The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 472, 13 May 1857, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

'-y> SUMMARY' #0R -THE RE Li BAM A.7 7: ' ■■ ;;',;.Ofi.all. the.sourcesjfrflm-vyhie^^ui1 intending; colonist:^o,:Ne.w,Zealandi can'..'gatjiev' insinuation'^ iir England;concerning the^ cpuntry ot his : cliQice, ; .the oiie which has hitherto been; mostealeulattcl to baulk .his desire is, the local:press: ■There; are hooks written spph New Zealand to-be had; ' in; remai-kable prpiusion.-ri;; There • have"'been; pamphlets, vletters, ;*' of' -speeches^ and ; .^various : other documents on i; ; 'the' subject^ ■ printed in extehsoV by; the' English .press ; ?and allseera greedily shallowed'..by.; the public.;;; It,'-"is;.notv, a, new remark'.'.. that the tone of these productioris Las been :: gmerally,Vthat - .of. high>-'■. ahd^.often of; fervent ''■' upraise.;; •" From a the quarto., work; to the after■;;idinner .speech or the newspaper paragraphj. all have.;united;'in Veulogising this country, till of . late we ■ have even become t;oo modest to accept theflatteries.bestowed '^ has; obtained her fair share of compliment, and lias been i even more* than the: other settlements . ■ of' New Zealand silent upbnher own merits. In ' 'shVrt,;;^ '.'honourable name; with' those at home who pay attentiorito such"matters, rather'bythe constant

efforts of her absent friends than by direct evidence out of her own mouth.

On their own merits modest men are dumb

But it., is probable that not so much the modesty of the press has interfered to prevent the publication of the merits of this province as the want of an opportunity or reason for narrating in a compendious form the general circumstances of the country for the time being. No such performance has yet been attempted here, though it is usual in other colonies, and necessary to be done from time to time if the distant reader of a journal is^to comprehend many circumstances of the minor history of the colony, whose constant though gradual changes do not find a record in the pages of the journal from week to week. As an endeavour to supply the deficiency, we purpose taking advantage of the departure of the Belisama direct for London, with a large amount of our produce on board, to accompany it with a summary of the late occurrences and present state of this settlement, and with a compendium of such facts as may be most interesting to a reader at home. As no previous summary has ever been given in our pages, from which to date the present, we must try to include in our narrative all matters which may be serviceable either for information or explanation. With this object we shall endeavour to present a picture of the settlement in all its phases, as it is at present, narrating ihe actual occurrences of the present or the past, to show the progress made. The first division of the subject and by far the largest is ■ material. Though we are not going to give a geographical description of the .Province of Canterbury we must ask the reader to come with us from place to place within its boundaries, that we may give him an idea of the progress and peculiarities of each, and of their relation to one' another. We begin with Lyttelton This town con* tains at present somewhere about 1,000 inhabitants, and, though increasing, does not show any rapid progress during the past five years. Its interests are almost entirely commeicial, and as its inhabitants -are all more or less dependent upon those pursuits, the town itself keeps pace with the increase of commerce in the settlement. In this view Lyttelton is certain to maintain a steady progress towards1 importance. As Lyttelton harbour is almost the only outlet from the province, the most interesting question si ace the foundation of the settlement, and one not yet set at rest, is how to form the best means of access 'from this poit to the plains. At present, the passenger and light 'sjoods traffic is caiTJea1 on ovor the range 'of hills, immediately above the town, along a bridle-path, cut in the earliest days and lately improved. A road intended for heavy goods, was laid out on another line a few miles round, by way of Sum- 1 ncr, and was commenced at the time of first settlement, then abandoned, then commenced again, on a slightly altered line, about two years ago, and then again abandoned. It is now in course "of slow progress, under the hands of the prisoners in Lyttelton Gaol sentenced to hard labour, and is open for horsemen all the way. It f is again proposed to continue the works by a grant from the Provincial revenues, but the question is not yet settled. In the meantime goods of all kinds are carried between the port and the plains ■ by vessels of small buithen, which ply from Lyttelton Jetty to two wharves in the Heathcote river, two and four miles from Christchurch. An idea has been several times entertained of obtaining steamers for this traffic, and one was actually brought down from Australia and worked for a short time. She answered very well, but unfortunately ran ashore on the rocks near the mouth, and was never recovered. The Provincial Government has set apart a sum to be granted in aid of such another undertaking, and negotiations have already been entered into for the supply of two steamers for the seryice, the Government paying a small bonus and insuring the vessels. It is to be expected that this arrangement will be carried out to practical working. .As trade is carried on directly by sea between L tjfc 'ton and various rivers and boat harbours along' the coast, Amuri, Motunau, Double Coiner, Kaiapoi, and Sumner, to the northward; >tbe various bays of Banks's Peninsula, Akaroa, and Timara, to the southward ; 1 each of which is a shipping place for a tract of I country adjo;mng, it is not probable that the I proposed sleam service will perform all the

carrying - work required; the remainder will then continue to be performed by sailing vessels. All the above mentioned places are within an easy day's sail of Lyttelton. In this town a branch of the Union Bank of Australia, (l ie Custom House, General Post Office, Gaol, and Hospital for the province are established, and the pi in. cipal merchants have their warehouses. The Union Bank of Australia isj erecting a spacious stone building for ite own use; several stores and warehouses ~have been lately built and some are on the 'point of erection ; and there are fifteen or twenty houses now in progress in the town. The country connected with Lyttelton consists merely of the spurs of the hills sloping down to the harbour. About two hundred acres of land ,immediately round the town is purchased, .and most of it occupied. A tolerable amount of available land is found bordering the water, towards - the head of the harbour, and "there have always been a good number of residents in this district. A bridle road has been carried though this country, from Lyttelton to the head of the harbour, and over a' very low point of the range down to the level land on • the plain by Lake Ellesmere. This has thrown open a great deal of desirable land and much benefitted those already settled there. Owing to a misunderstanding, several portions of the road have been stopped up where it passed through private property, and the Government, it seems, now proposes to divert the line in those places. The passenger and light goods traffic is car» ried between Lyttelton and the plains at present over the bridle path. Tliis path crosses the lull at an elevation of about I,IOQ feet, and the ascent is on' a gradient, in most places, of about one in five. £500 has been spent on widening and smoothing it, and this small amount of money has, made a very great improvement. The Bridle-path, properly speaking, extends to the Heathcote, Ferry, a distapce of four miles from Lyttelton, but the hill forms only 2\ miles of its length, and is left behind in the Heathcote-Valley. Prom this point, the Great Plain stretches about thirty miles north, eighty miles south, and from thirty to forty miles wide, without any other impediment to travellers than an occasional river or swamp, The road to Christchurch winds down the Heathcote Valley and crosses the river of that name at the bottom of the valley,,by a ferry. Here the bridle-path ends, joining the main road as laid out to Lyttelton by Sumneiv .One of the whaives where goods are received and despatched by boats between Ljttelton and Christchurch is situatul at this point. Hence to Chi jstchurch the road is a capital one, used for all purposes. It passes through one of the principal agricultural (lihtricts, and perhaps the one*mo«t thickly inhabited at the present time. The Lower Heathcote district on the south of th£ road and the Avon district on the north are extensively cultivated. The road itself was first formed shortly after the foundation of the settlement; half of it was soon after metalled (from Christchurch to the Quay, where a bend of the Heathcote approaches the road, and where the second wharf is situated). The remaining half has bean metalled within the past six months, at an expenditure of not much less, than £2,000. It is now the best road in the settlement and bears, of course, the greatest traffic. Since the beginning of the year, a Store and wharf for timber have le 'n erected not far from the Quay. At anothei convenient point a Wharf been thrown out by the contractor for metalling the road, at which the metal for the work was landed, and which is still used for other purposes. A path is sometimes taken by horsemen irom the top or the Heathcote 'Valley along the edge of the plain and hills, towards Christchurch.' A good m my sections have been taken up in the countiy through which 'this path leads, and a legular road is pioposed on the line during this year. In the country that we have looked over, less prDgress has been made, on the whole, than in almost any other portion of the province, the farms now worked having been establishes from the commencement. But the traffic of all sorts between the towns .has immensely inei eased, the roads have beeu < much improved, stores at both wharves have been built of g00" size and style, and the ferry has been put in good working order. Besides the drays with supplies inwards and country produce outwards, two\ehicles carrying parcels and passengers run both ways twice a-day, one carrying the mail. Parcels and light goods are packed on

