Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 441, 24 January 1857, Page 6

Local Intelligence.

Scabby-' Sheep.—We are informed that E. Chapman, Esq., a- sheepfarmer on the south' bank of the Rakaia, was a' few'days ago fined £75,' on- the information of the Inspector of Sheep, under the, Scab. Ordinance, for haying diseased Sheep .upon his run. This is.one out of a very few instances of the stringent provisions of this Ordinance being carried into' effect. Election ' fob the District.—On Thursday evening - last, Mr.' Shand, who opposes the re-election of Mr. Bray for the seat in the Council lately resigned .by that gentleman, met the electors of the Christchurch ■ Country District in Mr. Webb's Store, Christchurch°Quay. The attendance of-electors- was very thin, but considerable interest- was excited amongst those present. Mr. Shand spoke at some length, denouncing the present system' of Provincial' ' Government, the multiplicity of offices, the lavish expenditure in salaries, • &c., and adverted to-a variety of other topics belonging^1 to the occasion. Several questions were then asked , and replied toby ;Mr. Shand. We observe that-the same gentleman . holds a meeting of Electors at the White Hart Hotel, Christchurch, on Monday evening next. ' ' Canterbury Loan Society.—The annual Ger.eral meeting of tbe Society took place, according to custom, on the first Tuesday in the year, when the accounts produced (see advertisement), gave the highest satisfaction. The dividend declared from the profits was 17^ per cent on the capital, beiiu 2i per cent more than last year, with a consideiable amount again added to the ' Rest Fund.' We are glad to see that the confidence which the public has, deservedly placed in this Society has been productive of such good results. '•" The Crops.—Harvest may be now said ito have fairly commenced, and wages, as we anticipated, do not rule higher than. 30s. per acre for reaping the' heaviest crops. This price tends; to becdriie considerably lower, and would probably have been so from the commencement/had not a large, number of hands been kept out of the labour market by the public works. Though' some: oi' the contracts have been so arranged as not to interfere with the harvest during the time of greatest pressure, still we are aware of several cases of men refusing to leave the contractors at the solicitation of faimers. And this fact keeps up the price of labour, even though a good number be disengaged. On the other hand,- Reaping machines have b^en tried in various quarters, not. yet, as ■ far as we can learn, with any great "success, but this is probably owing to inexperience in'their management; and we anticipate that at no distant time the labour market will be considerably eased by the employment of such assistance on our,level, fields

The prospects of .the mieat crop's are good. Barley has quite lately been generally • attacked by the caterpillar, which is making sad ravagesjjjiu this valuable crop. The potato crop does not cover much land, but is looking1 extremely well. The small amount of rain which we have just had, if it does not last, cannot injure the .grain. .On the whole,'farmers have' every prospect good, except that of the^markets, and their'anticipations should not' be too gloomy ou this head. -