LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 315, 7 November 1855, Page 6

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

The Gkxkral Asskmulv.— The past week lias been fruitful in meetings convened hv the various candidates for the Christchureh Cuuntrv District, fur seats in the House of Representatives. Kaiapoi, Papanui, and Lyttelton have each been made the arena for ample discussion, and for a full explanation of the principles of the four competitors for the honors they seek. A\ Kaiapoi, on the 28th nit., there \va< a Mill attendance of the electors ; and again at Pananni, on .Monday, the 30th ult., convened by Messrs. Ollivier and Brittin, at both of which Messrs. Hall and Ward attended. The several candidates were again assembled in the Town Hall, Lyttelton, at the instigation of Mr. Ward, on Friday, the "2nd inst.,aud they will, we understand, meet at Riccarton this evening. It Mould be needless to follow these gentlemen in their peregrinations, or for the present attempt to give any outline of their proceedings. On each occasions the meeting1 was very fully attended, and considerable interest appears- to be felt by the constituency upon the subject. Although the speeches at Lvtteltou were necessarily iv a great measure repetitions of what had taken place elsewhere, still we regret that the inconvenient hour at which the meeting was called prevents oar giving a full report of the several addresses. LTTTEtTOX COLOXISTS' SoCIETT AND LITERARY In tttutiox.—Meeting, 0ct.31, Mr. Spowers(iu the absence of the President) in the chair. Mi\ Tancred delivered his lecture on the "transition fr-un the ancient to the modern history of Europe." The chief points in the hi-tory of the period delineated by the lecturer were, the extent of the Roman power previous to the invasion of the empire by the barbarians, the political effect of these invasions on the empire, and the institution of the Christian religion. The lecture was both instructive and entertaining, and. was listened to by the audience with much attention ; at its conclusion, the Chairman proposed the thanks of the society to Mr. Tancred, which was warmly acceded to. Inquest at Kaupoi.—An inquest was holden at Kaiapui on Thursday last on the body of Jacob Nelson, which was taken out of the river at Baxter's ferry, on tbe previous Sunday. It appeared that be had been missing for nearly a fortnight. The last time he was seen he was leaving the Kaiapoi Hotel at its closing (10 p.m.) with his mates. In a joking manner he said he would not go home, and started off with a run. Re was not seen alive afterwards. Verdict—Found Drowned. We have bjen favoured by the captain of the brijr Spray, with the following extract from his log-book, referring to the reported existence of an active volcano at the Kaikoras :— "On the afternoon of Saturday, 27th October, saw a column of smoke issuing from the summit of one of the most north-eastern peaks oi the Knikora mountains, bearing about North wesi, ami alter sunset a fire was clearly visible iv the same direction. From the elevation of the fire it had every appearance of a volcano." Capt. Richakd Scoxt, Brig " Spray."