horseback over the hill; the passengers have to walk. Passengers on horseback and foot, and some few private vehicles, pretty fairly complete the occupation of the road. Four miles from the ferry is Christchurch, the town of the plains, situated just" so far inland of the po^t hills and the swamps and sandhills of the coast, that roads can stretch in tolerably straight lines North and South and West, without meeting any serious obstacle. Christchurch is a town exactly corresponding to the> country in which it is situated. Plat, thinly inhabited by an energetic population, and conversant with wotk of a very miscellaneous character, it^ bu&l--ne«s is an epitome of the business of the plains. Horse and wool are of course predominant. The wool-growers north of the Kangitata and south of the Waimakaiiri rivers bring their drays down with wool to Christchurch and load again with station stores.' The farmers of the district dispose ofjtheir produce most easily here. Most of the business is done on Satuidays, when the town is almost always in a bustle. On other days there is very, Tittle stirring. The head quarters of the Provincial Government are here, the Council Chamber, the Land Office, the Superintendent's office, and those of the other departmento. There is an agency of the Union Bank of Australia, established since the begin-J ning of the year;' a branch Post Office, about a dozen ' General Stores,' three Hotels, a few i clothing and other shops, and a large number of private houses. The town is rapidly increasing. Two yca^s ago the town as laid out extended over ai oat 600 acres. Since then a belt of about 400 acres more has been added to it, divided into allotments, and sold by Auction by the ! Government under a plan of deferred payments/ The system has proved successful, the bulk of the sections having been readily taken at high prices, fenced and generally cultivated. Some . buildings have been placed upon this portion of , the town ; but the older portion, though all sold several years ago, is not, yet by any means thick- * ly covered with houses. In Christchurch and its immediate vicinity about-sixty houses "are, now in course of erection. Great improvements in fencing and cultivating the land not wanted for building have been made during the year or two past in Christchurch., Ih the town and closeto it therearenowawindmilljtwo watermills three* breweries, a-printing office, and a nursery garden of great extent and well established character. An Iron foundry lias been lately established and was opened on Monday last by Mr. Andet'oon in Cashel-st., —when the first attempt" at casting was most successfully made. A large number of persons were present to witness the operation, and Mr. Anderson, the same evening, entertained a large companj* of friends to dinner, in honor of the auspicious event. The chair was taken by His Honor the Superintendent. We regret that we are unable here to enter further into the details of this enterprise, so creditable to the skill and energy of one of our own settlers, and to the province, at large. Altogether Christchurch. has increased, and no doubt will continue -to progress, in proportion to the increase of actual wealth in the surrounding country. Prom Christchurch, several roads stretching various directions besides that towards Lyttelton. A small district lies a little north-east of the town, down the river Avon. It-contains a lundsome church, lately built, the only one -consecrated in the province, and an Unusual num.ber of gentlemen's and is extensively cultivated. An outlet from this district is provided by water, the Avon, navigable for small vessels, running through the cultivated country and joining the Heathcote at Suinner. A road runs to the south of Christchurch and forms a means of communication between that town and " the Upper Ileathcote district. Westerly of this the Lower Lincoln Road runs towards the dis- " tiict of that name, and, passing through some splendid agricultural land, much of which is^ cultivated, opens up the splendid cattle country < round the base of the Peninsular hills and is intended to join the road before mentioned, now in progress by Governor's Bay towards Lake Ellesmere. Many thousand acres of good arable land lie here stil] untouched by the plough. The Riccarton district lies westof'Christohurdi. There are here some of the most extensive and best farmed holdings in the settlement, and the" ' cultivated land extends across the Upper Avon to Papanui. In fact, from Papanui to the lower, part of the Avon, being an impassable swamp, is the only uncultivated pait of,the"country I'ound Christchurch. Ail- the remainder, from

the .Avon',ta; the .Perry J^oadj.tthence, to, the i Xlpper the'Lrt&blryKpadi ..Riccartpn,: % c Uppe^Aypn, and.tOjPapHnuii again, forms,a .".ci.yfM.pf : \y,ell,iilled'if not; .thickly."'populate* and* cd :;<»u»fcvy-M^ir^;.n;iture-of -the:soil paries, frpm^a^satid^toi-a -stiff! clay,, and. is.-'ail' cons&ere^pf the? highest ;jyalue,: -fNpnepf itis : yet : at ; all>exhausted,%; cropping.:-"; ; -f '..'}: ' • T.^ e f V<wid;; ; from,.ChrisfcchuiTh " ;i itp - Riqcartpn, yffcexg, it ,comes ; upon.. the border pf Ithe, pastoral ; C0, U]lT fcrX.; inches ;into jitliree, .or rwe; might.;say ; x} r: J A?-; these ro/ads] Jrayprseiaiisliort^grassed ■' hard; lev^l :snrfaci3, ..except'jan^a.feTCfplacps^inp : actual, roads :;.haye, bee a ,fornie,d^,but ; the ; tracks of, buJlpckTdrays ,&rm : wen T^eaten';pathsi : :pf,-th'e^e; roads,,runs, .a^little:west;bf/.south #o*the ;outer, part'of, the cattle,country, in the.neighbour- ■ hood' of.the Jpake; -another steers, about, §. W-.und, is,:^he ,main .r,oad to the Souiih (Cojintry, crbssing'■ the Selwyn, ;Ralcaia,^shbiirton,Vand"ilangitata..i t njecessary; : deyiations;^toithe various i homesteads on ; the; ; runs, dt: forms ithe; road-by : .^hich. ; ,the,wooi is : brought;up;frbin;-alhthisam-;mense to^QhrisficHurch. ", iySputhypf *the j Eangitata river,; it iis J more [usual; ;atjpresent,;ito ; take:woolsfp^s'hipment ,tb, Timaru, whence; it is ebiiyeyed by sea,to Lyttelton> ; ; -As ,w.e are ; notan, apposition to .state' the.'amount of wopl< produced., in t :each;separatedistrict;;;.w.e;^cannot takVour> readers furthervin;this' directionia of; the; business, carried on at the; stations inotibeing" .within:'our .prescribed • JiiiiitsV ErotnjEliccarton '; .another;r.paS .runs-parallel to' tlip^ivSr.^aima- ■ kariri'^thtouglv the sheep coiintryJwestbfGhrist-j .church ; and; another, not much used, crosses the : . Waiinakariri or Gpurtenay,- and:traverses; the> \couutry',.in.- a"■nprth-west directi,bnt6wards]Hare-; .w;6pd. .Of these^,roads,;the,same may.be said :as; pfjth'e Southern one. y-.; -They are not niade^ roads : and.they^Jpass^^ throughclis^icts fully, occupied for.pastpral^purposes, butlwhpse : progress is; oiilyi 'pnly!;.mark'ed;;7^y v the!''iiumb^r;vof;; bale 3 of; wool :'despatched-frpm\t^ iWhicji'will be fo)ind^n;ahpther;iplace/::V;iJ si "i/:^ ,- . Thei a-eniainirigroad is perhaps tlie \ most i hter-;-;' ; estihg ; 6f Vail. The great Nofth/f;Road;leaves? Ghrist'chui'.cli '■ 'in.-;-theiidirectipn;indicated,.by its■ >flame,;;and:,passes;'first;i^rpu^K cultiyatejyiand^ 3pri; right'ana.; ; le.ft \fprthree ■mil^sv;.asuftiryias l :the! atod;Wppd pfpapanui; ivTbisiiWobdrvHas }, ■■ su]pplied^Gh\ustchurcli^with a great; pprtipnofitsi ■•firewood^during.ibhe past■six ; yearsv,and;little of, it] (apparently^ab6ut;five^acves)'4sinpw tleft.;:; ;As ;> • .the ;i wppd;ydwindled>;the.^villagei rose, iandi.for^a| long,' time ;was:the -greatest mark,- of ' t :to-beseen.r,Y It;is npw;sbme.what quieterrand-nbt: ■ much,,pnjtheyinereasej but is;still'•■the nucleus,of • an active labouring population, r• The enclosure ipf;land is?going:forward-all.through.this;;neigh- ■ bourhdod, iRS; actively: as anywhere In the; ;pro-; vince, but- a :great-[deal of, the counti'y ;betwe'en; .this and the. sea-coast being;impassable- swamp,'■ /the; farmer': is somewhat: circumscribed in- his ■ choice, of land. ■ '. jProm .Ghristchurch to Eapanui tte roid was made good about three.' years ago,,. >^tidjfi.^tnp.ut'fjb.eing';^e^lUi'd', remains in:very ■ Vgbpd condition.1; Just beyphd Eapanui, it crosses; ; ,an-; arra;i;6f;; the-;;•s^amp:.abj)vev'■ mentioned;•; -and from.,thi,t cause, till last,year,' was one of ,:the.: few ;'really-impracticable; roads in the. pro-; ;'vincei: It Has now been;raisedy and drained,;arid ■ .:prpmises -ijto ;renlain • throughout: the.' winter iih ■• ■very fair order for the.heayy;traffic which passes along,.it. ;.!Sevenvmiles,from;Ghristchurchithe> iroad.-meet^i jthe driveriWainuVkariri ?arid ■ thence^ ■follows: its .{.coarse':foiy^folix;; or.-five miles; : "The ; country passed througli isall agriculturaVlfind, i and ■^;isf;Keginnihg k ;to '-he^ irtakenr up ' in: lurms.' About 600 or 700 acres have.here heen/iakeiiij into occupation diiiing tlie lasteighteerimoriths/? ;A-good deal of the remainder : is piirohased from ' '■' Gbvernment," especially on Nthe -road frontage.;; '■■but.:it-. is.used chieilyj'as vruns fori the cattle] or two -.dairy stations: close; iby.' ; Being', -good;agricultural land; and in a tolerably.good ; p6.sitibn,j it; is o;certain; to; -be: brought:1 into cultivation; in sno, long. time..•■.- !When .tlie.i-.road.: ■meets: tlie driver, it also . emerges from, the some- -j what: swanipy awd broken country; which; extends; i round Papanui towards:• the sea, ahdcomes:upon i the':sandUiills\which line;., the coast-and sti-etcß ! :.here,v'aborifc four miles inland;; The river! hank; is for. soni'e: width: cbmpbsediof good soil, but; in one or • two/ places <is being: can-iecl away." By. .the ; '.'riyeriin.:i.''timeW'of;.'ilp'od;'';^Hehce;;it ia:somewliat :dangerous torsettleupbri.. Eight from'" r Ghris'tcli'-uvclvia'-'ferry is abbufctb"!-be establisnedv' over which the road wilr-erpss;to;the north side of tlie 'river, on its way to Kaiapoi: .-..This side '.jsWonAau/ -island, tlie;iWaimak'ariri paiiihg into. two; :'streams;a few/miles .higher up,and rejoin-

