Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 591, 3 July 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

We had hoped that a supply of paper, which was expected before the close of the last month, would have enabled a new volume of the ' Lyttelton Times' to appear in an enlarged form. Notwithstanding the bi-weekly publication of this journal, its present size is scarcely sufficient to meet the requirements of our rapidly extending province,—although care has been taken to keep the advertising columns within as narrow limits as possible. The non-arrival of paper of a larger size will necessitate some delay in the proposed improvement; but it is probable that in a very short time the ' Lyttelton Times' may assume a new shape.

The increase of the Customs revenue within the last half year is very perceptible; and it appears to be still on the increase. For the last month the gross duties amounted to £2,356 17s. Id. For the last qnarter they amounted to £6,008 15s. 6d.; for the last half year to £10,149 16s. Od. We may therefore reckon our revenue from Customs duties alone at upwards of £20,000 per. annum.

The following are the details of Customs' Returns for the Quarter ending 30th June: — Value of goods imported from New South Wales, £37,203; duties thereon, £1,917.— From Tasmania, £4,448; duties, £184.—From Great Britain, £14,664; duties, £1,062.—Fr0m Victoria, £2,795; duties, £137. Total value of Imports, £59,110; total duties thereon, £3,300. Duties received on goods removed from bonding warehouses, on goods originally from London, £1,440 ; from Sydney, £1,160; from Melbourne, £100. Total, £2,700.. This, added to the preceding total, gives £6,000, the round sum of the Quarter's returns. The exact total, as formerly stated, is £6,008 15s. 6d. This gives an excess on the previous quarter, ending 31st March, of Imports, £21,068 7s. 10d., and net Customs' Eevenue, £1,867 15s. The recurrence of the wet weather will, ifc is to be feared, make the mending of the roads more and more difficult. Till' the spring sets in, only little canjtpone but to patch them and keep open the maWFoads if possible. We understand that the^Trovincial Government are prepared to make any expenditure that may be necessary for that purpose. The present difficulty will, it is to be hoped, show the necessity for large votes, during the next session of the Provincial Council, to authorise making and metalling of all the trunk roads durino- the next summer. There is every probability of sufficient labour, .

Mr. Wylde's sale of land and house property, which took place at Kaiapoi on Monday, was not so numerously attended as had been anticipated, owing probably to the bad state of the roads. Most of the lots were withdrawn for want ot purchasers, but those disposed of realised good prices. Two sections of town land with frontages of 27 feet to the river were sold f?l le/l ce°f 170° P<* acre; another section fetched £3 per foot frontage. The Lion Hotel £600S1 °ra WaS S°ld at the Bame time for

The inquest on the body of James Nelson, iound on the tolls overlooking Cashmere, took place on Wednesday last, before W. Donald, £sq., coroner, but nothing material was elicited beyond the particulars given in our last issue. When found, a bundle was under the head, and a sum ot money, previously received at Christchurch was found upon the body. It is most probable that he had laid down from fatigue, and the cold seized upon his vitals, whilst asleep, and put an end to Ins life. After full

investigation the jury unhesitatingly returned a verdict of " Died from exposure." : Mr. W. Heaphy, according to his previous promise per advertisement, opened his house— the "Universal Hotel"—on the Ist inst., with a preliminary dinner, and free bar during the day,—an entertainment of which the good citi- ; zens of Lyttelton partook seemingly with hearty gusto, the proceedings being enlivened in the meantime by the German band playing lustily on the front balcony. From the extensive improvements made in this buildingby Mr. Heaphy, and now drawing rapidly towards completion, the new hotel will doubtless prove a good extension to the Lyttelton means of accommodation. A man named Hew was killed on Tuesday last, in the Ashley, whilst crossing the river with a bullock-dray. From what we could hitherto ascertain, it appears that the unfortunate man was knocked down by the leading bullock, and killed on the spot. An inquest on the body was to be held yesterday, but we have not yet heard the particulars. The •' Taranaki Herald " of the sth ultimo, publishes a letter received from England by H S. Tiffen Esq, dated 10th Feb. from which we give the following extract, embodying some hints that may be found useful to the wool-7 growers:—"l was very glad to hear that you had got your sheep, the ' Negrettes,' out so well; I have no doubt you will find they will improve your flock by producing a heavier fleece without deteriorating the quality of the wool. I am of the same opinion as to the kind of wool which you will find most profitable to grow as when I wrote to you on this subject before. It is evident from the wool we get from New Zealand, that the climate and soil are peculiarly adapted for growing a most useful medium quality of combing or clothing wool, and if you breed for weight of fleece, keeping up the quality as well as you can at the same time, you are sure to be/adopting the best in sheep breeding. I don't think your climate is adapted for growing fine clothing-wool; you could not continue to grow the kind of clothing-wool you could get from Silesia and Saxony, and if you could not do so you would not find it so profitable as growing a good heavy fleece of long combing wool. We are going through a most severe panic here, perhaps the most severe we have had since 1826, and I have no doubt you would be much d.ssapointed with the account sales received in the colony'from the sales in November last. All the woollen trade and especially the Bradford trade has been very much depressed, and many heavy failures amongst some of the largest wool staplers ; indeed speculation had been carried on in the wool to a great extent, and some of the large holders who had fully anticipated an advance this sirring, have been ruined. Your country wool has fared as well as any; the fall in Cape, which is mostly a short growing wool, has been much greater than yours,"