CANTERBURY.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 28, 1 September 1864, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

(From oui , own Correspondent.) Christchokch, August 22nd, 18G4. The English Mail arrived in Lyttelton quite unexpectedly early on Friday morning, the 19th By it we were informed that the Canterbury Debentures had been floated in tho English market— £50,000, all but £500, having been easily got rid of. This is cheering intelligence, and it comes very opportunely for the Opposition party in the Provincial Council. It will show that the grounds on which they based their opposition to the Government scheme on loans, have some foundation to rest on. I must explain to your readers that, on Tuesday night last, in the Provincial Council, the joiinffi«>t member of the House— Mr W. Wilson—moved the reply to his Honor's addrees. It had been most eunrnnglv framed, to test the strength of the Cabinet. The fourth clause expressed, in very decided term", the utmost satisfaction with the steps taken by his Honor with regard to our loans in tint ho had sent the Secretary for Public Works to Auckland, in order to urge upon the General Government the necessity of introducing a Bill to guarantee all Provincial loans on certain conditions. The mission was successful, and our local Government behe\ed tint they had " clone a great stroke," to use a vulg.ir phrase. Not so the Opposition. Mr Moorlmmc spoke strongly and well against this polnvoflho Government, arguing that our financial independence would henceforth bo a mere name ; that Canterbury was quite able to stand alone ; and that the Government had reduced her to a level with Otago and Southland. Other speakers followed in the same strain, dogging the footsteps of the Chief with canine fidelity. On a division being called for, it was found that the Cabinet had a majority of four ' Nothing else of importance has been done in tho Council, unless I may mention a measure for the maintenance of hospitals, and for the Charitable Aid Fund, as it is called. Some time ago, the Christchurch Hospital was handed over to the tender mercies of the public. They appointed a Manning Board, and set about electing office-bearer!,—pin "i----cians, surgeons, &c , &c, —on the most lavish stale. "Bve-and bye, it was found that there were no funds The Board of Management resigned en mnsse, and the Hospital was again handed to Government Now, the Government propose to levy a tax for the maintenance of hospitals all over tho Province The Provincial Secretary shewed that a rate of 3d per £ on the assessable property of the Province would produce the required sum. Only Mr J Ollnier, " Lor Mayor of Chnstchurch," as the " Press" has nicknamed him, one of the city members, opposed the introduction of the measure. He called for a division, and it will go down to posterity—for he insisted on having his insane conduct recorded in themmutes of the Council—that John Ollivier, Esq , was the only man who could be found to object to the imposition of a rate for charitable purposes. I would hardly have thought this worth alluding to had it not been that it may be looked on as the beginning of those taxes which must inevitably come some day Our unfortunate Cathedral is likely to be further discussed. Assuredly the subject is stale, and most people can hardly find words strong enough to express their sense of weariness —in some cases, disgust —of tho whole afTair. The conduct of our cabmen is beginning to attract a good deal of attention. It is about eight or nine months since the first cab was started, and they have increased steadily in number, till now we hnve, I believe, seven or eight cab proprietors m Christchurch. With only one exception, they have flecked the public to an alarming extent; and it is notorious that they are in clo'e alliance with the " nymphs of the pave,"—an alarmingly increasing class, by the way. Several robberies have occurred in cabs, and the other night a member of the City Coun< il brought the subject betore his brother Councillors. It is expected that a code of bye-laws will be framed to regulate the charges and conduct of poor " Cabbie " A meeting was held a few nights ago for the purpose of considering the best plan to set on fool a Gymnasium in Christchurch. It was well attended by most of our influential citizens. A committee was formed, a secretary and treasurer appointed, and a proposal to issue a prospectus of the Gvmnn«ium Company (limited), with five hundred £2 shares, was unanimously agreed on I have nothing to communicate with rcgarl to the new gold fields. James Hammett, well and wi.lcly known in connection with the West Coast Exploration, died -very suddenly on Sunday last, at the Central Hotel. An inquest was held on Tuesday List, and the Jury returned a verdict to the effort that Hammett had died from an attack of delirium t>cm°i>9, a certificate to that effect having been given by the doctor who attended him. It ia sad to think that the brave fellow should have passed from amongst us in this way. The lessee of our theatre told mc the other night that he had offered the Lyster Opera Troupe £500 for a fortnight. Thoy wanted £2000 for a month. Christchurch could hardly stand that.