I ing; ajittle bejpvy Kaiappi/,thus:ejnbracing about 5000 pf^mps^fetilej^t.pf^en'rpUgh and ;' : ";The road; pursue^"the south-bank .for about three miles. f virfchef, to the • f^rry, whicli is;;at ; present;wprked.; ,;When tfe „ , .rivQr is crossed, 'here^tlie,''. traveller^ ;js: clo^e},to /Kaiapbi^ This part of 'The^-Islahd^asJ^itis; called, is i taken, up and cultivated1 in .: every, direction^ Part of ■ itis ; laidpff; iatowii -sections ■:and;;is^ret^^clos^ly.built'upon^;T -* cultiyatedrland, is all around. In- the neighbpur--hood of Kaiappi about 600, acres of grain, cKiefty - -.wheat, were; ; grown.-last .year,: and the greater ■. - ■ .portion;of;;that-vampuntwas;on the;lsland. :' A ; .muchjlarger;-.;quantiiy;of land is,being broken up by { farmers in the neigjibourhood-for, the icoming .season. . 'y--'\.'; liv-'.-.. v'^Y--^;; ' .-.i'.',.','.-■'■i'-.i:-.: ; ■ '■',-'■'.: „ -About!a, imile along ;the present ■• ;road reaches .{from one. branch of : ihe river tp;,the other., j This ;isi; a stream,,;narrower, less rapid,;-:but .stilUdeep.; iThe. two brajiches join .about a mile below/ ; The road : . grosses tlie second stream-by .another ferry, at.present,; but, it is; in contempla- -. " tibn to build a bridge here to;.unite.the-Island . ,-witb. the principal part of the town pf yKaiapoi,', ■which.;is ; pn the; ptherfside.. „ThisVtbw;n.;w.as to - .have, ■been J estabiished* as"'the townshipr of Glad - % ..stone about four years: ago, but the scheme from "■/ ,various.icauses was? abandoned, and .since-then :the:place has'been; settled in.the usual,.manner with* wonderful .rapidity;, Tlie . : riyer .forms a ■ capital means of; access for boats,!by which.:the ;produce;of tliesurrpuiiding country is sent awaj% - forming a ; «Valuabie:|trade; ; &r;^her;.liLttle^town.' :; About;; 800: bales of! wool have been shipped , here ; during :the past', season,; and,. this number -will probably; almost double itself every year, for - a few years to come.;"/In addition to this advantage,; : .Kaiapoi possesses , another, a very imppr--tant.onp!,iin; having wood of .'about 1000 acres._ A good dealof this wood; belongs to the natives,;..: who are in .the.habit of selling, the . standing jtimber to , sawyers.v;-,arid> ; ;pthersi; ■_■['. The■;;rest ;of ; tlie , wood-' is : v also in the ■, hands .of workme.n, and, a very! considerable timber 7 and firewooditrade has/sprung up to.Ghristchurch; VA navigable; stream^ flows through the wood and , by some valuable agricultural.land to- joint the jWaimakaririvjust; above; ; Kaiappi^ jAE^jbhis ; country, it will be seen is well provided vwith. ; water carriage.;:; At a-little distance uptlie river .. a w.ater flour : mill has just been opened, which , >yili supply a -want hitherto : yeiy much felt in_ ~this;district.;;:-';':i.V;;; '^.yi:)::-j:-:l'.:yi :ih-:+:<]'::::■■.:■ :"i .■ '-.■ - {Kf A-; flax : dressing; factory -was. ;established - in J this' neighbourhood; some two -.years-- agb, but is itb;.;longer .at: work;i:,lf, .as seems.hpi'obable, a : iplan be brought to perfection for the preparation, . of this ''..valuable. ; article from: i the : .phdhnipni terid<s, norplace could be better suited, than this :for /carrying: it into practice: ■'•..'...■;-.•.• - - .-.•.-■;':■•"■■-. >')■:. The North ; road, after leaving Eaiapoi,- passes. ; through. a.piece of. laiid .'reserved to the' natives alongside the .wood above mentioned. 'This is the'-..chief: nativei settlement: in the province; but 'the numbers belonging to, itcannot be reckoned .at.mbre.tiian 150^persons.; The reserve which-* has b'eeni made for. their, use is a raost valuable ;one, producing.them a considerable income from the crops,: which theyr raise from.it,;.from;th.e .;'. ■itimber whicli; theysell, and from the rents paid ■ ,them by neighbouring owners of cattle for the pasture upon their unoccupied ■. lands. : .: Just beyond the native;bush,-17 miles from :Ghristchurch, a road branches off to the west.■ward :atid,:crossing::some beautiful agricultural _ land, on the northern .bordei- of; what is now jut- impassable; swamp; rpasses ; by; Rangiora, v „.' ; small;. settlement close to'.=a wood of-; that iiame. ;A road-is projected from Rangiora to Kaiapoi,•'-..' across the swamp, which, it is believed may ; b« : formed with in uch ease; and in its formation drain •the land about ;it.:; If so, this Avillrforiii a very ; " extended and easily, accessible agricultural dis-trict-Even now, a, sort.of emigration is goinij on -from the central: districts to1 Kaiapoi- ami liangiora, which,' though i'soiuewhat. checked by-'tlle' ;loav. market.ratessof produce, has: becii _ sutiicient to make these districts during the past ■yeaivor Wo the: inbst: renlai'kable -in the"settle- _■ ment for, rapid/.progressl •: -Plenty ;of wood, .water; and.'agviculturai; land are ,tlie great, at- : tractionsV and.;.tliev cannot fail to- draw to them an industrious com mviiiifev,1 'ari'dt to inn Ice Kaiapoi • astlie shippir.g poi'ta'tliriviiig little-town. •,:? ;;^Thia briinch^from-thenortliroad^tterpasning' Rangiora. continues towards- the'west, and at once,leaves •■'"cultivation"'•behind it, -forming:,the line oPrbaclto the- sheep .stations on the Ashh-y, ahd^as far Forest..'.'All the pro- . duce of. the country:'between MouufeGrey aiul.

