Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 749, 11 January 1860, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

No 'little interest lias been directed during';these few days past to the spot on1 the beach by the Custom House Reserve, where works—not the tunnel; exactly, but something practical in that direction—have been" already commenced with a view to the railway enterprise. These works are entered into on behalf of the contractors, and are designed to afford them information as to tho practical character of the job which they have contingently undertaken. Of course the attention 6f the representatives of the contractors has been directed to many points in connection with the subject which are not as patent to the public eye as that to. which we refer, which consists mainly of a trial drift run along the line of the proposed tunnel into the hill for the purpose of determining how far the supercumbent clay may have to be penetrated, and where the solid rock commences. This drift will be rim in from both ends, but that at the Lyttelton end only has yet been commenced. It will be about six feet square in the opening, and will follow closely the line of the'tunnel itself, though at the top of the permanent work, The terminating lines of the tunnel have been marked on the surface, and the general direction is given by the construction of a tower at the summit of the hill on the apex of the tunnel, at a point distinguishable from each extreme of the opening. Besides the drift already commenced some work is being done in tho way of levelling a clear space between the Maori huts and the beach, for the erection of workshops, tool houses, and other necessary constructions. In all somewhere about thirty men are employed. The brisk commencement of practical work has the natural effect of, encpuraging all who look favourably on the undertaking. ,V , !We have been told that a petition,to his Excellency, the Governor against the railway scheme was

prepared bof'ore "his doparturo, but we arc not informed whether it was actually presented. It is stated that throe names were affixed in Lyttelton, and another promised. Our readers may, like ourselves, have known that, some time in December, an election was to take place at Mount Grey, of a fit and proper person to serve as a member of the House of Representatives in the Parliamont of New Zealand for the County of Cheviot. Some persons may, like ourselves, have been awaro that Mr. Edward Jollie proposed to ofler himself as a candidate for the vacant scat; and they may have joined us in the opinion that as no opposition was likely to be offered to Mr. Jollie, that gentleman was entering upon a course where success was not doubtful. Still, with all moral certainty of the result, the public has yet had no direct evidence that Mr. Jollie was on a certain day, with all due form, and in manner by law appointed, elected to fill the responsible post of M.G.A. for Cheviot. It gives us, therefore, great satisfaction to announce, on the indubitable authority of a great majority of the persons present at the nomination, we mean the Returning Officer arid the proposer, that Mr. Edward Jollie was, on a certain day—we forget which—duly elected to serve as representative of the district of Cheviot.