Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 628, 13 November 1858, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

A public meeting of members of the Ly ttelton church congregation was held in the temporary church, on Monday evening last, to consider what steps it was desirable to take to forward the erection of the parish church according to the design agreed to previously. This meeting had been adjourned from the meeting originally 'summoned a fortnight previously, at which the report of the building committee had been first presented. This report was again read. It showed in detail the endeavours which bad been made by the committee to secure the construction of the edifice according to the plan agreed to and within the means at command. The sum which was at that time calculated on did not exceed about £1500; while from the tenders received it appeared that the edifice could not be completed according to the design for a less sum perhaps than £2,500. Under the circumstances the committee of course declined to proceed with their commission, the terms of which allowed but little discretion, or margin for modification ; and they appealed to the general body of the congregation for further instructions. The meeting took the subject fully, into consideration, and after discussing the points at issue at some length,agreed at last to a simple resolution, at the instance of Mr. It. Latter, authorising the same committee to proceed with the building with the means at command, and to modify the design and alter the material as might seem most desirable to them, acting in concert with the architect. This resolution was unanimously approved. The question arose, however, whether, since several subscriptions had been paid towards the erection of the church in the belief that the structure would be of stone, those who-had subscribed under this condition should not be permitted to reclaim the sums contributed by them, if they so desired, in the event of any other material than stone being ' employed. It was finally agreed, as a matter of justice in some known peculiar cases, that the committee should be authorised to refund subscriptions on application where the reason alluded to was urged. It was not apprehended, however, that any occasion would arise for carrying out this course if the fact was generally known that the amount collected is after all barely sufficient to construct the most ordinary wooden church of the requisite dimensions. The formal resolution was, however,, ordered to be advertised, and it will be found in our columns to-day. The Building Committee have without delay proceeded to investigate the amount of alteration which can be made in the designs or the material so as to bring the cost down to the means at command; and in the meantime every effort; is being made on the other hand to swell the amount of funds to a sum commensurate with the requirements. As one step towards making these two ends meet, a notice from the committee is appended to the advertisement, to the effect that if additional contributions are promised upon which the committee can act they will undertake the building as originally contemplated so far as the material is concerned. We hope that the result may be the speedy erection of an edifice worthy of the object to which it is to be devoted.

Our readers will find in our report of the Provincial Council proceedings for Thursday the result of the deliberations of that body oh the communication question. The proposition to attempt the construction of a railway from Lyttelton to Christchurch, and with that view to make a tunnel under the port hills, was formally brought before the Council in a series of resolutions. Without opposition in the smallest degree to the railway on its own merits, but with no little quiet consideration of the subject as to the shape in which it was proposed, and in a tone which evidenced previous consideration, the discussion resulted in three quiet resolutions shaped for practical effect. The desirability of the thing is taken for granted : the first resolution recommends that an engineer be sent for from England, and sets apart a liberal sum to remunerate him; the second appoints a commission to do the straightforward work of laying out the best lines on the plains; and the third recommends that all information be sent homo to bo laid before any contracting firm which1 may bo found offering to undertake the job. By this means At any rate all charge of rashness and new-fangledness will bo averted. We learn that at Kaiapoi, on Wednesday, n fatal accident occurred to a son of Mr. Woodford, miller. The boy gob entangled in the mill-wheel, and was crushed to death. An inqueHt was held yesterday on the body by J)r. Donald, coroner, \t a solo of Kauri timber ox Sarah from Aueklaud, hold yesterday, by Mr. C, M. 01Uvie»'» at Meawu. Cooksmi, Bowler <fc Co.'* Store*, w cargo of 77,000 foot way nearly »U di»po|M>d {»■

The attendance of those interested in the timber trade was numerous, and the. prices realised were generally up to the value. Among other quotations are the following:—9 by 1& inch plank went at about 265. ; 12 to 24 inch wide boards, inch thick, from 265. to 31s. 6d.; inch hoards, 9 inches wide, from 243. to 275.; £ inch do., 8 and 9 inches, 235. to 25.; scantling, 4 by 3 inches, 21s. All assorted lengths, at per 100 feet measurement. After this sale, Mr. E. A. Hargreaves held a sde of Kauri timber, boards and scantling, on Messrs. Miles, Kington & Co.'s premises. Boards realised 255. to 275., and scantling 225.