Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 509, 19 September 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

The Town Hall at Christchurch. promises to % be a handsome building, and to realize the expectation of shareholders. At a meeting of shareholders which took place lately, it was agreed that more shares (of £5 each) should be issued, in order to enable the committee to construct additional rooms on each side of the main building. It was before settled that rooms should be built on the south side; it is now proposed that awing should be added on the north side, to comprise merchants' counting houses, &c. Some Lyttelton merchants have, we understand, offered to lease such offices for their business on the plains if the plan be carried out. A regular exchange and place of business of this kind will be of great service to Christchurch, and can scarcely fail to pay the shareholders well. It is anticipated that the new shares issued will be taken up immediately. According to a statement laid before the meeting by Mr. Packer, the chairman, it appeared that £420 15s. had. been received on account of shares, and £300 grant from the Provincial Government ; and that the gross expenditure up to this time has been £653 13s. 7d., leaving a balance in hand of £67 3s. sd. One hundred and sixty three shares of £5 have been taken up. On the first three calls of one pound £68 ss. is still outstanding due by shareholders, Only a few pounds has been collected on the fourth call. We are requested to call the attention of shareholders to the importance of punctuality in paying up the calls, as upon this in a great measure depends the satisfactory completion of the undertaking. On Monday evening Mr. Brittan met the electors according to notice, at the White Hart, at Christchurch. Mr. Moorhouse was there, and a large number of the supporters of both gentlemen. The meeting was adjourned to -, Mr. Thomson's auction rooms, where.the conflict was maintained till a late hour the next morning, with a great deal of personality, and a great deal of noise. No resolution was come to, although from all accounts patizanship rose to boiling point.

On Thursday evening' The Sentinel' and' The Rifle Brigade' were produced at our Lyttelton Theatre. The attendance was not quite equal to that of the previous night of representation, but was still good, especially in the boxes. We ! mark a decided improvement in tb.3 performance of the amateurs. This second representation of the Sentinel went off more smoothly and gained the favor of the audience more than the former, owing, no doubt, to additional study on the part of the amateur performers. Mr. Mordaunt, as Schloppsen, received well-merited applause, and the rest a fair share. A song from Mr. Montague in the interval was well given and encored, and the representation'of what are called ' The Grecian Statues' was favourably received. The 'Eifle Brigade' was very successful; the s more so for presenting three lady performers. The play-bill told no tales of identity, nor shall we. If the public wish to know who plays Perker in the Rifle Brigade, they must go and see; we guarantee that they shall be well rewarded for their trouble. Mrs. Rae (whose self possession in her modest part of last week beguiled us into forgetfulness that she was then new to the boards), as Mrs. Doddleton, exhibited wonderful self possession still, but scarcely vivacity or aptitude to correspond. However, the desire to excel which she evidently possesses may in time secure success. Mr. Kae , had a good part and one well suited to. him;. ) he acted cleverly, and received a fair share ot applause. Mr. Henries made a laughable Doddleton, and Mr. Montague a ditto Captain Nugent. We are tired of repeating the praises of Mrs. Foley. Improve as the amateurs may, there are still many deficiencies to be supplied and many errors to be obliterated; but Mrs. Foley performs this task admirably. We need not say that her merits as actress and directress on Thursday night were highly appreciated by the audience. We merely note that the song of' The Whisker, 5 which she introduced into her part of Mr. Major Masterman, was enco? e<i amid loud applause, and that she was called before the curtain and enthusiastically cheered at the conclusion of the piece. , , We have to notice the progress made in tne improvement of the Town Hall in M™ 10"' now one of the Government works and buildingsAdditions have been made to the original building, according to the plan, of which we gave tne particulars some time ago. The whole is a capacious structure, and forms a commodious suite of rooms, the greatest deficiency of wJiicft will, we think, be want of light in the large apartment. The exterior, contrary to our expectations, we confess, is by no means inelegan* and with a few artistic touches may be ia&ae ornament to the town. The care and manage-

ment of the Town Hall will be vested in the trustees as heretofore, the Government occupying the front apartments and having a first right to the use of the Hall. The Colonists' Society will remain in possession of that portion of the building now used as a library. Another public building in this town is rising into notice; we mean the gaoler's residence and police barracks now being erected between the gaol and Canterbury street. Improved accommodation has been long wanted in this quarter, and will now be afforded amply, so far as we ■can judge; moreover the enclosure of the space round the gaol will add to the security of the prison, and the group of buildings will have an effective appearance, and help to define that portion of Oxford street. ' On the arrival of the James Gibson from Otago the other day, the signals on Mount Pleasant were made use of for the first time for some months. The cause of the omission had been the damaged state of the block and halyards, and the insecurity of the mast, preventing any one from going aloft to reeve them afresh. It is due to Mr. P. Banks that the signal staff is again placed in efficient order, and we take this opportunity of thanking him, not so much for the trouble or expense he has gone to, as for the example he has shown of public spirit, in matters where neglect and carelessness are usual. Mr. Crombie has assaulted us severely. We were not conscious of any grievous fault of ours; but his attack upon us (if we are the " local oracle" referred to) is ,attended with excellent results. It has been gratifying to himself, of course; satisfactory to the public, for'they have, an the opinions quoted from our contemporaries, ifive times the information on the subject that we could have afforded; and agreeable to ourselves, for we love long advertisements. Seriously, Mr. Crombie is a photographer of undoubted skill, and has been as successful with the public .here as he could have expected in a small community. His annoyance at being noticed in any terms but those of lavish praise is an unworthy weakness. He should be as much above expecting an empty puff from us as we are averse to enter upon the criticism of performance, in an art which we do not understand. We observe that Mr. Crombie has lowered the price of his portraits. This is ?*cßflcious step, and will be appreciated. The weather has been windy and wet during the past week. A gale from the-south-west brought us the unusual accompaniment of snow on Tuesday night. The same fine weather which has lasted throughout the winter has however returned, and the country is much improved by the showers.