Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 486, 1 July 1857, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

I Before the Council has actually concluded its abours, the result of its determinations on one 'f the most important items, the expenditure on >übh c works, begins to be apparent, and we are

called upon to record the proceedings. The progress made has been vapid, especially if we attach any weight to the proverb " what ia well begun is half done." There are several important works which" have been already put in a forward state. First, of the Sumner Road. The whole of the heavy work between Polhill's Bay and Sumner. is under contract at prices below the Engineer's estimate, and the works are actively progressing. The heavy work is to be finished by the I beginning of September, when the road will be I opened for cart traffic. Considerable impression is already visible in the clay cuttings on the j Sumner side, but a great deal has to be done on the Port side, a larger, proportion of which is rock. The contractors will have to display some unusual activity to get through this in the stipulated time. The steeper part of the road over the- pass will, we fear, prove a troublesome piece to a loaded dray, particularly on account of the sharp turns on the Lyttelton side; but the distance is moderate, and the incline not so steep as that of the bridle path. Of the Ferry Road drainage we can only say that the work has after several trials been let, and is now in progress. On the Lincoln Road, the earthwork up to the Heathcote will be completed in a few ■weeks; the contract for metalling the same distance has been let, and the work will be begun directly. The contract for metalling the Riccarton Road through Hagley Park has also been let, and will be soon in course of completion. Those acquainted with the district will understand what is meant by the Harewood Road drainage. The swamp which affects this road, lying behind Papanui, has been tapped by a drain carrying the water down to the North Road, which is already completed. On the North Road itself, several works on the line from Christchurch to the Hurunui, and its branches, require our notice. The formation of the road, hitherto so broken, between the river Puraiikanui (or Styx) and the work done last year, (about half-a-mile beyond Teschemaker's) will be completed in a few weeks. The timber is already on the ground for the new bridge over the Sfcyx, and this necessary work will be completed in three weeks' time. At Kaiapoi, the bridge over the north branch of the river is in a very forward state, almost all the piles being in their places. It will be open in about two months from this time. This is White's bridge, the construction of which was authorised in the session now just over. It is as well to observe that the bridge, though constructed by a private individual, becomes at once public property, but is let to the builder for a term of seven years, with, a right to collect tolls which are calculated to reimburse him for his outlay. This proceeding is an economical one for the public purse, and is a great boon to the public. A bridge over the other or south •branch of the1 river' was proposed but; was refused by the Council. The terms of construction were not the same. Beyond Kaiapoi, the portion of the laid-out road which passes through the Maori pah is being drained by native labour; the old track has been closed, the land being about to be brought into cultivation by the Maories. This will account for the present inconvenience suffered by passengers along the" road. Contracts have been let for the completion of the works on the Weka pass, which will be open for the next wool sea son. A ford has been opened for drays opposite the seventh mile post.on the North road, and a culvert and bank have been placed over the Kaikainui creek, on the island, near Mr. Coutts's house; so that the whole of the extensive districtto the west of theßangiora and Ohoka swamps is} now directly accessible from the Great North Road, without making the circuit of Kaiapoi and Rangiora. The Governor's Bay Road is now open (short of legal stoppages) all the way from Lyttelton to Lake Ellesmere, a distance of about 13 miles, with the exception of a little blasting which is now in hand. The timber for the construction of the various bridges to be built on the several roads is being cut. On the whole of the public works now in progress about one hundred men are being employed, and the total amount of contracts entered into is under £4,000. It will be seen from the above account that the completion of the works named, when added to what we have already reported as completed, will throw open for dray traffic all those localities which have been hitherto inaccessible; or'partly so, from intervening swamps. From the Heathcote ferry to the Hurunui, a loaded cart will be able to travel, on a road which, if not free from mud, will be entirely without bog holes or dangerous places of any kind. In fact, the whole of the_ great plain, we may say all the available land in the province, whose acres are numbered by millions, will in a short space of time be thrown open for heavy traffic in every direction. The rivers on the southward road will be the only remainrig impediments. This is very much for so young a country to say. All this being done, we do not think the completion of the road into port will be considered an undesirable expenditure of labour. Its opponents have had every opportunity during six years of proving its uselessness as a road when it was not finished, and they have improved the occasion. Let its advocates have, 'in the spirit of fair play, an opportunity ;of proving its use as a i"oad when it is finished ; and then we shall have facts on both sides as a foundation for argument. Lyttelton is not to be left without water during the ensuing summer. The Provincial Secretary stated in the Council a few evenings ago, in answer to a question from Dr. Donald, that the Government undertook to provide six

public pumpa for the town: the cost to be defrayed out of the sum devoted on the estimates for miscellaneous public works. The Port Glasgow and the Emu, the last vessels of the fleet which left Wellington for this port'three weeks ago,have arrived safely. The Port Glasgow found herself at one time to the southward of the peninsula, short of provisions, and put into Akaroa for a supply. The Emu was in Port Underwood on two occasions, for ten days altogether, along with the Taranaki. The Star, for Dunedin, from Wellington, has had to put in at this port. The weather along the coast appears to be at this season partial larly unfavourable to navigation, being extremely variable, with light baffling winds and calms, followed immediately by thick weather and gales. The Town Hall at Christchurch is beginning to show symptoms of advancement. The work has all. along been proceeding with regularity, but has been confined to the preliminaries and the construction of portions of the frame-work, the elevation of which will make the rise of the building correspondingly rapid. The southern window, and the whole of that end of the building was raised to its place a few days ago, and the rest will follow. Its outlines seem to promise elegance. j We observe that no tender for the Supreme Court in Lyttelton has been accepted, but we believe that out of several tenders of very various sums for the proposed alteration in the Town Hall buildings, and the construction of Government oifices there, the lowest, about £100, has been accepted, and the works will be quickly proceeded with. An appointment, we hear, has been made to the Lyttelton district by the survey department, in the person of Mr. Law, a late arrival. The district includes Banks' peninsula, and the centre of operations is the town of Lyttelton. It will be remembered that no resident in the province could be found to accept this appointment at the salaiy, which is £300 per annum, the expenses being comparatively large, and the duties arduous. We understand that Messrs. Cass and Harman have accepted seats in the Executive Council, so the gap in the legislature is at last filled. The last session of the first Provincial Council of Canterbury is now over. • What is writ, is writ. Would that it were worthier!' All the information we have been able at this distance to obtain of yesterday's proceedings will be I found in another column. There was to be a legislative dinner in the evening; a patent British harmonier and a very good specific it is, and much wanted. The public, and we amongst them, must remember that last night we dined together by proxy, through our representatives ; and we must therefore be ready to join in the harmonious feeling henceforward.