the Waimakariri comes down [this road towards Kaiapoi. Some Government money has been spent upon this load in the formation of bridges over numerous streams which" intersect the country near Bangiora. The rest of the road though not formed is naturally tolerably good down to Kaiapoi. The north road, northwards of this branch, verj' soon abandons the cultivated country, and, crossing the riversAsbley and Kowai, leads into the hill country up the valley of the Waipara, and goes to the boundary of the Canterbury j province at the Hurunui. This will be the high road to Nelson," and is'now passable far into that . •province, until stopped by the snowy hills, be--'j'ond the river' Waiau-ua. A good deal of the country traversed is level or undulating, though not pait of the great plain. Near the coast rise high and abrupt hills, and the stations situated there send their wool away by sea. 1,140,000 acres of this country was purchased three months ago from'the native owners for £200. Of this block 500,000 acres are in the Province of Nelson, and the remainder in Canterbury. The road from Kaiapoi northwards has been much improved during the past six months, at Government expense. Bridges over streams have been constructed: swampy portions drained and raised, and cuttings made to lead to fords over the rivers. A cutting has also been made carrying the road over almost the only hill which interrupts the route to the • Hurunui river. Altogether, from Christchurch to this point, the road which was last year unfit for traffic in a dozen places during any wet weather, is now in very fair condition for drays. ' Fortunately, also, owing to' the' fine weather which has prevailed until an unusually late period of this autumn,' stockowners have been •enabled to complete their draying operations with ease. • Throughout the province discoveries have been' pushed further west every year towards the west coast. From time to time, and even very lately, fresh runs have been taken on newly found country, and no doubt in process of time* investigation will be urged by the want of room over to the west coast. •At pi'esent, however, < more than one half of the province is a terra • incognita. There is one part of the Province of Canterbnry whicli we have not yet mentioned; Banks's Peninsula. This is a portion of our soil, which, though close to Lyttelton and abounding in resources "which are denied to the rest of the province, is from some cause looted upon as wholly independent of the remaining 'country: It is almost an island, framed in lofty hills, and covered generally with a dense forest. It possesses splendid harbours, and contains some of the most beautiful scenery in the Southern Island.' From its physical conformation, it is duided into distinct bays, enclosed between the spurs of the hills which almost wholly .preclude convenient access from one to the other. It follows that they are"approached only by water j for any purposes of trade. From each of them a little sawn timber, firewood, or cheese, is produced and conveyed to Lyttelton From some, grain and potatoes are added ; and in one porTon of" the peninsula, wool. The principal' place is Akaioa, a magnitkvni ■■•■id excellent harbour, whei-e a small town of the same name, originally founded by a French comppny, is situated. This place is a fa\ou,"c,e a»oi-t of whalers; French and American nre in the habit of calling here regularly to recrui'. The fertile soil and warm climate, many degrees warmer than the plains, produce fruits, and vegetables in great profusion; wood and water are plentiful ; and the representativps of the Government are energetic in capturing any seamen who may desert. ' From these' circumstances whalingcaptains who have had experience of the place arc w ell pleased to return when the ship wants recruiting. To this may be added that fish are becoming more and more plentiful every year just oft" the coast, and Akaroa is conveniently situated for a run in. - Meanwhile there is very little sympathy between the settlers in tliis locality and those upon the plains. Besides the foieign element introduced by the original settlement from France, few of the inhabitants are led by business or pleasure to the open coantry, and those who come thence to Akaroa are not bound on business. 'Consequently Banks's Peninsula plight us well be an island, far out at sea, and its population men of another race and language. Tie Provincial Government has recognized the necessity of opening up this district and

rendering ' its resources more" available to the province at large. Two grants of £500 each have been made for the purposeof opening up roads through the peninsula, and doing needful repairs to the town. • But this sum has not been sufficient, and further grants of'uioney and land, equal in amount to £1,700, have been proposed in the present' session. Passengers from Lyttelton to the town of Akaroa go by water to Pigeon Bay, the second place of importance in the district,- and perhaps the 7nost thriving. Hence to Akaroa a neat bridlepath has been opened across the hills, and similar works have' been commenced in other directions, one of which, leading more directly towards Lyttelton, will, when finished, Connect the two towns by a road of about thirteen miles*, and a water-crossing of about three miles in length. A" water saw-mill has been for some time established near Akaroa, and a steam sawmill ,is in course of erection in Bones' Bay, at the N.E. corner of the Peninsula. These works tend materially to develop one of the peculiar resources of the country. Akaroa sends a valuable quantity of fruit yearly to Lyttelton. We have now gone over all those parts of the "province which are occupied, or of which any--1 thing definite can be said in the way of report- , ing progress. Our readers who are personally unacquainted with the country will perhaps I now be able to follow us in any reference which we may make to particular- localities &<* we proceed with our narrative through the other diviI sions of the history of the Province of Canterbury. POLITICAL. Unimportant as the state of our provincial politics may be to the world generally it is of the deepest interest to ourselves.' Living under a most free constitution, we are left to choose lawgivers and governors from among ourselves; and on their proceedings every man of our six thousand keeps as strict a watch" for the sake of his happiness and property, as if he was one of thirty millions at home, and legislated for by a Queen and Parliament. The Superintendent and Provincial Council, having been elected in 1853, are in their fourth or last year of office. The Provincial Council'is now in its- final session. In the middle of its existence its numbers were increased from twelve to twenty-four members, by a general election of duplicate members for each district. It has passed in previous Sessions a variety of ordinances, generally on subjects of local interest. An ordinance for preventing the spread of the scab disease in sheep: one for .punishing the trespass of cattle; one , frr regulating the management and disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown, and one for taking upon the province the interests and liabilities of the Canterbury Association in the foundat'on of the settle- j ment, are perhaps those which are of most J importance. There are, of course, numbers of other subjects upon which consideration has been bestowed. We may say that legislation has been generally of a practical nature, and its results are found most effective towards the ends proposed, and generally beneficial to the province. Faults have been committed without doubt, such as might have been expected from inexperienced law-makers; but, considering that the whole system "h ad to be built up on a very spare _ foundation Jay workmen fresh to their task, it is certain *that -the experience acquired by four years management of the affairs of the province has been very cheaply earned by the ■; few mistakes made or the still fewer failures exparienced. The Council has now been in session since the beginning of April. Its principal bu&iness is of course the expenditure of the revenues for the year, which are unusually large. An ordinance of last session authorised the raising of £'30,000 by way of loan. "£10,00,0, as the estimated sales •' of land, £6,000, as the pasturage license fees, and £12,000, as revenue from customs and miscellaneous sources, raise the sum total of pionpy to be spent to £58,0QQ in'all. The fees paid oh' licenses for depasturing stock on the" waste lands of the province form a most important and increasing item of revenue to the government. Prom the Ist to the sth of the present month, the time of payment for most of the runs in The province, upwards of £5,000 was paid by the public into the Land Office; of which about £4,600 was for license fees, and the remainder for puichases of land made at the time. The few remaining unpaid may amount to about £1,500 more. The expenditure involves the discussion of a variety of subjects

