Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 603, 14 August 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

A general meeting of "the members'of'the Eyttelton Colonists' Society and Literary Institution took place on Tuesday evening last, when, after - some preliminary business, the evenings of meeting were changed from Tuesday to Monday, for both committee and. general purposes. The debating society, in connection with the institution, was revived,, and a subcommittee formed for revising its regulating rules, and carrying its objects into active operation. A long conference ensued on the announcement of the proposition "that it is desirable to obtain a Municipal Institution for the town of Lyttelton." Amongst other arguments, it was advanced that the interests of the town were grievously overlooked and neglected, and would probably continue to be so until a competent board of local management under some designation or -other, were appointed. /The projected removal of the Eesident Magistrate i permanently to Christchurch was announced, and its injurious consequences to the Port .were fully explained in regard to their bearing on our shipping and mercantile interests, especially, in cases of a necessity to enforce suddenly the quarantine laws, and the oft-recurring questions between masters of vessels and their refractcn-y crews. The want of any controlling inspection of weights, measures, and nuisances,—proper; markets; protection and regulating of licensed boatmen and their fares, together with a yarirty of other cogent reasons were shown in proof of the expediency of enunciating the given proposition. The resolution was unanimously agreed to, and it was further ' determined■■"-.that the president should call a public meeting of the inhabitants at an early period to carry out its object; and a subcommittee was formed"in the meantime to prepare tho necessary preliminaries and arrange the details to be submitted to,the consideration of the meeting. The weather throughout the winter has been worse than any yet experienced in this province by the." oldest inhabitant." The almost incessant rain has damped the spirits of the most sanguine. The cause of. our misfortunes is not that a much greater quantity of rain has fallen than in other years, but that there has been day after day of drizzling wet weather, with intermittent showers. The sun has not appeared for any sufficient length of time to repair damages, and-the constant soaking in of the' water has destroyed almost every road in the province. Strenuous efforts have Wen made to repair some of them, but it .is hopeless to expect any satisfaevtoy results, untjl the weather mends.

While we write the weather appears V~i breaking : the spring is very premature, and n ° the plains the grass has been-sprinoinp ™ • £ n for the last three weeks., aLSF^^ may bo expected, according to the rule nf 61' climate after so. wet a winter. Olu% A successful attempt was made this W p 1 Christchurch to dispel the gloomy effects of h weather. A ball given by the baoheW % Canterbury came off at the Town H] I Wednesday evening last. Nothwithstnml; 011 the rain, there were nearly one hundred L-t" S present, and dancing was kept up with an" v till four o'clock the next morning. The P man Band which occupied; the gallery at <f" end of the room Avas the feature of the c ing. It is to be hoped that an attempt win T made to get up a local band to supply the p^ of the present, visitors to the settlement Ti supper, which was provided by Mr. Wil was excellent, and considering the difficult""' of a limited space, very well arranged. It i'^ pity that the contemplated additions to tl * Town Hall have not been yet made. The h]\ itself will make a splendid ball-room, when tl . addition of a large supper room will render if division unnecessary. We would suggest f the consideration of the Town Hall x£minitt an improvement in the ventilation. The m- ° sent ventilators are .notfound sufficient fort crowded room. The consequence Was, that the hall was very hot all night. ■ A couple o f square ventilators placed on the ridge of tlte roof like chimneys, abont three feet sqimre, with jalousies at the sides that would be opened hv strings, would keep the air of the hall always pleasant. Such ventilators might be made ornamental, so r as not to destroy the general effect of the building Vhe^gjanpletedi Owing to'''tTil^c^intied wet weather the occupation of'the'east wing of the Government Buildings lias been postponed till the Ist of next month. . ; Mr. Cox's Theatrical Company is to commence its entertainments at the Town Hall, at Christchurch, next week. We understand that every ''effort, will be made to make the representation agreeable and amusing to the inhabitants ;of Christchurch; ■ ' , The Governmenl: have submitted the occupation of the" Rangitata Ferry to ;public competition. ; The. terms-are specified[in an adyev;tisement in our columns to-day. .It appears that' the, application which is" accompanied by the most satisfactory testimonfals will be accepted.. The. tenure is certain for a steady man • and such' a man niight rapidly make an independence on the terms offered j—but no one else would do for such:a position; he avouM only make .a-jmessof it r both for himself and ,the public. ';.,;>,,,,.;■- \'\~. .