Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 532, 9 December 1857, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

The following changes were yesterday made in the Provincial Government:—Mr. Ollivier appointed Provincial Secretary, in the place of Mr. Packer, resigned; and Mr. Tancred Presidont of the Executive Council. The other members of the Executive remain as before. A distressing accident, which resulted fatally, happened a few days ago to a child not quite two years old, named Fenwick, whose parents reside on the South Christchurch road. The unfortunate little fellow was left alone in the kitchen for a few minutes, where a pan of hot railk had been placed on the floor to cool. Into this he managed to fall backwards, and was so severely scalded that death ensued the next day. An inquest on Monday established the facts. We are glad to see that the Cricket Club of Christchurch is up and doing in its peculiar line ao-ain, and that they have determined to observe the special holiday of our settlement as

it ought to be done. The great want of the club, a' well prepared ground, near town, will be satisfied for the present occasion by the throwing o^.j of Mr. Brittan's ground, which is of a good surt and in a good position ; and we trust, that the Ckb may be stimulated to one more effort to establish itself, notwithstanding its former und rer"sated disappointments. Aa to the style of game on the 16th, this day week, we are given to understand that from the gentlemen, members or not of the Club, who forward to the Secretaries an intimation that they wish to join the game, sides will be chosen by the Committee, with reference, if possible, to some usual basis of a match. Upon this plan, we suppose that it will be quite practicable and may be desirable to in elude more^ than eleven on one or other side, if a sufficient number of players offer, so that none need refrain from fear of rejection. For the sake of keeping holiday, as well as of maintaining the sports of our ancestral land, we trust to see a good attendance of players and spectators.

; A public ball on the evening of the same day, Wednesday, the 16th, at the Town Hall, Christchurch, will form part of the festivities .' due to our anniversary. ' The hall has already ' been used for a variety of purposes, but not • yet, we believe, for a ball.

_ We have it on the authority of the ' Canadian News' that the Great Eastern steamship— that miracle of marine architecture—is to be launched during the first spring tides of October, probably on the sth, on which day the tides will be highest. OUB COMMUNICATION "WITH AUSTRALIA. Attempt after attempt has been made to secure some degree of regularity, as well as speed, in our communication with our thriving settlements at the antipodes, but as yet with little success. Companies have been projected from time to time, most of which had broken down in their early effoi'ts. Public meetings have been ;held here and in the colonies, at which all kinds of plans and routes have been proposed. The Peninsular and Oriental Company, the General Screw Steam Company, the Australian Mail Company and others, have all essayed to carry through the work, and all have given it up. The English and Australian Steam Company, which recently took the contract for the transport of the Australian mails via Suez, have been scarcely more successful than their predecessors, and, after incurring heavy penalties, are now driven to amalgamation with the Royal Mail Steam Company, who propose testing the Pacific route. We are not sony for this, because the Panama route has had no fair trial, notwithstanding it offers many, special advantages, and more prospect of speed and regularity, although having, perhaps, less chance of remunerative return on the outset. . It is now somewhere about 12 years ago that the first proposal was made by the Royal Mail Company to establish this route. The Sydney colonists have always contended for it, and have at last taken the bold step of assuming the whole responsibility and entire cost of the contract. The distance on the Pacific side from Panama to Sydney, via New Zealand, is about 8,000 miles. The rapidity with which the passage can be made in the smooth waters of the Pacific is evidenced by the repeatedly late intelligence we have received from Sydney by this route, brought by sailing vessels to Chili or Peru. The peculiar advantages of the Panama route for an ocean line of mail steamers have been so often discussed that it is not necessary to reiterate them. It should be borne in mind that it provides not only for our southern settlements in Australia and New Zealand, but also for Oregon, California, and Vancouver's, for Peru, Chili, and the whole western coast of America. It puts us in communication with our Pacific fleet, and would provide a line of posts, in case of any interruption from political causes,through Suez. The greater cheapness of passage by this route, and the facilities afforded by the Panama Railway for the transfer of luggage, will attract a much larger number of passengers than now use the Suez and Melbourne route.— ' Mitchell's Maritime Register.'