To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 304, 29 September 1855, Page 6

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sic, —Is not the following bit ef His Honor's argument in favour.of the tramway to Sumner rather " chimerical ?"' The Standard makes His Honor to have said, "The course of trade" . . . "will ultimately. flow into its natural channel as surely as water will find its correct level." And " I am'quite satisfied that the site of Lyttelton [as the Port Town] has been well and judiciously chosen." In His Honor's opinion, therefore, Lyttelton is the " natural channel" into which the trade must flow —the " correct level." He then goes on to say, "However trade may be temporarily diverted from it," . . " I am quite certain," says His Honor," we must ultimately return to Lyttelton as the great port of shipment." Why then put the Province to the expence of diverting the trade at all? Besides, His Honor thus describes the point to which it is proposed to divert it. He says— "To talk of abandoning a harbour like Port Victoria in which the largest fleei of such ships may he safely and discharge with punts, and in which ships are not wind bound, in favour of a small river with a narrow and dangerous entrance, with shallow water not only on the bar but throughout the whole bay into which the river runs, is to propound an idea which to my mind is wholly chimerical." Is the trade of the Province, then, to be diverted from its proper channel in order that we may have the pleasure of witnessing its return ? Or does any law of Nature or of Science want confirming ? Or are we to be reminded of the French proverb—" Jamais beau parler n'arrachera la langue." Your obedient Servant, A Conservative. To Ike Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sib,—Canterbury was projected to represent a segment of the old country. Forluaately, or unfortunately, the History of England presents an alternation of change. At onetime despotic, at another almost revolutionary ; at one period—and that a most recent outf—the Church and the State—the

one as a puppet of the other —was the loyal dogma. The Church supported the State, and th'e^land backed up the Church. This is the period so constantly before the eyes of many of us. At this period of English history the food of the people was taxed to protect agriculture. We have already placed the key-stone of a State Church, now it is proposed to tax the Province that a small portion' of our agriculturists may^ have a tramway —really, a bread tax. So propose our gentlemen farmers. Yours, &c. Anti-Tax.

To the Editor of the Lyttellon Times. Sir, —An error will be found, which escaped me, in looking over my letter published by you last Wednesday. For " 140 tons boats carrying 427 bales of wool," it should be " 240 tons." The error, however, does not materially affect the remainder of the estimate, which is taken largely at a venture. The exact quantity and description of produce the Surriner traders carried away can be ascertained from the office papers in the Custom-house, by any one who can spare the tinie to examine them, which I regret I could not do before the day fixed for the public meeting. I am, Sir, yours, &c. J. W. Hamilton.