Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 600, 4 August 1858, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

Building is going on rapidly in every part o* Christchurch. Private houses and shops are springing up in every direction. Public buildings are also progressing—the new Board room, at the Land Office has been in use for some weeks; —and a portion of the new Government Offices is so far advanced that some of the departments will move into them this week. In the Market-place the new Police and Immigration Barracks are rising rapidly. A Public Works Office and Government Timber-yard are going up on the same site. The heavy rains of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, occasioned such a heavy flood in the Avon as to endanger the Market-place Bridge. Had the supports of the bridge not been promptly attended to on Sunday, it is probable that the bridge would have been carried away. In Lyttelton also, the various little creeks that intersect the town became so many rivers in miniature, but no damage was done, with the exception of partly demolishing two or three apologies for bridges, which were neither useful nor ornamental to the localities they had occupied. In fact their demolition is rather an improvement ; for, now, it will be necessary to replace them with, proper structures. At least the ample deposits of mud on the streets have been thoroughly washed away, and that is one great benefit resulting from the heaviest and most incessant flood of the season.

The performances at the Theatre on Monday evening went off-tolerably well so far as the actors were concerned, but the most respectable part of the audience earnestly complain of the negligence of the police in not checking the silly pastime of flinging about nuts, oranges, &c. from the gallery to the annoyance of all -the occupants in the other parts of the Hall. There is no doubt that the performei's of such feats consider their doings very clever, witty, and original; but as there are others who have different notions of decorum, those exhibitions of extreme cleverness might as well be pursued in some back lane or tap-room where they might meet with due applause, and where those sedate persons, who cannot appreciate the extreme talents that the expert flinging of a globular miscile requires, could not mar the deserved eclat.

It is 42 days since we received the last English mail, the one for May is therefore now 11 days overdue. The receipt of the European mail within a reasonable time after its despatch has so long been a rare exception, that grumbling on the subject has become quite a chronic complaint; but, as we pay so dearly for our whistle, we may be allowed to indulge in this British privilege, a luxury, for the indulgence of which we hope to have less excuse, when our inter-colonial mail service is strengthened by the steamers from England, two of which by this time should be Hearing our coast.