LYTTELTON TOWN HALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 431, 20 December 1856, Page 7

LYTTELTON TOWN HALL.

A meeting of the subscribers aud others was held in this Hall, pursuant to advertisement, on Thursday evening last, Dr. Donald, one of the Trustees, in the chair; to elect new Trustees in addition to the present body, and to entertain a communication of importance which the Trustees bad received from the Provincial Government, proposing an alteration in the terms upon which the building is held; and, further, to determine what steps were desirable to be taken with reference to the proposal. Mr. 11. E. Alport moved and Mr. Turner seconded a resolution: " That the number of the Trustees be increased to five." An amendment thereupon proposed by Mr. Garwood and seconded byr Mr. Bayfeild, that the original number of three be continued, was lost, and the original motion passed. The following resolutions were then put and carried. ••' That Messrs. Latter, Ward, and Albvright be elected as Trustees, to co-operate with Messrs. Donald and A. J. Alport." " That the Trustees be empowered to treat with the Government to arrange the terms for the proposed alteration of tenure of the Lyttelton Town Hall, and to report thereon to a subsequent meeting. The meeting then separated.

The Melanesia!? Missions. —The inhabitants of Christchurch and the Plains assembled in great numbers, on Sunday last, to listen to the [heart-stirring eloquence of the Bishop of New Zealand, who it was known would advocate the claims of tho Melaneshm Mission. His Lordship preached from the last two verses of the 11th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, shewing that, as the patriarchs and pro-

phets of old could not be made perfect, nor finally receive the promises, until the Gentile world should have been converted to Christianity, so neither can we, until the fulness of the Gentiles shall have come in. So long as one single island remains unchristianiscd, the end cannot be. No one who listened to this earnest and impressive discourse can easily forget the solemn appeal to his hearers as themselves the witnesses of the fulfilment of prophecy, and the deep interest attaching to the personal narrative of his labours, especially the account of his recent visit to Norfolk Island ; how in the same chapel, where three years ago he had preached to a congregation of convicts, he bad this year administered the rite of Confirmation to the whole aduh population, recently transplanted from Pitcairn's Island, with the exception of three, who were prevented from attending by age and infirmity. A collection was made after the sermon, amounting in all to £21 lis, the collectors having remarked that there was scarcely a child in the congregation who did not contribute. A wish has since been expressed by many to keep up a more sustained interest in these Missions hy occasional meetings, at which some account might be given of their progress, and by periodical cotnributions.

Death by Deowxixg.—On "Wednesday morning, a young man named James Green, in the employ of Messrs. Lingard the contractors for metalling the Perry-road, was accidentally knocked over board from one of the punts employed in fetching gravel for that purpose, by the sudden tightening of the tow rope. AM efforts to save him were unavailing and the man perished. The body was soon after recovered and taken to the Heathcote Arms Inn, where an inquest was held the next day before the Coroner and a respectable jury, and a verdict returned of Accidental Death. We understand that Green was a deserted seaman from the Caroline Agness 3 he was not quite twenty years of age.

The Weather a>t> the Cbops.—The country has enjoyed the most beautiful summer weather for the past few weeks: if anything, a little too warm for comfort. The consequence is that on the low lying parts of the plain the crops are in excellent condition, and seem to have quite recovered their early losses by flood. If there are patches which were so injured as not to recover, the luxuriance of the remainder will be found,|as far as we can judge on most farms, to be ample compensation. There is a marked increase in the breadth of land under grain in every district; the wheat crop is of greater extent, and not less promising than that of this period last year : the greater portion is well forward in ear. Of oats and barley we gather that the breadth sown is considerably in advance of former years, and we trust that these crops will be found remunerative, considering' the demand existing on the spot. Potatoes are not sufficiently forward to report upon; but we should judge that the acreage set apart for this crop on most farms will he hunted. Grass crops and pasture grounds of artificial grasses and clovers are spreading in every direction, and their appearance is everywhere remarkably fine, at the present moment. The gardens throughout the country are abundant in fruits of all sorts. We are informed from every quarter that in the article of strawberries, now alas! nearly over, the season lias been unprecedented for profusion. Altogether, the prospects of the vegetable world are encouraging to begin the next year with. FEEKY PiOAJD Duaixage.—Those of our readers who recollect the extent to which a part of the Ferry Ttoad and the land adjoining it in the neighbourhood of the town of Christchurch was flooded during the rains last winter, will be glad to bear that active steps are being taken for the purpose of obviating the recurrence of this evil. These steps are the result of co-operation on the part of the Executive Government, the Provincial Council, and the inhabitants of the district. The Government ottered, on account of the town reserve estate, to subscribe £100 towards the cost of the drainage, and the Provincial Council voted another A.TOO, on condition that the inhabitants of the neighbourood would provide the remainder. A meeting of the inhabitants was accordingly convened by the way-warden, Mr. Kerr, at which great readiness was expressed to fur-, nish subscriptions; but the particular plan of drainage proposed by the gewrmu^nt. viz, a drain along the side of tin* Ferry. Ko.:d, was, however, strongly objected to. A fresh survey was

consequently undertaken, and a practicable line of drainage was found along the line of a creek known as Jackson's creek." Further meetings were thereupon called by the waywarden, at which resolutions were unanimously passed, accepting the Government, proposal, and appoint ing a committee to assist; in collecting subscriptions, and carrying out the necessary works. Subscriptions were cheerfully furnished, moderate [tenders were received, and the work is now in active progress, and bids fair to be finished before the harvest. These proceedings afford a gratifying proof of the extent to which our settlers are ready to help themselves out of a difficulty by putting their own shoulder to the wheel, and [[of the beneficial effects which may result from such a spirit. We heartily congratulate all parties interested on their being able to look forward to the season of floods and Sou-westers without anxiety or apprehension.