The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 13 October 1858, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, October 13. There are some items of intelligence received by late arrivals from the neighbouring provinces and colonies which deserve some record, though we have not room for full details. The circumstance of the Lord Ashley steamer, bound for Auckland, having put in to Hohson's Bay on the 23rd September, 120 days out, is satisfactory, inasmuch as her long delay raised some tears about her safety. Her* sister vessel, after the same length of voyage, attained her destination on the Ist instant. The other late news from Australia is not important to us. The White Swan has papers from Auckland to the Ist of October, in which it is announced that coal of very fine quality has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Auckland; and that the managers of the White Swan have declared it to be superior to any other in New Zealand. It was announced that the Prince Alfred steamer would sail for New Zealand via Melbourne and Sydney on the 15th Aug., from London. The General Government have refused to dissolve the Wellington Provincial Council, and have disallowed two acts of the late session of that body.

Nelson news is to the effect that active steps are being taken to carry on coal mining operations upon the seam discovered near the town; and that Dr. Monro has been feted by his constituents on the strength of his haying-obtained for Nelson, by.his conduct in the House of Representatives, the remission of a portion of the New Zealand Company's debt which had been laid upon that province. In Wellington, if there is less party struggle there is more personal rancour. Libel cases of great number have been tried before the Supreme Court; among them those against Dr. Featnerston, founded on his famous hustings speech last year. The papers do 'not give the arguments very clearly nor the grounds of the judgment, but we gather that the action was successful, inasmuch as the plea of justification which was urged fell to the ground. Several djstinct actions were involved in this decision. Not a few other actions are to be brought, it appears, against the ' Independent' newspaper for its remarks upon the conduct of Messrs. Bowler and Varnham in the Council, and for a letter on Mr. Baker's case. Some of them are to be tried in Canterbury. On the other hand the injunction applied for from the Supreme Court by Mr. Wakefield has not been entertained, and the Superintendent, feeling secure about the expenditure going on in his absence, has gone to Melbourne. A disaster by flood completes the Wellington news: another inundation at the Hutt on the 25th. ult., caused great distraction to property, and injured the Hutt bridge severely, but happily no loss of human life occurred on this occasion. We must leave further details till our next.