CANTERBURY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 72, 5 December 1855, Page 2

CANTERBURY.

[From the Lyttelton Times, Nov. 7.]

The Bishop of New Zealand arrived here on Monday last in the Southern Cross. It will be seen by an advertisement in our columns, that his Lordship proposes to hold confirmations on Sunday next, both in Lyttelton and Christchurch, and that a Church meeting will be held at Lyttelton on Thursday evening next, when, we understand, several important

resolutions affecting Church matters in this Province will be submitted.

The General Assembly. — The past week has been fruitful in meetings convened^ by the various candidates for the Christchurch Country District, for seats in the House of Representatives. Kaiapoi, Papauni, and Lyttelton have each been made the arena for ample discussion, and for a full explanation of the principles of the four competitors for the honours they seek. At Kaiapoi, on the 28th ultimo, there was a full attendance of the electors ; and again at Papanui, on Monday, the 30th ultimo, convened by Messrs. Ollivier and Brittin, at both of which Messrs. Hall and Ward attended. The several candidates were again assembled in the Town Hall, Lyttelton, at the instigation of Mr. Ward, on Friday, the 2nd instant, and they will, we understand, meet at Riccarton this evening. It would be needless to follow these gentlemen in their peregrinations, or, for the present, attempt to give any outline of their proceedings. On each occasion the meeting was very fully attended, and considerable interest appears to be felt by the constituency upon the subject. Invest At KAiAPOT.^—An inquest was' holden at Kaiapoi, on Thursday last, on the body of Jacob Nelson, which wag taken out of the river at Baxter's ferry, on the previous Sunday. It appeared that he had been missing for nearly a fortnight. The last time he was seen he was leaving the Kaiapoi Hotel) at its closing (ten, p.m.) with his mates. In a joking manner, he said he would not go home, and started off with a run. He was not seen alive afterwards. Verdict, "Found drowned."

We have been favoured by the captain of the brig Spray, with the following extract from his log-book, referring to the reported existence of an active volcano at the Kaikoras: —

On the afternoon of Saturday, 27th October, saw a column of smoke issuing from the summit of one of the most north-eastern peaks of the Eaikora mountains, bearing about north-east, and after sunset a fire was clearly visible in the same direction. From the elevation of the fire it had every appearance of a volcano.

Captain Ricrabd Scott, brig Spray.