LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 264, 12 May 1855, Page 4

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Friday, May 11. Provincial Council.—Mr. Biuttan announced that he had not succeeded in forming an Executive Government. He proposed to conduct the business of the house in a.mm official position, which after some discussion was agreed to. The consideration of the Waste Lands biil was then resumed, but after n slior t discussion the house, on the proposition of MiHall, was adjourned to Tuesday.

The financial statements of this province, lo the quarter ending the 31st of March, has been published in a Government Gazette. The gr oSS receipts for the quarter were, £1,160 8s 9d ; ex" penditure, £12,173 Us. 9d ; including £10,000, fov Immigration; £235 ]os. 10(1., for education ; £369 Os. 6d., for Public Works; and £104 16s. 4d., fov tlie Provincial Engineer's department. The balance in the treasury, on the 3'lst of March, was £11,702 16s. 2d. Immigration and Emigration Returns.-— 134 persons immigrated to this province during the quarter, 104 of whom were from* Great Britain; 18 from N.S.W.: and 12 from Van Dieman's Land. The number who have left the province is given as 9,4 adults and 5 children. The coastwise returns give 127 immigrants to the province, and 146 emigrants for other places. The returns of exports and imports for the quarter are not given. The exports, from Akaroa, fov the year ending Dec. 31,1854, are estimated at £650. The prisoner M'Kenzie, as was fully anticipated, has escaped. He was em ployed with the other prisoners, at the cutting in Oxford street on Thursday morning, when, taking advantage of the temporary absence of the policeman from the portion of the work he was engaged on, he started for the mountains, and, although pursuit was instantly commenced by the whole of the police force, he has not yet been recaptured. A reward of £50, as will be seen in another column, has been offered for his apprehension. * After the above was in type, a rumour reached us that Mackenzie was captured this morning at Mr. Lake's station, about 25 miles beyond Christcburch. We have been requested to publish the following testimonials presented to the captain of the Grasmere, F. Yeo, Esq. (From the cabin passengers). Dear Sir, We. the undersigned, beg to return you our most cordial thanks for the kindness you have displayed towards us during the voyage from London to New Zealand. Passengers on board a merchant ship must necessarily- be a source of inconvenience to the Captain. Your forbearance and amiability under this annoyance has been a subject of talk amongst us on more than one occasion. Your activity in the management and sailing of the ship we have often commended. We regret for your sake the bad run we made to the line, as on that account alone the passage was unluckily prolonged to a greater length than iuwould otherwise have been, had fortune favoured us at first. Nevertheless we congratulate you on the shortness to which you have reduced the voyage. We thank you again for the kindness you have displayed throughout, and assuring you of our hearty good wishes for your future prosperity, we beg you will accept this slight testimonial, that when in after times you chance to cast your eyes upon it, you may think of the cuddy passengers on board the Grasmere. We beg to subscribe ourselves, Dear Sir, Your sincere friends and well-wishers, Sarah Ann Gundy, Anne Redish, Henry Lawson, Charles Coyte, Edmund Bowler, E. King, Charles S.'Weetman. (From the steerage passengers). Sir, May 4, 1855. We, the undersigned steerage passengers of the ship Grasmere, beg leave to return you our united and grateful thanks fov all the kindness and attention received from you during our passage from London to New Zealand, and that it may please God to grant you a safe and prosperous voyage on your return to England will be the heartfelt prayer of us all, and be assured. Sir, you will always be remembered by us with feelings of gratitude and respect. (Signed by 67 of the steerage passengers.)