Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 8 July 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

The arrival of the Helen from Wellington, with the tantalizing news of the arrival of the Mimmie Dyke and the European mail, has put us all into the usual fidget., We have no newspapers to communicate intelligence, and no advices to publish, and we must await the arrival of the Phoebe or the Wonga Wonga before our mails arrive. : A circumstance like this shows, more clearly than any argument, the importance of direct communication with the mail depot in Australia. The impatience felt by the public at the delay of letters is more than shared by the commercial part of the community, and particularly in a case like the present, where some fortunate individuals among them may have pri-

vate advices from Wellington of the mercantile news brought by the Melbourne vessel, though the mails had not been delivered. It is worth a considerable expenditure per annum to the community to have regular and rapid intelligence of the neighbouring markets. We publish to-day a memorandum from the Government inviting the public to take certain steps to provide themselves with coasting « steamers. The great difficulty in the way has always been the impossibility of insuring the vessels. We all remember how utterly thrown away the money and enterprise embarked in the undertaking were when the little Alma was wrecked. Accordingly, it is considered out of the question now to attempt the establishment of a steam service at such risks as are run on our bar harbours and open roadsteads. The contractors therefore will provide the boats and run them for five years for a bonus of £1000 a-year to all parts of our coast line; if only the Government will insure the vessels.- And the Government will execute a policy of insurance if the province will bear the pecuniary onus. This was agreed to, and all the terms settled, by the Council in its late session. The plan seems to us most simple and efficient. Those portions of the province to which it is proposed that the steamers shall trade take proportionate parts of the whole payments, and the individuals who are concerned or who desire to support it or to be benefited by the scheme in any way are asked to contribute each a portion of the divided amount. On reference to the document itself our readers will see the form in which it is proposed to guarantee the amount. Thus the Government, the contractors, each district of the province, and each individual in the district, become directly interested in the success of the enterprize. The whole amount, it will be seen, when divided over the whole country, say among the stockowners southward in proportion to the acreage held by each, will fall exceedingly light. Any one of them who hopes for his wool carriage to be'expedited or for a certain supply of station stores will see at once the inducement to encourage the enterprize." Ten per cent per annum will be paid by the Government as premium to all those who subscribe the policy. It is a regular business transaction. In case of loss the contractors are made safe by the Government, the same precaution being taken as by any insurance office. Then the Government looks to the public, whom it represents, to perform their undertaking, and individuals contribute their share towards the payment for what they have enjoyed. We understand that the scheme has been very well received among those to whom it has been already submitted. Steps will be taken; without delay to circulate the memorandum among the out-districts mentioned, and when the policy is subscribed fully the steamers will be forthcoming. We must not suppose that we are obtaining the benefits of a steam service for nothing. We have resolved that it is desirable, we give those who provide it a guarantee against the losses to be apprehended in the navigation of our shores, and we refund the estimated pecuniary loss. Upon these terms we shall probably obtain our local steamers in 15 or 18 months. Issubance of Local Steamers.-—The following memorandum has been put in circulation by the Provincial Government as the first step towards carrying out the wishes of the Council with regard to establishing a provincial steam coasting service:— " MEMOEANDUM. "1. The Provincial Government has concluded a contract with Messrs. Miles, Kington, and Co., of Bristol, Melbourne, and Lyttelton, to run two steamers on the coasts of the Province of Canterbury for five years. "2. The Government uodevtakes to insure these steamers, provided that the inhabitants of the Province will become security for such insurance. " 3. As the most convenient mode of carrying this arrangement into effect, the Superintendent has undertaken to execute a Policy of Insurance to Messrs. Miles Kington and Co., so soon as a sufficient number of promissory notes, payable on demand to the order of the Superintendent, and signed by creditable persons, in various parts of the Province, are placed in his hands. The only delay, therefore, which now exists in procuring the steamers, will be at an- end as soon as these notes are signed. "4. The total amount of notes required ia £5,000, which it is anticipated that the several parts of the Province will contribute in the following proportions : — ", Lyttelton & Christchurch District.. .£2,000 Kaiapoi.. 1,000 Timaru 1,000 Akavoa 500 Motunau 500 "5. In the event of the above named sum not being contributed by any district the steamer will not be permitted to call at such district. '• 6. Any amount may be named in a note from Five to One Hundred Pounds. In the event of the owners recovering any sum from the Government under the Policy of Insurance) the Government will collect upon each of the Promissory Notes the proportional share which will become due upon each. For example,—lf the loss should amount to £700, the sum to be collected on a Fifty Pound Note will be £7 Os. Od.; and the sum to be collected on a Ten Pound Note would in that case be £1 Bs. Od. Should both the steamers be lost at once, and should they be valued at £2,500 each, the whole of the notes will be collected. In case no loss should occur to the steamers, for which the Government, as an ordinary insurance company, will become liable, the Promissory

Notes will become null and void at the end five years. °f "7. A premium of ten per cent, annually f Ov five years, will be paid upon the sums named i the Notes, commencing on the day when tf first steamer shall run on the line. ThisT>' le mium will, by an arrangement with the GovettT ment, be paid at the office of Messrs. Mil Kington, and Co., at Lyttelton, on a day to if' named in the month of January in each year & "8. Forms of Promissory Notes can be obtained at the Provincial Secretary's Oiß Christchurch; G. F. Day's, Kaiapoi; and at Messrs. Miles, Kington, and Co., Lyttelton " By order ef his Honor, " Richaed Packee, Provincial Secretary "