Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 698, 16 July 1859, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

On Thursday evening a public meeting of the members of the Church of England in the parish of Lyttelton; was held according to advertisement, for the, purpose of considering the subject of the representation of the parish of Lyttelton "in the approaching Diocesan Synod; The Rev. F. Knowles took the chair,. immediately at the close of the evening service, about eight o'clock, and opened the meeting with prayer. He then stated what the object of the meeting was, and pointed out bow great necessity existed that such persons should be chosen as would have both time to attend the meetings and the ability to! take part in the proceedings.of the Synod, to.the advantage of the church iv this parish arid the diocese generally. He also mentioned that this meeting was for the information of the members of the church, that they might become aware of the gentlemen who would be prepared td accept a seat in the Synod; but that the election would not necessarily be confined to those persons who might be nominated; for it was open to any pirishioner to vote for any one whom he preferred up to the last day of voting, viz., the last day of the present month. Mr. Ward then stated that Mr. J. W. Hamilton, -who was unavoidably absent from the meeting, had authorised him to announce that he (Mr. Hamilton) would be glad to serve as' a member of the Synod, if chosen as representative of Lyttelton. As much of the work cut out for the- first Synod would consist in providing for the construction of And transaction of business by future Synods, Mr. Hamilton, from his general knowledge of Church matters and, his experience in deliberative assem* blies, would be found a most .useful member. Mr. Bayfeild proposed Dr. Donald as a candidate. That gentleman had been acquainted with the position of Church matters in this settlement from its foundation", and with the proceedings of the Church Property Trust from the constitution of^that body. He must therefore have an unusual amount of experience, which in the proceedings of the Synod would be turned to account. No| other name being mentioned, Dr. Donald addressed a few words to the meeting explanatory of the views, which he held on the questions which would come before the Synod. Feeling himself to be peculiarly well acquainted with church matters ever since the foundation, of the Settlement^ and knowing what important subjects would be brought before the notice of the first Synod., he professed himself really anxious to become a member of that body. On some observations from Mr. Ward as to tbe desirability of placing the church property handed over by the association under the management of the same body that'was to manage the church estate in the rest of the- diocese, Dr. Donald added that his primary consideration would be that the property now held by the Church Property Trustees should continue to be devoted to the same trusts as now, at any rate within the Province of Cank-rbury; to relieve the present trustees of their responsibilities w.ould certainly. require an act of the- Leg] s-

lature. The business of the meeting was then at an end, and the Rev. Chairman dismissed those present with prayer. The Revising Officer's Court has been sifting at Chdstchurch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and will sit to-day, for the purpose of removing from the roll names improperly appearing thereon, or amending the descriptions that are imperfect. The Revising Officer has arranged to consider all the rolls together in each district, so that claimants upon any roll may attend at the nearest place of sitting of the Court. Akaroa will be visited next week, and Lyttelton last. We beg to repeat here what we have before tried to impress upon the body of electors, that if each does not attend at this Court his place on the list is in great danger, for a very small proportion of names are properly entered; and all defective entries will be struck off withont mercy, unless ample evidence as to the omitted matter be produced to the satisfacfaetion of the Revising Officer. Let the electors look to it!

The weather which has prevailed so far throush the winter has been of the finest description. We are being recompensed for the rain of last winter by the fine dry character of the present. There has been some rain and some frost, but an unusual amount of warm sunshine has been interspersed among the wintry days. As a consequence, the roads are everywhere in excellent condition, even those which are under repair; and field and garden operations are particularly forward.

While on the subject of the weather we would call attention to the tables printed in another portion of our to-day's issue, which have been compiled so as to show the number of days in each month during ten years past in which the prevailing winds blowy (he number of calm days in each month ; and the days which have been rainy, showery, fine and very fine. In bringing out the totals, the number of days in each year under each of the above heads is shown; and also the number of days in each month averaged over the whole number of years. The variety of seasons, one, year from another, which is remarkable, is thus exhibited ; and also the difference, generally spe.ikiug, between one part of the year with another. These tables will naturally be of great interest to those who desire to be acquainted with the climate of this part of New Zealand. They are compiled by Mr. C. 0. Torlesse, of Rangiora, whose name is a voucher foe peculiar accuracy in the results exhibited. We hope to be able shortly to supplement these tables with others, showing the temperature, fall of rain, barometrical and other indications, during a series of years,

It has been said that a want of a building material is likely to be experienced in Christchurch, but late investigations tend to do away entirely with this supposition. Not only have quarries of the red stone or porphyry been found in positions very accessible from the town, but a stone of even a more serviceable kind is now beiiig introduced to public notice. The stone we refer to is of volcanic formation, a ' tufa' more nearly approaching to pumice than to any... other variety. It is white with a blue tinge, capable of being worked with the chisel to perfection, of light but durable substance, splitting out straight and square, and existing in great quantity on a spur above Hoon Hay, where it will be very easily accessible. A block has been brought down to Christchurch, and lies at Mr, Goodacre's shop where it has attracted great attention. This is what Christchurch will most likely be built of eventually. No doubt the same description of stone will be discovered in other parts of these hills.

A quarry of freestone, of quality equal to that known as Quail Island stone, has been commenced upon Mr. Vigers' land at Governor's Bay. It will be brought into use.in the erection of the new church in that locality.

We are glad to be able to announce that among the other works now proceeding in the repair of the bridle-path, the cross erected by Mrs. Godley, some time ago destroyed, will be replaced. The tank also will be fitted in a «nore convenient position than it at present occupies.

We are able to confirm the statements made by one of our correspondents on the Railway question in our last issue. The number of miles of good cart road already formed in this province is nofc less than seventy, nearly all metalled.. Besides this length of cart road there are a hundred miles of what is called bridle 'road. As to the expense of forming roads we may mention that the piece from the Heathcote Ferry to Christchurch, a distance of only four miles, has cost from first to last, forming and metalling with shingle, the sum of £8000. The round metal which has to be used, being difficult to obtain, is expensive, and cannot be said to form a proper surface to sustain the amount of traffic which the road has to carry. In a wet winter, the Ferry Road, after all the expense which the Government has been at upon it, would run a great chance of being shut up; or, at any rate, traffic wouldhavelo be partially suspended. To putthisroad or any other in a condition to carry a large traffic, it would be. necessary to use hard broken metal, which would about double the expense, causing the road to cost some £4000 per mile. It is between an outlay of this amount throughout the province with a result by no means commensurate, and an expenditure which/will produce the best of :all means of transit, that we have to decide —not between spending money and saving it.

It is bcarcely necessary to call the attention of all Freemasons to the approaching grand ceremonial of inaugurating the Provincial Grand Lodge and installing the Provincial Grand Master on Tuesday next. This will be the first Grand Lodge in New Zealand, no other province having yet advanced to such a dignity. The members of the three private lodges which support the Grand Lodge and fall under its jurisdiction, Lyttelton, Christchurch and Kaiapoi, are expected to attend in full force. We are given to understand that preparations on a scale befitting the solemnity of the occasion have been made by the D.P.G.M., and the officers of the Lodge of Unanimity in this town.

The Supreme Court sat at Christehurch yesterday (Friday), when decisions were given by his Honor in one or two cases, of no immediate interest to others than the parties concerned. -The court will sit for the last time to-day, prior to the Judge's departure for Otago, unless he.should be detained by dehy of the steamer, in which case one or more sittings wUI take place next week.

The following Immigration and Emigration Returns for the June quarter exhibit the difference of population caused by the arrival and departure of passengers by sea during that time : —