Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 655, 16 February 1859, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

Our readers will be glad to be reminded that to-morrow (Thursday) evening", they will have the pleasure of witnessing- n total eclipse of the moon at a time when all the phases of the phenomenon will be visible to them. "We copy the following1 particulars of the occurrence from the New Zealand Almanac for the.current year :— 11. M. First contact with the penumbra, Feb. 17, 7 34 p.m. " " shadow " '8 30 " Beffinnin'g of Total Phase ... ..." 9 28 " Middle of the Eclipse... ... ..." 10 16 " End of Total Phase ..." 11 5 " Last contact with the shadow, Feb. 18...0 3 a.m. " " penumbra..." ...o 59 ." It will be seen that the eclipse commences just tit the time when departing 1 daylight will render the phenomenon visible and ends a little after midnight, just the hours for amateur astronomers. The wool clip of this province is all but over, very few flocks now remainingl unshorn. The reports which reach us from various quarters unite in describing the clip as comparatively light this year, making- tlur total to be exported somewhat short of the amount tlint. might, have been anticipated. The cause of this may be attributed perhaps in some slight measure to an earlier shearing 1 than usual of a majority of the flocks in the province; but a/niore 'sum'qi^n'f'.reasQii.'-ja to be found in an actual-light-growth of the.ikecn, ■owin ff , r. o the , vofc WOiUhev f)f lasfc wintoi ; followed by the exceeding diynriss of sprint Ihe dehcit spoken of is of course only ? n reduction of the estimated clip, an amount

purely imaginary, while the real increase over "Inst year is still of large amount; and it should be remembered that., if the natural increase upon the flocks which were m the country last year does not afford a proportionate increase in the clip, there have been sheep imported into the province during the year more than sufficient to make up the

balance. The advance in prices at the November wool sales in London, occurring just at tlio time when the bulk of our wool was ready for the market, will no doubt prove a handsome addition to the income of the province from its export of staple commodity in 1858. The news of the complete reestablishment, so soon after the panic, to the high rates which prevailed before, will be most acceptable to all concerned in the trade whether merchant or producer, as indicating clearly that it was no cause arising from the wool tra-.le itself, but of a different nature, which produced the downfall of prices of 1857-8, when the wool market followed but by no means led the depression. • Though it has now quite recovered itself we should not forget that, liable as it is to be influenced by the state of other markets, no great dependence can be placed upon the permanence of any improvement, though every confidence may be entertained of its ultimate buoyancy. In the interval which must occur between the advices received of the last set of sales and those at which the clip of-this year will appear, of course any alteration may occur ; as, for instance, between the purchase of last year's wool here, done at the very top rates, and its sale in November last, the English markets had gone through a whole circle of vicissitudes, falling to the lowest point, and by great good fortune rising again at the precise moment required to what we conclude, in the absence of detailed advices, to be equal rates to those obtaining in the middle of 1857. It is perhaps well for all parties that this news of a rising' market has reached us towards the close of the season, thus giving no opening for undue excitement and rash speculation.; while if, as we have reason to believe, parties in the trade have generally preferred giving" advances on shipments, the sheep farmers themselves will be in in a position to reap whatever advantage is to be gained.

We notice as- an appendage to the advertisement of the brigs Mountain Maid and Dart in the Sydney papers when about to sail for this port, that the fact was prominently stated that they would discharge at Peacock's wharf, without lighterage. We have before mentioned the fact that both did so on their last trip down, as well as vessels of equal or larger tgnnage. On this present trip, the Mountain Maid has again taken up her berth alongside the wharf, though carrying an overflowing cargo, and consequently drawing as much water as a 500-ton ship moderately stowed. The public wharf will in a few days be ready to receive vessels of this class alongside, and Peacock's wharf, we learn, is to be further extended, thus offering increased facilities to shippers to this port. We have seen a very large fossil specimen of the tooth of the extinct New Zealand Shark, which was found among a mass of conglomerate shell aud similar formation in the range at the back of Mr. Waitt's station at Teviot-dale, Double Corner. It'is to be seen at Mr. Bayfeild's, Chemist, in this town. We believe the present specimen to be singular for size and preservation.

By an advertisement which appeal's in another column, the late secretaries of the Christchurch Cricket Ckib call a meeting1 of the members for Saturday next. We hope that all those who are anxious to keep up the first general cricket club founded in the settlement will be present. A good site on Hagley Park, the one on which the first games were played, has been offered by the Government; and if the club take the matter in hand with energy, a fair ground may be prepared and a cricket house built before next season. The object of the meeting now called is, we understand, to elect officers, as Messrs. Croft and Ward have resigned, and to take the necessary steps for reviving- the club. ' It is a pity that it should have been allowed to fall into such an inanimate state through the apathy of some members and the defection of others. We are requested to draw the attention of all those who have been and would continue to be members, to the hoar of meeting, viz., one o'clock on Saturday.