Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 500, 19 August 1857, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

We confess ourselves to be very fond of public works — almost any proposed expenditure of the people's money on the people's roads and bridges would comnaaiad our applause, by virtue of the pleasure we should look forward to in watching, the progress of the works. This week, one of the most interesting, certainly the most talked about of the public works of Canterbury is on the verge of being ushered into existence. The Sutnner Road, for to that, of course, we refer, is to be opened on Monday next, the 24th instant, with not a little ceremonious observance. Our readers, referring to our advertising columns, will see that the ceremony includes, British fashion, a public holiday, a procession, and a public dinner. The latter will be held at the close of the proceedings, in Lyttelton, at the Universal Hotel. Mr. Htsaphy, now in the midst of enlarging his establishment, will, we are informed, use his utmost exertions to have ready for the entertainment the immense apartment now in the course of construction, and which, when finished, will be, we are justified in saying, larger in size and handsomer in proportion than any other public room in 'Canterbury. Neither Mr. Heaphy's room, nor the Sunnier JRoad, though both willbe

formally opened next Monday, will be ready then for the full accommodation of the public; so far as concerns the road, that event is postponed for a few weeks.

The Ellesmere or Governor's Bay road has also come to an epoch in its existence. It was declared to be open yesterday, all the cutting* being finished and the bridges completed. There are several bridges along the line, one of them being about 40 feet long and of course strongly built, with a parapet rail on each side. In order to facilitate any future works, in case the road may have to be widened, all the rock cutting are made wider than the rest of the road, viz., to fifteen feet.

At a meeting of the shareholders in the Company just formed to place steamers on our coast, held on Monday last, it was announced that all the shares were already taken up. The vessel was thereupon ordered, and as the order has gone already by the Dart, we may expect her arrival with as little delay as will put her in sailing trim far the voyage down here. The Company was styled the "Canterbury Steam Navigation Company." The meeting separated well pleased with the energetic manner in which the first steps had been taken. The seal which we mentioned on Saturday as having been discovered and pursued in the harbour on the previous day, was captured on Sunday and brought over to Lyttelton. It is a female, and rather a large specimen ; measuring about eight feet ten inches in length. Though seals have been occasionally seen here, none have been caught for the last four years ; and, accordingly, this one is treated as a curiosity, and has been laid out for show; five or six gallons of oil having been first obtained from its carcase. The Court, under the Resident Magistrate Extension of Jurisdiction Act, sat in Lyttelton for the third time yesterday. (We should like to find a nice short name for this Court). Most of the cases were called- for the 19th, to-day ; and the few which were heard yesterday occupied scarcely any.lengfch of time. The cases connected with Christchurch and the Plains will be heard at Christchurch on the 27th instant. An advertisement which our readers will find in our columns summons the members of the Church of England who reside in this town to a meeting to be held at seven o'clock this evening, at the Temporary Church, to take into their consideration certain steps which will be proposed towards rebuilding the Parish Church. We are glad to see that this question does not sleep; arid we hope that all who call themselves friends of the Church will attend the meeting this evening, and show an activity in the matter which may last till a new edifice has been completed, to be an honour and an ornament to our town. In this matter we citizens of Lyttelton have some little errors to ■■repent of and some little disgrace to wipe out; and we must not rest till it is done.