Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 443, 31 January 1857, Page 7

Local Intelligence.

Lecture.— On Tuesday evening last, Dr. Gundry. gave his second lecture on Physiology,j at the Town Hall, to a very good attendance. The lecturer commenced by explaining the structure and.action of the. skin and eyes, and the differences in the colour of the former, as seen in. the fiye.varietiesof the human race. He then exhibited/ with the aid of diagrams the peculiar physiognomy of these varieties, and the differences Observed in-the form's of their skulls ; and explained with great vividness and minuteness their other distinctive characters of stature, habits, language, Bee. The learned gentleman then proceeded to describe the effect of natural causes in "Very gradually producing the permanently marked characters of each Variety, and showed how divisions and subdivisions of the human race could be made, down to individual distinctions. Dwelling also upon facts presented by the various breeds of domesticated animals descended from one parent stock, he deduced the arguments which prove in a physiological point of view the common descent of the whole human race, in spite of apparent wide diversities Kaiapoi.—On Sunday, the 18th inst.,the Lord [Bishop of-Christchurch preached at Kaiapoi Church, taking as his text 2 Cor. yiir. 11,12. A very large; congregation was present. On the following morning his Lordship met the principal residents in the neighbourhood, to take into consideration the state of the church in the district, when several points of much interest were discussed. All present were pleased with the kind interest and ready attention his Lordship gave to eveiy'suggestion, made by any one present, and the practical and valuable remarks he made. The extraordinary refusal of the Church Trustees to pay to the clergyman the siun actually voted-at the annual meeting, without any condition, was pressed on his Lordship's attention. W Te - may look for a more prosperous state of the Church, now that we have a Bishop among u§ whose sole desire seems to be to promote the general well, being of the Church, and whose 'conciliating-, manners' will tend to soften down the angry feelings which have hitherto caused so much heart-burning. Harvest.-?— The wheat harvest has commenced'in the neighbourhood of Kaiapoi \ the crops are good and likely to be got in in good condition, Mr. Woodford's mill will

be in operation in about a fortnight,|and will be a great boon to the farmers, there, as utide? present circumstances no export can be.looked for. Wool is coining down'from the upper stations in considerable quantity; it is expected that., about'-800 ■ bales will be shipped from Kaiapoi -this season.The ,Election on Thursday.—There' was a special break-down about this proceeding, which many elections lately have' seemed to be tending towards. The acting Returning Officer began at 11 o'clock, Christchurch' time, to read the Writ, and then the document authorizing him to act. There were, then five electors present, and neither candidate. Mr. Shand was first proposed and seconded by two of them, and Mr. Bray afterwards by two others. A show of hands was called for and the fifth gentleman held his up with Mr. Bray's two friends ; in fact, elected him ; for when Mr. Shand's proposer demanded a poll; it' was found that six electors were necessary for such purpose injjthe absence of the candidate himself. Mr. Shand did not appear at all, but Mr. Bray did. just in time to hear himself declared duly elected. Really, from this[haliitual neglect of the nomination of members we are compelled to think that, if the public will not be stirred up to take an interest, some alteration in the system must be demised ; for it is here that absuidity becomes attached to small elections, and not in the actual choice between two candidates. The only excuse'oiv this occasion may be that the time of the election was wrong. If it was, as is reprefiented to us, sharp eleven, Christchurch time, when the ptoceeditigs began, we are bound to say that the whole affair may have been over before I 1 o'clock by the real time ; fully 15 minutes' difTeretice being generally found between the two. We think,"in the absence, of candidates, a little law might be'given by the Returning officer. To add to the peculiarities of the case, no official notice was sent to Lytelton, (and most likely,'not to Kaiapoi), of the "election. The Deputy Returning Officer in this town, consequently, kept the poll open all day yesterday, and actually lecurded seven votes, all for Mr. Bray. How much of this the races have to answer for, we know not.

Excursion Trip to Akaroa. —The Zingari sailed on Thursday afternoon, taking a number of passengers on an excursion trip to Akaroa. She proceeds to Timaru for a cargo of wool,' and will call at Akaroa on her return, thi.s afternoon. The Excursionists were not very numerous in consequence of the/day ■ being 'occupied otherwise from the adjournment of the races. Akaroa, however, is well worth a visit, and we are sure the pleasure seekers by the Zingari will not regret their visit.nor, above all,: their easy mode of access tp the place. Election at Amuri.—On Monday last, the 26th itist., the election of a member of the Nelson Provincial Council for the district of Amuri, in the room G. L. Lee, Esq., resigned, t.iok place at Mount Parnassus, the residence of Mr. Joilie, the Returning Officer. Mr;B.L.Muller,tiie Provincial Secretary, who resigned his seat, for Waiinea East on taking office under the new Superintendent, and was not re-elected, was the only candidate. He was proposed by Mr. Caverhil', seconded by Mr. E. Lee, and was declared duly elected. Prospects of Exporting Grain. —■ The Sydney 'Morning Heiald' of the 27th December says : Little or no business has been done this .week. Importations of foreign wheat and Hour continue io arrive, and without the importation of another bushel there is more than sufficient in the colony, with our own coming crop, for a year to, co,me ; while the crops, in the South Australian colony are reported to have/ been so. abundant.as to yield a supply equal:tb,fche demand for both their Own consumption and for the Victorian market.