, the following resolution :— '■■/{// " That the Repori of tlie;Provisional;Committee upou the subject of the Foundation of the College be adopted, and that the Colnmittee be directed to take the necessary steps iat carrying it into, effect."' ■--/'■-/-''•';;'/;: '■•■"-. fAA/Z/vv