Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 723, 12 October 1859, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

It is a matter of the utmost delicacy to speak of a, horse so us to satisfy "its owner, and the task becomes more difficult when a number of horses have to be spoken of and compared. We have already mentioned the show of sires in Christchurch on the Ist of October, and have .no doubt, excited quite sufficient indignation in the matter. We shall therefore not go over the ground again, but be content with saying that almost all that appeared on the previous day turned out again on last Saturday (Sleight-of-hand was absent), and besides them came two of whom no jealousy can possibly exist—The Peer and Prince itoyal. The Peer is certainly a beautiful hcrse, and showed as ■well on Saturday as it was possible to do. His own brother, Towton, better known as aii older colonist, came out also, and offered the public an opportunity of judging between the par nobile fratrum. Towton is to be removed to Auckland, thus leaving The Peer, now the property .of Mr. Jerningham Wakefield, a clear field and no favour. It should be a matter of much satisfaction to New Zealand to possess these two splendid animals to sustain and continue her excellence in racing stock, already in high colonial' repute. The other novelty was Young Prince Royal—Mr. Valpy's loan to us for the season from the sister province of Otago. The Prince had perhaps not quite recovered from his voyage, but it required one who knew the horse well to detect any diminution of his general excellence. By accident, it appears, the pedigree was left behind at Dunedin by Mr. Valpy, but the history of the horse is notorious as the winner of the best prizes among the Clydesdales in his native country,and he is, with little doubt, unequalled in the Australian colonies. The improvement which each year has displayed in the draught stock of this province is now more than guaranteed for the future.

On Monday evening the members of th« Lyttelton Colonists' Society assembled in the Town Hall, to hear a lecture delivered by the llew. Mr. Rouse, on the writings of John Milton. Mr. Mouse in the course v of his lecture took occasion to show how far from correct are the opinions which have spread of late derogatory to the standing of the * Paradise Lost' as a classic epic poem. He dwelt upon the circumstances under which it was conceived and executed, the events and persons which the poet undertakes to describe' in it, and the beautiful language in which his ideas are conveyed. • .The Reverend lecturer quoted from the works, of his author several exquisite passages to illustrate his views, and succeeded in absorbing the attention of a rather numerous audience. A vote of thanks was accorded-to the lecturer at the conclusion. The President intimated that the next lecture of the aeries would be delivered on the 31sfc inst., by Mr. Brad well, taking for his subject the Comedies of Shakespere. [We have been given to understand since the above was in type, that the subject of the next lecture will be the " Classic Drama."]