CANTERBURY.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 27, 25 August 1864, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

(From our own Correspondent.) Christchurch, August 15th, 1864.

The principal item of information from this dreariest of cities relates to the opening of the ordinary session of the Provincial Council. This event came off on Friday last, with all the formalities observed on such occasions. The strangers' gallery, which on the opening day of last session was crowded to suffocation, had some twenty or thirty occupants, and the space behind Mr Speaker's chair could boast of some half-dozen more. From this your readers may deduce the very obvious fact that but little interest was felt out of doors in the ceremonial. His Honoris speech was listened to with profound silence, as is usual. An occasional smile could be seen on the faces of some of the more prominent members of the Opposition; but it was evident that, generally speaking, the address from the throne gave satisfaction. After some routine business, the Council adjourned till to-morrow, when the reply to the address will be moved, and, perhaps, squabbled over. Next in importance comes the discovery of a payable goldfield on the West Coast of Canterbury. Your readers would be surprised could they witness the equanimity with which we have received the intelligence. Of course the papers were bound to take notice of it, but they did so as if they felt all the time " under compulsion," and with an entire absence of congratulation. Perhaps, after all, this is the best way to look at it. The Government have shown themselves ready to adopt measures for the " development"—l think that is the phrase -of this newest El Dorado. The first intelligence regarding the discovery is also the latest, and all that I can as yet add is this—namely, that Mr Revell and two of the mounted police force started from Christchurch on Tuesday, en route for the Teremakau, Ohonu, Grey, or whatever they may finally choose to call this goldfield, as the representatives of Government, law, and order. I may just mention that two Maoris are reported to be on their way to Christchurch to claim the reward of £2000 for the discovery of a payable goldfield in the Province of Canterbury. I have heard several people remark, " Don't they wish

they may get it;" but I will not go so far as to say that this expression of opinion is that of the. majority. The Great Southern Railway, which is to extend to Timaru, and about which we have heard so much, is likely, judging from what one usually hears, to be commenced soon. Have your readers heard how a very eminent engineer—a very giant in his profession—has driven the inhabitants of Kaiapoi Island to the verge of desperation, by declaring that the River Waiamapariri, whose eccentricities the Colony at large have heard of before, will wipe this same island of Kaiapoi out of the map of Canterbury ? We have heard enough of it, in all conscience, and, from certain forebodings, we are likely to hear more of it before the session of the Provincial Council is over. Turning to matters relating simply to Christchurch, I may mention that the question #of drainage is occupying a large share of attention just now. The City Surveyor, some time ago, gent in a report on the subject to the Municipal Council. This report was, of course, published in the papers, and it received a severe handling from the " Press." I may remark that people generally are of opinion that the City Surveyor, by the report in question, has not gained much credit. His estimate of cost for an effectual system , of drainage was the very modest one of L 700,000. Since then, Mr Dobson. Consulting Engineer to the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, and a public servant of long and honorable standing, has favored the City Council with his ideas on the subject of drainage. His report has not yet been made public, but I hear that it is a very elaborate one, and also very feasible. It is certainly high time that something were done in the matter, as Christchurch gets more unhealthy every succeediii{*autumn. There is, no doubt, considerable monetary depression just now. Merchants and storekeepers complain dreadfully of the dearth of mnney, and say that they cannot get their accounts paid. Notwithstanding this, buildings of all descriptions are in course of erection. In anticipation of the next session of the General Assembly being held here, the Government are erecting new and spacious Council Chambers, of stone. I have seen the plans and elevations, and the building Avhen finished promises to be an ornament to the city. The Wesleyans have almost completed a very handsome and substantial stone Church, and there is another in course of erection for the Church of England. The buildings destroyed by the late fire are being replaced hy highly creditable brick and stone erections; and a walk through Christchurch will convince any one that the place is progressing rapidly and steadily. In a month or two we shall have gas in some of the main thoroughfares—a great improvement truly. The Diocesan Synod is holding its sittings just now. The subject of education has received a large share of its attention, and has been finally disposed of in a series of resolutions, the main feature of which is the determination of the Synod to oppose any scheme of Education which is not based on Denominational principles. We shall see by-and-bye what the Government intend to do in the matter. As far as lamin a position to judge, I think we shall have a semi-liberal proposal from them towards the end of the session, a sort of compromise which may do for a time, but which will only leave room for the whole matter to be again brought up, and discussed with that acrimony which always distinguishes educational discussions. There can hardly be a doubt as to the wish of the Province—namely, a liberal and comprehensive scheme, not bssed on Denominational principles. We have had wretched weather here for the last week. On Wednesday, the day appointed for repeating the blundered Maiden steeplechase, we had quite a little snow-storm; and since then it has rained incessantly Apropos ol the Steeplechase, you will see by the papers that a Mr Westby Hawkshaw Percival, a gentleman pretty well and widely known in Canterbury, made a false entry as tp the age of a certain mare, Jessie, the winner of the race on the first occasion. Mr Percival says that he did not know the mare was more than five years old when he entered her, but most people are of opinion that that gentleman is by no means so verdant in the matter of horseflesh, and that he knew perfectly well she was an aged mare. At all events he does not come out of it with clean hands by any means. I shall close this by remarking that our little theatre, under the managament ot Mr. J. L. Hall, continues to prosper. Miss Aitken is as great, a favorite as ever, and Messrs Shiels, Richardson, and Carey divide the favors in their -particular line. We Tiave had any amount of sensation dramas—some of them good, others wretched ; but in all the acting was certainly above the average. The season closes in about a week from this date.