Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 424, 26 November 1856, Page 8

Correspondence.

2b the Editor of the Lvttclton Times. Sir, —A letter signed " Master Mariner " appeared in your paper a short time since, commenting on the motion introduced by me in the Provincial Council, for the purpose of placing the pilot station in Little Port Cooper, and the erection of a flagstaff on Adderley head. Also the' Canterbury Standard,*' of Thursday la?t, pubFished the report of a division on the subject, the imaginary numbers being 15 for, and 3 against. Sir, as no division took place, lam anxious to correct this statement of the • Standard,' and give a short reply to ** Master Mariner's " letter, as follows :— The respected harbour-master labouring under severe illness, as sharks are.known to follow a sick ship several applications were made for the appointment: some of whom, it was well known, were utterly ignorant of the structure and management of a ship ; I deemed it my duty, as an inhabitant of Lrttelton and a member of the Council, to* ursre on tfie Government the propriety of removing the pilot from Lyttelton, to the proper position in Little Port Cooper (the entrance of the harbor) ; Little Port Cooper befnsj a Government reserve, and possessin? the advantages of good soil, wood, and •water, and formerly the rendezvous of the southern whalers, Adderley Head being their look out. In my ignorance, I imagined the Government would be most happy to make the best of the opportunity offered. However, they thought differently, and opposed the motion 'on the ground of interfering with the Governor's perogative. Sir, I was fnliy aware that the creation of lighthouses and beacons was beyond the powers of the Provincial Council ; but not the erection of a flagstaff, or the simply removing the dwelling or station of a pilot ; or why did the Government place £S0 en the estimates for this- purpose in March, 1854 ? I now beg to ask •' Master Mariner," in all humility, Is the entrance of the harbour, or Lyttelton. 6 miles distant, the proper place for the pilot ? Six*, after a discussion on the subject. I withdrew the molion, and gave notice of a fresh one, requesting that the Superintendent would be pleased to obtain the requisite authority for that important purpose ; but, on reflection, I considered it hopeless to expect any good from the Govern m^nt for the doomed port and town of LyUekon. in the present Council, in evidence, of which, in the distribution of the £30.000 for immigration and important public work?. &c., net one shilling i& given to Lyitelton or the port. I remain, your obliged servant, R. Davis.

To tie Editor of the Lytlelton Times. Sik.—-; Save us from our friends'' must have bt en the unanimous ejaculation of the members of the *'Lytteltou Choral Society" on jt«'p.;piny the critical remarks of" Musculus" u;jo;i our recent Concert. They were, it is to be hoped, penned with a goo i intention, and the writer will con<ieqii>iu\\y reyret to learn the probability of undue h verity of the crilique . having pre-cisc-iy (he contrary effect. Busy ..rumour has iM?i,-.-(] y-oue so far as to hint at tlie poetiS.is <y of a break up in the Choral SociMy. but. this time, let us hope she lies. Tl-»: : who have li^t^ned, a. Exeter Hall, and \h>? threat country Musical Festivals at home, to (he performances of the Oiatorios of tL'.- areat Mailers, and retnember those hour- with _ delight, thoultl also recollect that il.e principal parts are delivered by e»ni[;.-i.i professionals, the choruses being mtxint <\nt'd by amateurs certainly, tho^e a*nat.-.*'rs lo a hrpi extent hi-j.-ig men of fair e-:<c:it;on, a class who thus far have lieid ;ui horn the .spirited geiiticmau who

keeps our musical world alive in a manner that smacks of moral courage, to say the least of it. Probably, " Musculus" is about to break the spell, and bj' his energetic assistance, publicly as well as anonymously, prevent the catastrophe above named, and which very many deplore in company with An Amateujr. Lyttelton, 24th Nov., 1856.