Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 641, 29 December 1858, Page 7

Local Intelligence.

.. The Union Bank of Australia opened their new establishment on Norwich Quay, on Monday last. The building on the outside is a plain "substantial structure, the walls bein_r entirely of stone from the porphyry- quarries on the; Sumner Road. Very little' ornament is introduced, almost the only exception being that the principal doorway is faced with Quail Island freestone. To the"business department the private residence of the Manager is attached, built of the same material, "but sufficiently distinguished in design to form an entirely separate building; the side or western elevation of this portion lias more pretensions to beauty of architecture than the rest-. The inside harmonises with the outside. The banking room is peculiarly spacious and lofty, and is commodiously arranged for business purposes; the ceiling, wainscottingand fittings are panelled in dark stained wood, handsome, but without frippery ; though we understand that, when finished, the introduction of stained glass into the upper part of the panels dividing the compartments, with some other additions, will add a fair share of ornament to the room. The dwelling house is arranged with a view to comfort; it is not vet ready for habitation; but when finished, "its superiority over a wooden building will no doubt give a stimulus much needed to the construction of substantial and comfortable residences in stone, of which this is only the second instance in the province, Mr. Rhodes' house in Purau bay being the first. The bank will be kept in countenance by a stone warehouse immediately opposite which is now in course of erection by Messrs. Miles, Kington, & Co. The heavy moorings which were ordered for Timaru are on' board the Strathallan. That vessel is bound by her charter party to lay them down. They are guaranteed to hold a ship of 1000 to 1200 tons, and have passed the Admiralty test. Mr. Godley has subscribed £50 towards the ' building of the Cathedral in Christchurch. Mr. Sewell was to have sailed on the 23rd October by the Royal Charter to Melbourne. The Bishop of Wellington was to have sailed for New Zealand in November. The Bishop of Nelson will leave England in January. The " Gazette " proclaiming the new'ratrs of postage to be adopted throughout New Zealand from and after the loth of January 185S,

has just reached our hands. It is a lengthy affair as officially displayed, but its chief "provisions may be shortly enumerated. The principle pursued is the "maintenance of that system which has been in force throughout New Zealand, namely, a fixed rate of 2d. per hall ounce upon letters, newspapers being free. The alteration will be felt chiefly iv this province, where we have initiated "a penny postage for both letters and newspapers, applying solely to the transmission within our own borders. The consequence' will be that letters between Akaroa, .Lyttelton, Christchurch, and Kaiapoi, instead of paying a penny as hitherto, will pay 2d., and newspapers (published in the colony, and posted before 7 days old) instead of paying a penny, will pay nothing; newspapers otherwise will pay the penny. On the other hand, letters from inland parts of tbe province to other provinces or to England will not pay an additional penny for transmission to Lyttelton, the whole charge being cleared by 2d. per half ounce in the former case, and 6d. per half ounce in the latter. Another alteration is that letters to the neighbouring colonies will pay 6d. per half ounce instead of 2d. as heretofore ; and that newspapers going out of this colony are in all cases free. The postage between any one part of Saw Zealand and another may be either prepaid or not at option, but on letters addressed to places beyond the limits of the colony must be prepaid. Letters addressed to soldiers and seamen in service continue to be charged at the usual rate of one penny per half-ounce. Special charges are—on letters to the United Kingdom via Marseilles, 3d. per quarter ounce; newspapers so addressed 3d. each. Letters sent through the United Kingdom to officers oh board any of her Majesty's ships on Foreign stations, 6d. per half-ounce in addition to the ordinary rate. Registered letters pay a uniform rate of Is. besides the postage rate, unless passing through tbe United Kingdom to some foreign country or.other colony. A scale of the fees in the latter case is printed in the Gazette and may be inspected at the post-office, as also the scale of postages for ordinary letters and newspapers addressed to various parts. 0 f the world. , .