The theory and practice of Government1 and the expenses incidental to different. systems ay prominently mentioned by the. Superintendent in his opening address.' The payment of expenses of" members of Council might open a door for discussion. The department of public works and each separate item proposed to be done forms' the pith of many a debate; besides a cursory glance at works already done or at works never intended to be done. Different sy'sterns of education are brought into the field by a proposal to grant money for that purpose The management of the Waste Lands, the Administration of Justice, Immigration, and every other purpose for which money is or mio-ht be voted can be andis made'the subject of "debate in the house. A very abreviated repoit of the proceedings of the Council in one or two of these matters will be found in' another part of our isfeue to-day. There is no attraction of cohesion among the members of the Council, just as little as among the public whom they represent. Widely and thinly scattered, the public, even the more thoughtful of them, hear little of any question, and rarely form an opinion upon it. Certainly there is seldom a united opinion. In the same way the members of the Council have few opportunities of meeting-outside the. chamber. Parties'with distinct principles are never formed on any c[uestiqn, and consequently the opinions put forward by members are for the most part new to one another, are discussed in a desultory manner, are decided on without thorough consideration, and not unfrequenlly are taken for reconsideration when fresh light has been thrown upon them. This is especially the case at the present moment. The principal members of the Exeoutive having resigned office 'a few months there has been no regular body formed for representing the Executive Government in the house. There is, therefore, no expression of the comparatively matured opinions of the Superintendent and his advisers, and the house is left to be guided by whatever light may foitunately break in upon them. The result has been great delay from the postponement of business for Anther investigation, and 'a gcod deal of uncertain action. ■ ' The Superintendent's term of office expires during the current year. The present Superintendent, Mr. Fits! Gerald, has announced his determination of not standing for re-election; and two dther gentlemen, Mr. Joseph Britlan and Mr. William Seffcon Moorhouse, have come forward as candidates. ' No expression of public opinion upon the respective merits of these gentleme i has yet been made; nor is it likely that the, el ction will exvite any strong popular feeling on either side. ' • New ■ Zealand 'being governed in duplicate, with a piovincial government for each province and 'a General Government for the whole, the only evident division of parties -is at present into those supporting the increase of power to the provinces,' and those in favour of its maintenance in the hands of-'the General Government. The natural struggle for more power by the provincial legislatures has produced this state of things. Hitherto Canterbury has been strongly inclined to support in theory the General side of the question.-, At the last meeting of the- General Assembly of the Islands, her favourite representatives upheld these views. Practically, ' however, she . has ' not been behindhand in claiming for her own provincial government certain rights and privileges. from time to time, increasing'in importance: and she is as much irritated as any other province at the attempts to deprive her of any acquired advantages. Certain attacks have been made from head quarters lately upon the right of appointment of Resident or Stipendiary Magistrates by the provincial authorities. These attacks were not judiciously made, and the province seems at present; strongly inclined to abandon her theory when she finds it come into collision with her practical experience. There are now very few offices under the control pf the General Government. The Customs and the Post' Office are almost the only remaining departments managed by it in this province; and the latter not so far as connected with the' postal arrangements within our own territory. Almost all other matters are managed solely by the Provincial authorities, that is, by the Superintendent and his Executive Council ; a veto remaining with the Governor is most important cases. Things in this manner go on very well. The public can if necessary bring its voice to bear upon any matter of legislation bc-

fore it'becomes-law; Faiid theyjhave/the cbriduct ■'dl^tKeir-' representatives;■ alvirayß;'befoiie;--thein.'.: •^uii ainterests;eVeii'm tViis; 'small place are;very: • diverse';' there/is c-a/good deal of grumbling at [ "any' mistake rriadpi1 especially if the' government j fails' to give' sufficient attentibii' to the practical; /rieeds of ,• any/piace>p'r/body y ; and' this! by; reasbirj /of^the scattered^ disWcts 'frequently happens;;/ lbut;- almost: from sthe Tsiime : cause•'. there' is 'no '•■ 'co-op^evaiioh-in :any/movement, evenI: amongthe; membersjof-th'e'same' class; and/cbrise'quehtlyttie;. ;gqverhmeTit,; fthbugli haying a;;difficult-task'-to : do to please every one, is^strong essentially^ i! ; s ■ r!'TrobliWy^bd^t!tK>e:iriididliß6f.;'irnne'th'e present: session of the Council will be- 6ver*vi > ■ Dissbl ution will ensue'iipoji that as.soon Vasan" answer tb: 'a' request, to that effect can be received ■ from; Auck-: land; X i::AlnW;';iyistem/of registrktibn and^divi-] *si6n: of ■ electoral' district^ Will; then -be brought : 'into'ioperatioriV andj: as'soon .asttie: prelimiriaries \ ; 'Are complete, the j;fejttph'bf a-riew'Siiperinteri- ; ' dent Wi 11 be proceeded with ;and ■ the election. of a; freA'Cbuncir-will'MidwW-^bj-f^ jvres'ent 3udg^:theset'ele'ctioris'' are not likely to | :take']ilace v;ehd'bf:; September^ next. • .'The" Gouncil"is vrno'w''ien*gaged;-wtV;tKe [question■■ 'of reyisidir' and 0 reap]TOrti6nmerit \df :■ the 1 repre- \ setit;atibn aniong the; diiferent'districts ; probably-; an prdmance'wjlUbe^assed/setting;these;matters | ,on iaivew fiputidatibn.;':!; ; ; ';"■; '': y i:':^ ;:J'/: '^\ ," /.;:' :<_ '■;*}:.::■'■'':'■''' tßaSe^and- teoMMERGBi'"— 71 c~::-'- r'-'\ \^;The:: * of ■: the ■'settlement' :is -at: present"sqcli :;that; tVie < ehd: and aim -bf all the' j^dUriofthref fourths of piiv> population' is-^to : jjtdduce1 sdme:article ttiat;'cari vbe; readilyi, di^-: .^6'sed;of ln^^reign vstiarl^J- : ;,The greatexport '■ ' is of course; yvooY, :dn: tbe"pi-ice of ?.\vh"icli the pre- \ 'large -population--in:'-the; Icd^ry^a^no^ffectr:• ■ '■Toa^certain extentlmbsti /other' articles -are sim ilarly' situated. ;-■ There; >is ; ;so v rnuch7sgrain/ cheese,; and; pbtatdeS; gi-own; in/ -the province] beyond what the ■populatipn^dei- ; ' mands, .ihat'the;; producer looks/in -every cases to ; th^ ste.% of/a/fx>reign•T^rk'et^jfbr'his chances-'df ■ Xemiuteratidn;'" Itfis^plain^ that therefcan^e^few/: ' iscarcely indeed 'any articles df-produce -in' which ; ■ SnyJ number■ of^ bur '^industrial '"population/ar^: |uterestedy*whicli; are intended only fcr home cpn- ! '^umptwn/^perliih^ : produce 'aiid^use durseWes bears? jbvit: a ■ smalt-prcportibn'td^that'' produced. :;-b'eyoiid;f our'. nse^br to ,that- ; brought; in ;fbr/ our /use-;frdm 'joreign.' c'diiritries; i*The'.consequence ;is' ?i;hat; ■•■iomm|rc'e;!flows'in;'-yery''6v'iaeht chanrieis::' The supply'bf'stdres tofarmers^ 3bh'e' purchase or dispbsai^df':their produce- is .the • main business of the trader, o-It wilY be seen : from the tables of inipprts;and exports published Kelo w, that the former still immensely exceed th c ; latter in value,./ It would be beyond our. sphere to discuss, the reasons or th;e consequences of •this.- condition .Fpf; things. ;V We have simply to : > record tne fact that the same 1 condition has existed to v a greater-extent during, previous years, and thatthe time'seems rapidly apprdadiing | when ;-the deficiency shall be [exhibited; on the other side/of tbejaccdunfc./! At / present the balance is largely/in/favour of tlie imports ; , those -recorded lor the yearg 1856 are valued at 1 bne^haif more than the value pfithe exports', while, in! thefirsi quarter of. the present year^though .considerably / more than its fair proportion of wool lias -been despatched, arid credit ;for. the same is'give m to ; thei export.account,^^the-imports .of the. quarter :sho\v a great preponderance. Nearly ■ £28^000: is' the estimated • yalue '• of. the s wboi sent away during that time. : If.we add' jbheambunt shipped previous to the Ist ;.of January and that shipped since the 3J.st of March, together with the quantity remaining ; :;iri the province at this tinie, and that ;grpwn in the 'district and ;sent away direct to other ports without passing through the custom house at Lyttelton, we are'able to state the .value of the last.season's c)ip as £61,000. This value-is estimated; from the..:quantities shippedi; at an :averagV/bf 15d/: per Hi/- We have;/reason to believe that a higher average value might fairly be/pat/uppn.:the2clip of the-past "seasonj which-would-consjderahlj-raise the iiiominal value pf the exports./ ;/- - ■■'-„ ':::-,-;/■ ;../;//>'/■,-/■'■ ' Trade' has natui-ally increased in prbportion to the^'producing power of the/colony^ The low price of grainl and other farm, produce': in the neighbouring cplonies, has 'seriously/afFected our farmers, and consequently our stQrek.eepers,pn wiipin falls the chief^)art of/the■ burden,of-"sup- ■ porting the farm erithrduglj any season of dim- : culty/ The/price df wheat]; which: till last har-1 vest had: never/fallen^in this settlement below| ss. 6d.,>is now at 4s. > and is difficult of sale atj

