Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 568, 14 April 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

The rate of progress at which the Province of Cattterbury-io—suivancingf -is -marked, not by 'a. succession of little steps such as would come under the head of 'events of the year,' but by certain comparisons which are occasionally presented between the existing state of things and that which may have preceded it within a .definite space of time. The settlement is not in that weak exhausted condition that it is necessary, Mrs. Dombey-like, from time to time to ' make an effort' in order to show symptoms of life, for the body is sound, the pulse beats evenly, and the infant state grows large and strong as imperceptibly as a child adds inches to his stature. It is left for us therefore to note the comparisons of one year's growth with another's, but there is no means of furnishing a ' summary of events' of the past quarter for transmission to England by the woolships now departing, since there have been few or no occurrences to record. What few there are, we shall on this occasion glance at, and leave it for the reader at a distance to discover how the leaven of progress is penetrating the mass of -wild country on which we have settled.

It will be seen from our notes on commercial matters that the exports of the current year ma3 T be estimated as worth at least two-thirds more than those of last year, owing partly to the increased amount, partly to the improved value, of our staple export, wool. Work of all sorts has increased, buildings public and private are springing up in all directions, creating remunerative work for a large number of sawyers, carpenters, masons, and other tradesmen in the place, and a rapidly increasing import of tiftber from other ports. Agriculture has suffered under obstructions of many sorts —low prices, damp harvest weather, and above all, scarcity of labour; nevertheless the cultivation of. land is vigorously extending, and the crops of this year will show a considerable advance upon the former. The Government has sold an immense quantity of land, and the demand still continues. The roads of the province are in capital order and are spreading in every direction. The funds which the Government has at its disposal are so ample for the public works to be done that the construction and repair of roads is limited only by the supply of labour. Amongst buildings are to be noticed the enlargement and great improvement of the jail of the province in Lytfcdton, the commencement of the Goverment offices in Oistchurch on a handsome and capacious plan, the enlargement of the Land Office, and.local offices of a satisfactory kind both in Kaiapoi and Akaroa. There arc also the college in Chratchurch, a large and handsome building, a pretty church at liiceaiion consecrated on Waster Tuesday last, warehouses and private houses in all parts

of the province. In Lyttelton an extended jatty is about to be commenced by the Government, and the parish church is about to be rebijlt. Along with these undertakings and improvements, a multitude of smaller operations ire going forward, which in the aggregate caust a remarkable improvement in the appearance oi! the country.

It seemed probable at the commencement oi last summer that discoveries would be made of available country on the West coast of this Island which would add to the territory of the province ; but the explorations which have since! been made have not brought to light any but limited patches of useful country. There seems to be still room, however1, for valuable discoveries to the west and south, and doubtless in a very short time we shall be in possession of all the information which can possibly be gathered on the subject.

A small steamer is now plying upon our waters, which is owned by a company of proprietors in the province, with the support of the Government, and is intended for the trade between our ports and rivers. From the trial trips which she has already taken, it is to be expected that she will answer the intentions of those interested.

A large and serviceable schooner has been placed upon our coast by several enterprising individuals in this province, for the purpose of embarking in the whale fishery. Every prospect of success is held out by the oil now being obtained by French and American whalers as well as by shore parties. The schooner is now fitting out for her winter's cruize.

In the advancement which is to be noted in the property and enterprise of Canterbury, it is to be remarked that the increase of population is comparatively very slow. There are scarcely any obstacles to whatever enterprise may be contemplated amongst us so hard to be overcome as the want of labour. During the harvest which has just past men have been paid upwards of £3 per acre for reaping. Eighteenpence per bushel is now being paid in places for thrashing, though not universally; and this when wheat is not higher thon ss. per bushel. Machines have been introduced, but they are not plentiful. There could be no greater boon to the province than the introduction of a good round number of agricultural labourers and-or-dinary craftsmen. It is a fact not to be disguised that under ordinary systems of emigration tlie restless or helpless individuals among a town population, being most easily moved, are the most commonly sent out as emigrants. We shall soon be on the look-out for the early supplies from Mr. Fitz Gerald's agency, to whose hands a sum of £20,000 has been entrusted for immigration. In the meantime we have had occasional droppings in. The Westminster and the Roehampton have arrived during the past quarter, and have added somewhere about 200 souls to our population. The thanks of the province for opportune supplies at a time of want are due to those gentlemen in England who specially look after the interests of Canterbury, and to Messrs. Willis, the shipping agents, who have made this settlement the object of their disinterested liberality. During the past three or four months there has been tut little stir in our local politics. The new regime which was instituted at the close of 1857 has made but little alteration in the system which had been pursued in all public matters among us. The Council sat for a short session, ending on the 24th Feb., at which the votes were taken for six months only, from April Ist, so that another session will naturally fall in September. There was no formation of parties nor did any circumstance give rise to long discussion either in the house or amongst the public. The ordinances of the session related principally to matters of course, and to the necessities of the time. There seems also, we are glad tosay, little likelihood of any political excitement for the future. The General Assembly is now in session, and all the members from this province who retained their seats took their departure for Auckland in good time for the commencement of business. It is improbablethat even the ordinary election excitement will accompany the replenishing of the seats now vacant (Lyttelton and Akaroa),°thou°-h it would be highly improper to say that there will be any apathy on the part of the public. Every one seems awake to the necessity of keeping alive the interests of the South in the Assembly, and therefore of swelling the votes on the side of the South; but the difficulty and expense of a journey to Auckland so far repress the ardour of candidates that a contest for either seat cannot be looked for. It is just now repoited that Mr. Sewell has returned to New Zealand from England, and the seat for Lyttelton will no doubt be left open for him by the constituency. • J One beneficial application of public money by the Council in its late Session was the setting apart a sum for the enlargement of the local post service. The extension from Kaiapoi to Rangiora twice a week, from Christchureh to Ti.naru fortnightly, and over Banks' Peninsula once a week is now being commenced, so that each of those places is now brought nearer town for all business purposes. The local steamer has undertaken the contract to carry the Peninsular mails once a week, and made her nrst tup on Monday last. The penny rate of postage is adopted throughout for letters and newspapers, except in the case of the limaru mail where the postage rates for letters are doubled.

A remonstrance has been sent up to the General Government from the southern provinces against the principle of the present Customs tariff. The measurement system is held to bo objectionable on the double score of justice and expediency. The merchants of Wellington re-

commend the adoption of the Victorian (Melbourne) system, very slightly altered in detail. Nelson and Canterbury have joined in the expression of this opinion. There is no desire to return to the ad valorem principle. We look forward to the next few months for interesting news from the north of the operationa of the Assembly. The same period is likely to be a dull one, politically, for this as well as other provinces,.