Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 508, 16 September 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

We omited last week to notice the delivery of an interesting lecture on Astronomy at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, by Mr. Mills, libra- ■ rian to the Colonists' Society. The course of lectures given fortnightly during the season under the auspices of the Society affords, aswas' intended, a recreation to the general -public as well as to members, and is well supported. We have not felt called upon to record the proceedings on these occasions, except when the lectures have been original and distinctly belonging to the programme of the society. Mr. Mills's lecture was one of these. The subject, Astronomy, was one scarcely of a nature to draw a general audience, but the attendance was nevertheless good. The lecture was both interesting and amusing ; and, though full of facts, was by no means treated in the dry style usually belonging to the science. We cannot pretend to give even an outline of the discourse: if we tried to do so, we should merely be recapitulating naked facts, without being able to do justice to the pleasant manner in. which Mr. Mills'clothed them. We confess that statistics of the solar system were presented to us of which we had previously no knowledge whatever, and in a manner calculated to interest all who listened. Mr. Mills promises to proceed further with the subject, and to deliver two more lectures on days which will be appointed by the society.

The agitation that is to form a prelude to the ensuing elections begins to assume a systematic shape. Meetings are regularly called at various places; the candidates attend, speak, are asked questions, and reply. The popular feeling is a little stirred in each place, and same indication may perhaps be found therein of the forthcoming result. On Monday evening a meeting was held at the White Hart, Christchurch ; . and a meeting is announced to take place in Lyttelton on Friday evening next. We have some accounts of a previous meeting—one called by Mr., Brittan at Kaiapoi. We give the best narrative we can of it, compiled from various sources.

A public meeting of the electors of Ivaiapoi and the neighbourhood Avas held on Thursdaylast at the Northern Hotel, pursuant to a public notice issued by Mr. Brittan, inviting them to meet him. Punctually at the time appointed Mr. Brittan entered the room; and, almost immediately after, Mr. Moorhouse made his appearance, accompanied by a considerable number of persons wearing cockades and carrying flags. Mr. Higgins was requested to take the chair. Mr. Brittan then addressed the electors for upwards of an hour, and was listened to with attention, interrupted only by cheering at intervals from his friends, and occasional interruptions from the members of Mr. Moorhouse's committee. Mr. Moorhouse followed at some length, and concluded amid the cheering of his friends. Mr. Ollivier also addressed the meeting in support of Mr. Moorhouse. There was some smart sparring, involving the exchange of slight p rsonalities, which are always to be expected at such scenes, but they are hardly worth placing on record. After Mr. Brittan had replied, a resolution was proposed, expressive of the approval by the meeting of Mr. Moorhouse, .and pledging it to support him. An amendment was moved to the effect that it was not expedient for the meeting to express any opinion. On a show of hands, the amendment was lost. The original resolution was then put and carried. The chairman did not state the numbers, but it appeared to he in the proportion of about 6 to 4. It is only fair, however, to observe that the majority was swollen by the hands of several Maories who appeared to have been pressed into Mr. Moorhouse's service.