Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 420, 12 November 1856, Page 7

Local Intelligence.

Chokax Concert:—There was a great gathering- of the music loving public at the Town Hall, on Monday evening last, to hear the grand concert of the Choral Society; a greater gathering than usual, perhaps, from the circumstance of its being a.benefit concert given to the long tried and very persevering Conductor of the Society, Mr. McCardell. The large room of the Town Hall was comfortably filled, and might have contained somewhere about 180 persons, many of whom, we were glad to observe, were visitors from the plains. We are somewhat unwilling to criticise the performance. We might pay a great many well deserved compliments to the performers, and we could also find use for torrents of those pointed technical terms of abuse, which true musical critics are so fond of. The phrase ' Not so pleasing as it might have been to a general audience,' will convey all our adverse remarks. It was of more importance, however, on Monday night, to exhibit the proficiency of the Society, as a class, in that style of music which they have peculiaily practised, under the direction of their untiring conductor, of whose success the evening's entertainment was at once an acknowledgement and an illustration. In this peculiar line, we are satisfied to mention the rendering of the chorus 'The Heavens are telling,' as being very "satisfactory. We have heard the Hallelujah Chorus sung more effectively, when the number of members was greater, but the falling off on Monday evening was only to this extent. In the Secular part of the programme, the chorus ' Thousands when in union joined,' was also a good specimen of the results of practice. The vocal solos and duets were as good as usual; but we are afraid that the terrible error of bashfulness keeps from its proper use a great deal of the talent in this line, which the Society undoubtedly possesses. We have but one word more to say. The introduction of more instrumental music is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. We before hinted that the public would be obliged to the Society for a departure, in this respect, from its appointed line ; and we must now record our thanks to them for having decidedly taken the step. Mr. Bilton, Mr. Smeaton, and Mr Alhvright, have the fame of the old masters in art; and we are glad to see that their school is extending. Mr. Lucas's later performance was , sufficient to show that his flute is a decided This is but little, as yet; but lif others will join with him to give their aid fo art in the same obliging manner, we venture to predict that the Society will not hng strive in vain to be "pleasing to a general audience." When the public part or,the performance was over, we believe the members did not lose the advantage of a go\)d floor and hand of music, but devoted themselves to the rival muse with a spirit and energy which was not exhausted till the dawn of day. Lyttelton is the fresher for every one of those pleasures.

LYTTELTON STREETS IMPROVEMENT

A public meeting was held at the Town Hall, on Wednesday last, to receive the report of the committee on the works already performed, and to decide on the steps which should he taken for further progress. Mr. Latter, being moved to the chair, proceeded to lay before the meeting the information which the committee had to give. After enumerating the first steps taken, and the arrangements which the committee had made for proceeding with the work in acei-tain order, aswepublishedatthetime,thereportproeeeded:— The work commenced on the 29th September, with 13 laborers, under the superintendence of Mr. Hughes; this agency was yielded to Lyttelton for one month. On the 6th of October, five of the thirteen prisoners having completed their period of confinement, would have reduced the number of labourers to eight. The chairman of the committee on his ownresponsibility engaged these men for a week, at 6s. each man per day. On the 10th October, the committee sanctioned the act of the chairman, and agreed to a further period of 14 clays at the same rate. On the 22nd of October, it was agreed that the chairman should solicit of his Honor the Superintendent a continuation to Lyttelton of the prisoners' labour for another month. On the 24th October, the Provincial Secretary intimated to the chairman that the application, through Dr. Donald, was granted; and that the prisoners' labour was available for the repair of the Lyttelton paths and roads (under the Eegulations already agreed upon) for another month. The work done, or nearly so, is the drainage of the Sumner road, with the necessary culverts and gratings., two sides of Oxford street and London street, with the approach to the Post-office, and work in progress in Canterbury street. The Expenditure incurred to the Ist of Nov., was as follows :— For labour £48. Bs. 6d. material 38 3 0 " carting. 26 3. 4 £112 14 10 Subscriptions received to Nov. Ist, were... £61 8 0 Promised, but not paid 20 0 0 £81 8 0 Deficiency 31 6 8 Expenses till 29th November, atleast 25 0 0 Probable deficiency £56 610 The chairman accompanied these statements with appropriate remarks upon the system on which private enterprise and subscriptions should be applied to such public works. The following resolutions were then briefly proposed and seconded, eliciting some little discussion; and were unanimously carried.

Proposed by Mr. Ward, and seconded by Mr. Campbell, "That this meeting approves the conduct of the Committee in the direction of the prison labour, the hire as free laborers of the discharged prisoners, and in the work of improvement up to its present stage —also, of the application made to the Provincial Government for another month of the said labour of the prisoners in furtherance of the work. Mr. Bayfeild proposed, and Mr. Wright seconded the 2nd Resolution, " That this meeting concurs in the views taken by the Committee —viz., —that seeing how heavy a portion of work yet remains to be undertaken on behalf of both the highways and byeways of the town— and the obligation thrown upon every resident either to keep up or improve the path to or from his individual property, so also to unite as frequently as possible in a combined movement, as now made, to effect a large and more decided improvement in the paths and roads of the port town, as'well for the health as for the commercial prosperity of the community. The 3rd Resolution was proposed by Mr. Fyfe, and Mr. A. J. Alport seconded it," That while this meeting readily acknowledges the service rendered toLyttelton by the grant of the prisoners'labour for the past two months.andalsoby the permission to use the 150 pipes (laid down in Oxford-street drains),the necessity is so manifest of a further prosecution of the same work of opening up the Paths and Roads of this Port, that it takes this opportunity seriously to press upon the consideration of the Provincial Council the propriety of placing the labour of the prisoners (us at Wellington) very generally at

the service>of the Inhabitants; and also the fair' claim of Lyttelton to a share of any monies available from time to time from the Provincial Treasury, for the benefit of the Public Roads.

Mr. H. E. Alport proposed the 4th Resolution, which was seconded by Mr. McCardell, "That the thanks of this meeting be given to those Residents who have aided the Committeein this work by other donations than of money, either in the form of material required, or in extra food for the piisoners, and that the subscription list be handed round the room for any names of persons wishing yet further to cany on the improvement of oxir roads. A fresh subscription list was then handed, round, and about £25 was at once promised, in aid of further works. The meeting then, separated, apparently well satisfied with the whole proceedings.