The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 355, 26 March 1856, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, March 26, 1856. It is with no ordinary pleasure that we at length congratulate our fellow settlers on the practical establishment of a complete circle of commercial relationship between this Province aod the mother country. We now directly contribute a return in kind for the advantages we owe her, and we augur most favourable consequences will rapidly follow this first decided assertion of outmercantile existence. The sailing of our first wool ship for England direct, marks an epoch iu the hj.story of this Province; and her arrival in London, with her full 'can*o

from Canterbury, will be an evidence of our advancement that cannot for a moment be questioned. Her appearance will be a more convincing argument in proof of the present prosperity and prospective capability of the Province than would be any number of unassisted lectures, books, and pamphlets. For when the English public are satisfied of the fact that the small population of Canterbury can, in the fifth year of its settlement, produce an export of about £40,000 worth of wool, beside, after providing for its domestic consumption, a considerable surplus of agricultural and dairy produce, little doubt can then remain as to the fitness of Canterbury as a field for emigration and the profitable investment of capital.

While recording the departure of the " William and Jane," under circumstances so interesting-, we are naturally tempted to glance at the general aspect of things in the ; place she leaves behind her. In doing this j we are compelled into admiration of the wonders accomplished by handful of earnest men, who five years ago found Canterbury an untenanted wilderness. And when we now contemplate the number and fine quality of our herds, the astonishing increase of our sheep, the extent of our enclosures, the unparalleled success of our \ agriculture, and the high social and political ! organisation to which we have in so short a time attained, we indeed think such a ; prospect well calculated to realise the utmost hope of any even the most sanguine of the first beneficent projectors of the Canterbury Settlement. We are strong in our hope for the future; and although, from our intimate relations with our sister colo- i nies of Australia, we may fairly calculate on feeling to some extent their occasional commercial depressions and monetary embarrassments, yet we trust our past expe-J rience encourages and confirms us in the practice of that wise and courageous industry which hitherto has served us so well and has never failed of its ultimate reward.