that figure. Barley is consumed partlyby bjir ■ own brewers; partlyly those of Wellington,; arid;ranges- at about ss. 6d; to 6s. Oats are almost entirely grown for homec6nsumpti6n,"andinay: 'priced at ."4s: to: 4fsi ; 6d,/. Flour stands at'%ls^ ' per ton, and bread at 11& per four-pound loaf.; :' -Prices range ten per cent, higher in-Lytteltori. " Potatoes were a drug/ih the marketalllast sea- - sori/but at-presentthere is a better demand for; them, -- and some quantity has been- shipped :to \ Australia as well as to the neighbouring provinces. :u Their.^preserit^yalue/may;^Quoted at - t ■i.£4t'<- per ton. ; The> retail prices of'commodities :' in liytteltonandChristchurch will! be found in ■.. .the following-;table,.;corrected to the present ;i.v^.^;^;:; %■-■■'-• 1h:;: ••^■-V" ■■"/■':'. ; ; ■y--v.\-h ;/■;:..i.;>/:'..-)>:n-;insTAiL markets. ■ '■■}■ '<"-. •;,■'■'•.' ; • "■': . .-.■ LYTTEi^oisrj'/iMay /J3thL^-Bread, perU-lb.: loaf;:.. ls : ;' Butter, fresh, Is. 9d.,,per,,1b. „ iE<jgii,' 3s. per dozen,; Cheese,- Is. 4d. per'lb. :, turd, is. 4d.,,per,lb;; .Beef. 7d., .and; Hd: per 1b.,! Miltfon/ 5d:,-s|d^ and 6d; per lb'.'; Veal, /9d. per; lb.; Pork, 9d. per lb:;: Bacon:aiid Hams, per lb., 1;5,;4d.;-Batchers? Caiidiesyls.per.lb;,;; J;T •■■'' ;,j; • :;- i.Chris^'chvrch:v {;May: I3th;^Flour,;:lss. i per cwt;. Bead,, per 4-l.b loaf, lpd.;,Bntter, .-I*. 6d. peri lb.;:> Eggs.' 2sV6d. per dozen ; Cheese, new, rid.perlbi^Lard^ Is. perjb.. . "'Beef, 6d.'and * 7d.: per<lb.; '' Aldc£oa,V-4[afto'6d.', jier lb'.' :Veal,- Bd{! pW lb. , Butcher*' Car&ieW, 9d>loiiiper-itf/ ' " ' — : During\ the'firsfrth^e^ the; trade of the 'province lwas exceedingly'brisk. ■ The 'wool; was bfeing brought1 dbjvn^ana stored: for /''shiprnerit—vessels ;\ were arrivirigcaltiipst in crowds,' :as! compared. with former tiiries;1 with-1 "larger "crgoes - of' goods from ;;!all '• quarters, j I©!' goods, especially liqudi^s, "•were :;into the market at .that'time, and ■ trade has /be'en; ; suffering•somewhat kince"'that '■- time; from the' over-supply. ■'; ;Merchahts: on Itlie: spot complain that their imported gdods are.depreciatied{ in the market by excessive cohsigflmejits' "froiri 'exporters :who ship'goods from ■ England without 'sufficiently considering the natural limit, of the; market' in such a small community as oui's, and from \exppi"ters.; in ; iieighbouring colbnies trans-shipping" goods in ; xjbnseq^ence;of ;their^d^bverstocke^ rn^rkets. . ■By;aj;natau;arf'c6nsequericg,;competition 'in the ; disposal bf goods is-unhealthily stimulated and '■; credit /is ■ affectedv ' Tliis is rather' the; tendyncy than •the ractaal-'st:ate,}: of thirigs- ?at .tli^'prese.nj; i ''■.iaomerit-;"'':th^v'direct:''-'syst'em:; of trade between the :': !^itnpbrter^and/'; producer/preventing';any ,very iserious'cor.sfcqueticeS;; !;"; '■'. :';: J ■''"■'■'•■J*i r. ■ . ' ■ ; A strong ■objection is, raised by iherchants. in this place.; to > the English practice; prevailing of despatching a.sKip tp: tiyg^'b'r'more'ports in:Ne\y 'Zealand,:'■ The pursuance of such'.;a practice, if-'ayoidable, is in coritempt'of many i;epresenta'::English shippei"s' to "New Zealand, and irf ■ignbrarice -of our geographical :pec'uliariities: Take the case lately occurring of a- 'ship with ■ cargo for'this1 port- sailing'fdr Wellington and 'Qtago •■with goods for each of those; places, /j^bt; to, speak .of- the'; delay in tbe receipt of g6ods>caused by^^^the bi^dinary detentions .at .the variousi.ports -of ■cair,ianibunting;t.o'.not,lessthan. three:months, the cargol;is received here at last seriously/damaged by the shifting about in the ship'^ -'hbldpra.ctis'ed^ in discharging; the former goods; i^more" than this, during! the 'detention of tlie ;vessel;.the; market is actually ■forestalled by trahs--'shiptneiit!S: from i one of the former ports; ■' and the • direct 'importer suffers severely in this ■ wajV';'""'". .:-.':'f- \ .;.':':' : /: '■'';■■ ■■■'■■■ ■.:::\:- r- "'■'''.'. ■"'; ■■■/ ■ physical- difficulties of'the ; country'%hi i!i we . have before ■'alluded to. : liytteltoir caniioiv' i<uv yard goods ■With rapidity or regularity, tiii-istr clmrch%ritiot: wait;in;;recesyihg -or;despatoiiing; t atid^gmwsamjjatientbf delays; 'Hence:y;;ribns; \\ expressions of rivalry have : at times groAvn up betvveen. the-.t'iyp towns, and a.disuniop oi: i;i|:ori ests'li'a's appeared to'exist. :-Suehjis not' the cas_e now, when boating power is' * ajiiiost; suffi-; ■. cient'fbr^ bur' waiits v :and' tjiere is everj-pyospect ;.. of still greater-improvements. -It is plainthat. /. rapid andregular carriage, facilitating the trans^ mission of goods,? would have a most beneficiat effect.upon both-towns'and remove most of the-: inconveniences^ ' of ther two^ would be' most improved it' is hard to/ ' j ; "Whether; Christchurch; would'draw away ; ■ any of; the direcjb ;-jmpbr{;ationyand';wSrehousii^: : i business from :Lytteltbn^br:wh^eV i ( would redei^e ■ mbre bf J ; the direct trade;^yi^ the M plains!aanit^:pf!B|ent;enjp^ > to'predict.; /The change would^:b^ i! of the; pvoyince atlargerari^ i be%rce^ forward iii no; long time;v ,^ v ; • ■'■] '"^ .-I .>:v ■■.■;■■■: /; : v^;;- ':;:'->sobiAii:>''-,:;VK;^; ■'■"■ ■:;;;;■,/•■■■';"; "•' ;-< .'■ ■■ Scattered%as.; the^ .is through1 the': ;. { district^' we .are < :nx>b surprised' to find that we \-i cannot rtiarkwith any. exactness the state of sb;; ( ■..'-■■' ; .".' ■■ ■■.; ■-r ■'•"'".■■'■■':''■."..■• :'■.■•'."••■..•• ;■'■''■ '.',-

