Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 15 July 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

It is with the greatest pleasure, that we'are at length able to announce to our townsmen and fellow-colonists that the preparations which have for sometime past been in progress by Mr. Foley to provide a series of dramatic entertainments in Lyttelton are on the eve 01 coming to perfection. Mr. Foley's enterprising spirit has led him to take the Town Hall and to fit it up as a theatre, where he proposes to give I a season of twelve nights, once in each week. The novelty of the undertaking, and the many difficulties which seemed to be in the way, bavo prevented us from doing more.than allude from time to time to the ancipated pleasure, for iear

that untoward events should at the last moment cause the enterprise to fail. But Mr. Foley, after a few weeks of quiet and patient toil, has come so near to success that we cannot delay any longer to call public attention to the treat that is so soon to be enjoyed by us. Far from failure, arrangements which have been made in spite of obstacles, the beauty of adornment which has been contrived out of unpromising materials in the theatre itself, and in short the style in which all sorts of preparations have been contrived to render our popular amusement captivating, are a complete success, far nearerperfection than anything we could have dreamed of in such a retired corner of the world as this. When it is remembered that to the complete scenic arrangements will be added the histrionic abilities of a most accomplished actress, we need say no more to point out the excellence of the treat which is prepared for our fellow-colonists. The little experience which we have already had of Mrs. Foley's powers, even in the uncongenial sawdust, has been sufficient to convince us that the unanimous eulogies which have always been bestowed by the Australian and New Zealand press on her acting are fully merited^ It is with no small anxiety that we look forward to the approach of next Thursday, the 23rd inst., on which day the season is to commence. We feel sure that when our fellow-colonists have seen what Mr. and Mrs. Eoley can do for their amusement, they will only regret that the entertainments will be so few and so far between.

We are very sorry to be obliged to suspect that the destruction of the stone cross on the bridle-path tank has not arisen from natural causes, as we were led to state last Saturday. On close inspection of the injury done, we find that the basis of the cross still remains fixed to the upper part where it lies, and that no breakage or disintegration had taken place to render it insecure. This basis was let into the solid rock, and this part is of course as complete and level as when the cross was placed into it; and the construction was so strong that no accident, unless it was a very remarkable one, could have caused the displacement. We are almost ashamed of the suspicion that any passer by could have been guilty of such a blackguard act. as to overthrow this memento of a lady's kindness, and destroy it wilfully; but it certainly looks very like it. If such has been the case, we leave the offender to his sense of disgrace, and the expectation of no little public odium, if he is discovered. A correspondent at Timaru writes on the 30fch of June to inform us that a murder is reported to have been committed near Dunedin in the last week of June. A young man, it is said, when 'in a fit of intoxication, stabbed his companion, who expired immediately. The police were in . active pursuit of the criminal, but up till that time unsuccessfully. He was supposed to have gone in the direction of the Waitangi, and to have crossed the river into 'this province. Our adopted country is so free from crime of such magnitude that the bare report of this guilty action is startling. There is another fatal occurrence, we fear, to record. The latest accounts from Akaroa bring us intelligence that Mr. Dicken, an elderly gentleman, well known on the Peninsula, left his house at French farm on Wednesday afternoon last, and proceeded through the bush in search of cattle. He did not return that evening, as he had arranged, and next morning there was a search instituted for him, but without success. The horse on which he had ridden was found tied in the bush by itself. On news of the occurrence reaching the town of Akaroa, we learn that about forty people crossed over to make a thorough search, and we hope that with such a force it may be successful. Mr. Dicken had then, however, been lost two nights and a day, and serious doubts are entertained as to whether he can possibly have survived so long.. He is known to have had no food nor matches with him, The account of- the search being undertaken by so great a number of the small population of Akaroa speaks strongly for their kind sympathy with the missing man and his friends, but also shows the danger in which a traveller who has lost his way in the bush in that neighbourhood is considered to lie. _ Lyttelton Colonists Society.—The eleciion of the officers of this society took place at ■ the annual meeting, held last evening at the Town Hall. The report of the committee and the financial statement for tke past year were to have been presented, but were not ready; Mr. Alport, who was in the chair, stated that they would be prepared for the next meeting. The election was then proceeded with, when Mr. A. J. Alport was returned as President, Mr. C. Ward Tice-President, Mr. J. F. McCardell Secretary, and the following gentlemen as the committee for the ensuing year: —Messrs. Donald, Banks, Allwright, Wilcox, Rae, Wright, Younger, Mayo, Palmer, Mills, Davis, Josling, I'yfe, Hassall, Graham, Cameron, Balestiee and Littlecot. Mr. Palmer was elected Treasurer. The meeting then separated.