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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 301, 19 September 1855, Page 4

Lyttelton Choral Society.—Tbe concert for the benefit of Mr. M'Cardell on Monday night was, we are happy to say, well attended, the large room of the Town Hall being well filled ;and we have no doubt but that this spontaneous offering by the members of the class must have been very gratifying to their leader. The efficiency they evince shews bow much-they are indebted to him, and the full attendance sews how much ihe Lyttelton public appreciate the benefit to the coinniunily generally of these Choral meetings. We'have said that the performance was -efficiently given, and as most of the pieces were old acquaintances, we have no details to add, with this exception, lhat we cannot but remark bow much more effective the beautiful chorus " Echo is rendered, when the echo is given by tbe human voice. On two occasions we have had instruments to produce this, but we venture to say far loss pleasingly than when on its first production the voice was used. We welcome back the violinist, Mr. Smeaton, recently returned from Australia, as

Ihe seemed to us much improved in his touch ; his efforts were deservedly encored. We must beg that in future infants in arms, be refused admittance. Besides the nuisance that the squalling is to the visitors, the singers them- & selves are distracted from their score, and easily % led into ei'ror by such a discordant accompani- *£ Christchurch. —Friday last being the day for the Ploughing Match, there was Ha considerable gathering of farmers and others in the day's proceedings, notwith"s standing the extremely unfavourable state of A the weather. At an early hour the candidates j> arrived on the ground and made choice of their y sections. There were eight horse teams, five f bullock teams with drivers, and three bullock j teams in reins, entered. \ Tlie ploughing was upon the whole satisfacl tory, particularly that of the bullock teams, T which appeared to be a marked improvement * upon last year's exhibition. The horse teams ' were perhaps less careful in their finish. Perv haps this may be accounted for by the fact that < the land was not so desirable a selection as that rof last year. The spot fixed upon was a section J belonging to Mr. Wakefield, adjoining the 1 Ferry road, and in the occupation of Mr. ; O'Neill. We ventured to suggest upon a former \ occasion that prizes should be offered for I ploughs in teams of two bullocks driven in r reins, and we were gratified to find that the suggestion has been acted upon. The prizes were liberal. There were 5 for teams of 4 bullocks, with drivers, five for 2 horse team*, and three for teams of 2 bullocks with reius, the former varying from £1 to £7, and the latter from £2 to £b. The committee have erred, we think, in their decision in the last. We believe that the greatest possible, benefit has resulted from the exhibition of skill in this class. A very large number of persons have experienced how great has been tbeir saving both'in power and in money by tbe adoption of this system. It was currently believed that old, much less new land, could not be broken up by two bullocks. Now we have many persons who never think of wasting their strength upon four and six bullock-teams, while they have learnt to economise their funds by saving the great cost of a driver, which in these days of deficient labour is a matter of serious consequence. We helieve this opinion ti be very generally concurred in, and were therefore greatly disappointed to find so few entries in that class. The following was tbe decision of the judges. It is (■ right to say that these gentlemen, Messrs. Todd, V Parkinson, and P. Kerr, were absent during the i progress of the match, their decision was there- \ fore based upon their judgment of the quality of the work alone. There could be no possibility lof their being influenced by private friendship Jor personal feeling. PRIZES HORSE TEAMS. Driver. Owner. No. 1. M'Brackney Mr. Fendall 2. M'Laughlin ..... Mr. Graham 3. Jackson Owner 4. Coates ' Mr. Fisher 5. Weavers Mr. Bridge BULLOCK-TEAMS WI H DRIVERI!. Driver. Owner. No. 1. Everest Mr. Marshman 2. Harper Owner 3. Campion Owner 4. Parish Owner 5. Denton Owner BULLOCK-TEAMS IN REINS. No. 1. Wilkinson Owner 2. Davis... Rev. O. Mathias We may avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our surprise at the rapid progress which is being made upon the plains in all the various branches of agricultural labour. In all directions around Christchurch the utmost activity is to be observed in farming operations. Immense tracts of land are now under cultivation ; fields upon fields of wheat crops may tSe seen promising a most luxuriant return at the next harvest. The Ferry road, the banks of the Avon, the Lincoln road, Riccarton and the Papanui road indicate how great an advance is being made in this direction. If we may judge by present appearances we should imagine that there will be large quantities of grain brought to market after the next harvest for exportation. In addition we may add thai a large quantity of land is also in readiness for the barley, oat, and root crops. The only anxiety felt is in reference to the means by 'which the super-abuti-/ dance may be got away from the Plains. It is

therefore a matter of vital necessity that the vexata qucestio of communication with the Port' should lie at once set at 'rest. One thing is at least evident, the means of transit which have hitherto contented us will be lamentably insufficient for our future operations, nor were we surprised to hear its almost universal condemnation by the farmers. ■ If we might venture a suggestion to the Society, it would be that they should endeavour to obtain reliable statistics of our agricultural progress; these would be most valuable, not so much possibly to ourselves, but as undeniable evidence to our friend« in England. The absence of such returns has long been felt to be most injurious there, it has led to those hurtful fluctuations which most of us have experienced in the old country. Scotland, Ireland, France, and the States have alb acknowledged the importance of this information. In England we know to our sorrow that many of our fellowcreatures who labour in the production ofthe peoples' food are lamentably deficient of their portion: here, however, they have entered upon an altered sate of things, not alone a full and an abundant meal, but an unusually large share of money payment for their labour. Here they command not only the necessaries of life, but in a remarkable degree also all its comforts. Nor can we too frequently impress tbis upon the mind of tbe English farm labourer. Had we leisure to do so, we could relate innumerable instances of persons who have left 9s. a week in England, with the poor-house only as the prospect looming in the distance, for as much here per diem, and who in the brief space of three years have become freeholders of their sections varying in qnantity'froin 10 to 50 acres. Some too, we could name who by thrifty care are now boasting of having ama»sed their hundreds of pounds, who until their arrival here could hardlj ever say they were more than the weekly partakers of a meal, and that a scanty one, which the village butcher was called upon to provide. And yet with this great fact before us, is it not extraordinary that we should so greatly need labour? It can only be that the suffering, but still industrious labourer in England, either knows it not, or that we need a greater extension of our Emigration system. The customary exhibition of live stock has been postponed at the general request of stockowners until March next. We hope that they will not forget they stand pledged to furnish their best produce on this occasion. It is only by activity and a combination of numbers that such exhibitions can be made practically useful ; at the same time we desire to remind our readers of the claims of tbe Christchurch Agricultural Society upon their attention. A committee labouring so zealously and so disinterestedly for a common good should he well supported by the public by a liberal contribution to the funds of the Society. Immigration to New Zealand from Victoria.—lt is rumoured that a party, principally composed of old colonists, who have bad considerable experience in agricultural pursuits, are about leaving Victoria for New Zealand, with the intention of commencing agricultural operations there. — Cornwall Chronicle.