eiety in'th'e prov'iricei'' ThroughouttHe^.couiitrH^ hoapitality- is; exercised in itsimo'st 'Hberal ]andM extended sense, but as there'is no c6-6perati6nini||| work, there '-is is little'sociability./ In; Christ-11l church the tone is^precisely' that'bf^the surrbun4g| ding country. Few are dependent upon others;i|| • everyoiie' is busy; tlie population is 'not!larg^ 'enough'- to contain; "miany idlers; 'occupations^|| are/erigiossingVarid tliere is little teniptatioiig^ to ■• abandbri- .them. , Hence !we;find a: ■reluc-lM ■■tancev toj unite' for either business; or^pl^asure.^ 7-'ljyttelt6ri:'contains "more opportunities for® imeetiiig'tbgether/ and in ;times/;'of; excitemen^P 'as at elections/and public meetings/ we fiiid' alf| • tolerably'united:; sentiment. prevailing ;■■: br;:if||| .there be two b rf three sides tp> a question/ tne^j parties have a tolerably corfect knowledge • of||j ;t>rie"; aripther's/views;.'":i ? :^:' :l ~:-.~- '.[~ -:'-i. :-:\:'■; \ : :s^ ■■'■ ■■ ■In ;the manner of livingitherie'\islittle;differ-|| ence texcept \vha ft is induced by the specialcir-li ;cumstahcesof 'any■ ".--, The :prevailirig||i mode of life; is to enjoy all theKcomforts and}| luxuries of; life "that can be procured, :but is no profusion' or display, nothiiig:is done but|!i in:a quiet wayi;!? V'^ '-^" -y'".',;'; \y>'--y-:'-'■'" :- : . ■: : i|| -?: This settlement lias;from. the first borne the|| ,chiariicter l:'bf :inhospitable'as/compared- :with>|| 'other settlements; ' M This has'greatlywbrrioff|^ is certainly ffnot rvisible in/the up-couhtfy^ where the: extreme of-hbspitai ity as usual in ;p'as-|^ :I tpraPcPuntries'is'irivariably practised./ : In the-|| ; \ 4ibwns the soatttsfed-- and- idivided state of so6iety;f| tends to add' force: tb: the supposition of inhoß-it| : ;pitality,Wit the /feeling, itself, we^ are sure, dbes%; . '-riot'exisfc :>. -'.; J:::i" ~: -';;'-•; 1. ••'• '■: -'\ ■;:;■■ •'. ~ :^ ; /;:|| • '.'-. ';^TMiiabit: of "living" in ■•"co^fo'rt\appli(Bs to the'lli stock-owners only; so far as ciroumsfances willlf ■;-;alIow/■•: ■Tn ; ■'many l :'^ißasesi;■'th6■se; who.have "beenfl . "settled' upon 'runs for a fey have by tKis|; time drawn round them as many of the appliaii-:"^ ces of comfort' as any;: residents in the towns :f? • but with' some; a tent, a warre, or aihut, and any£ • .thingbelbw'theI'regular standard of householdjl ; appliances are' preferred tb comfort. In this re-;j| ;; 'Spect,' and:•' indeed in; the mariner of life /among|| ; \%he;wealthier: portion' of the;community gene^y] : rallyvthe practice/in'this province. is/very riearlyj-y , allied to that of neighbouring colbnies,; as bftenfv'j •' ■■ 'descfibedl-.-:.;:;'Vv:'.-/-;.i.-.i:?.i.;; r ;*; ::/^/,/';:/ "'-C'; ':':sv^'] ,; Upon the small farmers'-- and those labouring it •/for hire, tinies;pf late have pressed rather hard; f .• andit appears to; be owing ;to: the; style; ofg: liyirig generally adopted"hitherto as much as to/f uhremunerated labour. It/will at once be cvi-;-} dent :tliat families of tlie labouring classes ai'ri---i ving in ;this; cbuntryrfrom Englandv,and"from/!;; the first falling intp: a system :of Comparatively i; lhigh••■■'remuneratipnv would -riaturally adopt a I; move'comfortable mode of living, : I)uT;ing the % four years that followed, the prices of farming 'i produce and the fate';df'Svages;beirig.enormously y hi<>h^ all : . persons'; benefited would as'naturally v| indulge:; themselvesi ;in all the luxuries'"which :-;' they could" command ; iVaria "this has:-actualiy';;; beerirvery comnibiily theiicasei: "There^^-nas^ been.' ■: all; along ye.ry- little difference: bet we'en thestyle/!; offliving, ;in; the; articles of food &c., between Vthe employer andthe labbm- er. .As things got i' a little" worse, the', farmer' Would be m'arrears -ii with :l the storekeeper- for:gobds\'supplied.'"' 'He ..wb'iil'd. .expect; to' meet the debt with the pro- j dune of the land, .which' was thus in a manner ;;i m.nrtgaged ■ to, the: storekeeper.. When prices.- <i fyii" his'prpduce lost half -itsrvalue, and was '■: .unable; to do much: more than nieet the de- ;5 iriaiids;' upbn" ;it./ '-'■ :This, '\it is well known^i:! t- dcc'ounts';Tor:' the' temporary 'embarrassment of ;a ';:?..\ j! good niany rof our labouring',class. %.. •! ' 'Among our population there are from time"-;;; to'tiino:found ai'ew men who are the;droppings vi, of the: cohyict /system', in Australia juid Van';^ : Diem.on?s/I<and.' "Amongst a good deal/Of j" drunkenness and uirthriftiness in a tolerably v: large number; pC,rßprobates of all classes of so- .;■ ciety, there" is'very little' real crime committed ;,i; whiph is hot directly; traceable to the transpor- ;| ; tatioh of-criminals "to'the Australian colpmes.'/; ? '' Prom'time to tjme ;^eare;:"startled by a report":?ji ■'of vibienbe■ committed in."some' shape or form /.^ !'; in our ;neighbourhood."-! The of&nder; has" i [i ; scarcely any chance of esqape. He is caught, i;l ! and turns ' out; tb 'be ah expiree or escaped ,;S ■convict. ";-:"'•".•;.'\ ;V'--: ■;■■■■' ''.:"'.''-\: ■■'": . : r\:;i :■--■ ' "At the session of -the Supreme Court held ?h~ j | ' Lytteltbh last.'morith, Chief; Justice Stephen'^l remarked that the statistics of crime in thii^'/J province: showed abput the simie average pf i | • criminals ;hs existed in the rest of K"g\y Zealand, :?| ; and;jtljat,that average was, a .very low-one. H«|'^| ■ addeiFthiit. serious; offeness; were/very- rare, sand; ■$ cases/?bf theft* remarkably 'so:' ; He "attribut«d;v|fi

this fact to the circumstance of there being little opening for the disposal of stolen goods ,in so small a community. > By a late enactment of the General Assembly the jurisdiction of the Besident Magistrate's Court has been extended from £20 cases to those not exceeding £100. The court sat for the first time in February last, and will sit again next week, the sessions occurring quarterly. There are generally a good many cases of debt, but they have been for the most part settled out of court. An action for breach of contract brought by a servant against a master was the only important case in the former session. A jury of four is empanelled to try the facts in this court, if required. The court seems to give the greatest satisfaction. The gaol is usually full of prisoners, generally of seamen apprehended for < desertion/and committed for three months with hard labour. A sentence of this kind is usually given and the province gains a certain benefit from it, as the services of the hard laboui prisoners are employed upon]improvements in the streets of the town, and in furtheiing the completion of the greater public works to the , best of their ability. The gaol has lately been enlarged and improved by the addition of a debtor's room, and two stone cells for prisoners of the worst description. It is proposed .to build a set of police barracks and a gaoler's residence in connection with the gaol buildings, which will add much to the security of confinement. Still the gaol is inadequate to all the wants of the place. The grand jury -at the late assizes recommended the establishment of a central gaol for the confinement of felons from all parts of New Zealand, and the suggestion will be supported as far as can be done by the Provincial authorities. <, i , There are two members of the legal profession practising in Lyttelton, and .four in Christchurch ; two of whom are barristers-at-law. ECCLESIASTICAL. , , *• As the settlement of Canterbury was founded as a Church of England Colony, it has attracted to itself a population consisting chiefly of, members of that church. That there is any exclusiveness arising from this circumstance may be now confidently denied. Still less is there any bigotry or intolerance exhibited towards the minority of other persuasions. There is even a remarkable absence of the High Church feeling which was said at first to have been implanted and nourished by the first settlers. The Church of England has been endowed with a ,large property in land in the province, and from that circumstance holds a great and increasing advantage over other religious bodies, so far as wealth is concerned. There is, at present, however, anything but a super-abundance,of pecuniary support from this source. Indeed to establish clergy throughout the country, and to supply the deficiency in their stipends, is the question which has chiefly engaged the Bishop of Christchurch since his arrival in his diocese. It will be remembered that he anived in the Egmont, about Christmas last. The property of the Church has been managed by a board of Trustees, of whom the Bishop is the chairman. At a late meeting, it was found that about £500 was the whole net revenue from the property for the year. Following a plan proposed by the Bishop, the trustees appoitioned this sum between the working clergy by giving to each parish where two services are performed on the Sunday £50 a-year, and £30 to those where only one service is performed. This miserable stipend has to be raised to a suflicient sum by those means which are agieed upon by the parishes and approved by the Bishop. A system of pew rents has been established in one or two instances, but is pretty genially objected to. Voluntary contributions are raised in many parishes, and the principle is approved of, tut the amount raised in this way is not geneTally satisfactory. In Lyttelton and some other parishes, it has been unanimously agreed to devote an offertory in the moroing and a collection in the evening of one Sunday in each ihonth, towards the clergyman's stipend*. This system has been pursued in Lyttelton for a quai ter of a year and is found to answer practically. There are niue places in the province at which Divine Service is regularly performed by a clergyman of the Church of England. A convention of the Church has been called at Auckland daring the present month, and delegates have been sent from the Southern piovinces to take part in it. The Bishop of Christchurch, the Eev. J. Wilson, and the Honourable

H. J. Taucred have been selected as representatives from' Canterbury. A principal object of the Convention will be to place church property upon a proper foundation. ■ ' ■ The Wesleyan body has a chapel in Lyttelton , and another in Chri&tchurch. There is one resident'minister, the Rev. J. AldrecL This body has displayed much liberality and energy during the past two years in establishing their church in this. settlement upon a satisfactory' footing. , The Free Church of Scotland has one resident miriister,the Rev. C. Frazer. The members of , this church have lately built at great expense a very handsome edifice in Christchurch. for Divine worship; and their liberality in all-matters relating to the support of ministers and completion of buildings has been unbounded. "education. Just at'this moment the system hitherto pursued by the Government in the support of schools in the province is undergoing revision, and will probably be changed in detail, if not essentially. A portion of our public funds has been always annually devoted to education under an old ordinance of New Zealand, providing that assistance shall be given to the different'denominations separately. The system has not been productive of much benefit, and the government has proposed to substitute for it a plan somewhat after the National System. Our readers will find in another portion of our paper a condensed account <of a debate in the Council on the question, 'and thei resolutions proposed by the government; together with those generally accepted by the Council, in amendment, but still to be discussed in detail. The doming week will in all probability settle the question. The statistics of education, in the province ai'e tedious to, give, and^ we must confess, reflect anything ,but credit upon us. . , POSTS. The postal question is not yet settled. New Zealand has not yet been linked on to the chain' of communication lately established to connect England and Australia. A variety of different , plans have been proposed; but it will probably be left to the General Government to settle upon that one which it may find most convenient for itself. Mr. F. D. Bell has, we hear, just avrived in Sydney as a' plenipotentiary from New Zealand,, to discuss terms and arrangements with the Australian - Government. At present two clipper schooners are chartered by the Provin-. cial Government of Wellington to convey,the mails for the south of New Zealand to that port from Melbourne ,direct. A similar undertaking has been proposed to Canterbury, but the negotiatons are not completed. Meanwhile, we reap the benefit of the arrangements made by Wellington. • 1 The Local Post has been in existence since the commencement of the year. A daily mail is established each way between, Lyttelton and Christchurch, and letters are delivered the same day in both towns." A mail goes from Christchurch to Kaiapoi on Mondays and Thursdays, returning the following days. The charge for a letter from any one place to another is uniformly one penny. This post is under the control of the Provincial Government. A fortnightly mail is established between Lyttelton and Akaroa, supported by the General Government, upon which 2d. per letter is charged. The local postage has been in existence for more than a quarter vof a year, and during that time has paid one half its expenses. It is expected to increase in importance even so far as to become a source of revenue. Endeavours are being made to push the transmission of letters to the northern and southern boundai'ies of the province. Amtjseme'nts.—There are but few of these strictly speaking. The English game of cricket has been kept alive since the commencement of the settlement, until this past year. The Cricket Club is nearly defunct from a variety of reasons, but may revive by next season. Races are annually held in the province and are under the management of a Jockey Club. The race course is a very fine piece of turf, and the,races themselves are increasing in interest yearly. The last races were held in the middle of January, and came off with great spirit and with a show of new and good blood. In Lyttelton there is a long established Choral Class, by whom good music is supplied in the church and occasional concerts are given to the public. In the same town the Colonists' Society has an excellent Library of books, which is open to members. Lecturee are given here during the

winter. A singing class has lately been established in Christchurch ; it is very efficiently conducted by Mr.- Merfcon, and is well supported, Two billiard table* have lately been imported^ and erected at the Royal Hotel Rooms in Christ church, Mr Foley and his Circus have been iji ;the province for a couple of months and have played in Lyttelton, Christchurch and Kaiapoi. This is perhaps the only real amusement, so to speak, that we have ever been treated to,<. and Mr. Foley reaps a beneficial effect from the readiness of our settlers to form an audience for him. ' > , , ■ 'We have gone into the description ,' ( of t the country at somewhat greater length than perhaps is necessary. The facts connected with each division of the subject we have mentioned as fully as possible in their place, but they art neither many nor of great importance. We could add a resume of all the occurrences small and great which have found a record in the columns of this paper during the past twelve months, or, from any, other period; but they would form but an undigested mass to the gene-* ral reader." Henceforward we shall be able to describe the progress the province makes iii -material prosperity, or the changes which occur in its political, social, and commercial condition by referring to the notice given to-day. Below will be found several statistical tables, which comprise the sort of facts useful in connection with the above statements. The amount of value of exports -and imports, both for the "year ending Dec. 31st, 1856, arid for the quarter ending March 31st, 1857, are there given. - The census for the .year has unfortunately been taken so lately that the * returns of population are not yet obtainable, while the last published table is of so old a date that it forms no guide to the facts as they are at present. There, was then -a total white population of 5,347, of whom 3,095 were males. To the Church of England belonged 3,931, to the '.Wesleyans 457, to the Presbyterians 413. There were 25 Independents, 36 Baptists, 153 Roman Catholics, and 52 of other denominations. There were 12,261 acres fenced in, 1,189 horses, 12,434 Jhead of cattle,'and 220,788 sheep. The population has' now risen to about 6,500, and the number of sheep to 330,000. , The extent of country occupied, is somewhat over 4,000,000 acres. „ We ask our readers to look at these figures and to answer whether it is not,a remarkable fact in colonization that such an extent of country can be so beneficially occupied in so short a time, by so^small a population. ',