CANTERBURY

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 35, 20 October 1864, Page 3

CANTERBURY

(From our own Correspondent.) October 10th

A notice has just been issued by the Post Office authorities in Christchurch, which 1 trust yvill have the effect of rendering communication between your district and Canterbury more speedy, regular, and reliable. The notice to yvhich I refer says that "on and after the 10th inst.letters for Dunedin and Oamaru yvill be regularly forwarded by the overland mail, closing at Christchurch at 7 a.m., on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." The Council is prorogued. His Honor has told his faithful Commons how grateful he is for the liberal supplies they have voted, without which he could not carry on the great public yvorks which have been projected; and above all, hoyv intensely delighted he is with the uniform support which has been given to his Government. Large sums of money have been voted for public works of magnitude, railways north and south being the most prominent. The Opposition has affected to doubt the expediency of such large votes in the present commercial crisis of the Province, but I think I am right in stating that the public generally approve of the spirited policy of the Government, and view things in the most sanguine light. Canterbury, they say, has passed through several commercial crises, and there is no reason why this one should be more detrimental to her general welfare than the others. While on matters political, I may direct the attention of your readers to the following paragraph yvhich appears in the "Lyttelton Times" of Saturday la_t, under the head of " Coming Events:"— On Thursday evening was held a meeting, yvhich, though private, cannot but possess some significance as a shadow of the political events of the futuie. On the evening in question a number of the membeis of both Houses of the General Assembly dined together at the Christchurch Club, for the purpose of exchanging their views upon the numerous questions of importance which press for consideration by the political men of the colony. Though some gentlemen whose presence had been hoped for were unavoidably absent, a large majority of the repiesentativea of the province and resident members of the Upper House were able to attend. We do not profess to knoyv, and if we did, it might not perhaps he proper to report, all that formed the subject of conversation. But we believe that the chief political questions which came up for discussion elicited a thoroughly unanimous expression of opinion, and one in which it is believed that the representatives of the neighboring provinces will be able to concur. A desire was generally expressed to ascertain the views of the leading men of the other southern provinces, and to consult yvith them on the questions of the day. We are glad that such a step has been taken; and that as usual Canterbury ha<i assumed the initiative in forming public opinion. To most people here the dinner alluded to yvas a great secret, and its political aspect —even to those who were aware of it, hardly dreamt of. I have to record the opening, within the past week, of the first stone and iron bridge in Christchurch. It has been in hand for some three or four months, and people were beginning to think it would never be completed. It has, however, and instead of its old name—Papanui Bridge— our worshipful mayor, Mr John Ollivier, has christened it the Victoria. It is a handsome structure, and gives promise of long-continued stability. Large additions have been made to the Government buildings. These will comprise a new Council Chamber, very much wanted indeed, and refreshment rooms, all of stone. We are also to have a new Supreme Court House, most urgently required for the last five or six years, and a large gaol. Volunteering is just now the rage, caused doubtless by the proclamation about calling out the militia. The fact of the matter is this: everybody has an aversion to the militia, and rather than be called out, volunteering ia adopted. Very strange " volunteering," I call it. On Friday night, the Lyster Opera Troupe opened a season of twelve nights with " Lucia di Lammermoor " and the " Daughter of the Regiment." I wm pretent on the occoion, and can

say- most conscientiously that I never expected to enjoy such a treat in Canterbury. Our great Cathedral is at last commenced. The resident architect arrived from Engl md a yveek or tyvo ago, and he is already progressing. Judging from experience, it will be very extraordinary indeed if there is not a deal of squabbling to be got over before the Cathedral is half finished. The corner stone yvill be laid with extraordinary pomp and ceremony on the Anniversary Day, as it is called—namely, the 16th of December next. Of other local matters there is veiy little for mc to report. A suspected case of murder yvas brought before the Resident Magistrate on Friday, but it does not seem likely to afford much excitement to the lovers of the sensational. A man named Thompson went to the Marlborough diggings with a man named Sampson, and returned about a week ago alone. Since his return he has given rise to suspicion by being found in possession of some of the property of his mate, and by giving different versions of the circumstances under which they parted; he has also been observed to appear much troubled in his mind, and in conversations with his wife has been overheard to make some mysterious and uncomfortable allusion to " the body." When examined before the Resident Magistrate, he said that he left his mate Sampson on the bank of the river Clarence, too ill to continue his journey home towards Canterbury, yvhile he yvent on to look out for some food, as their stock of provisions yvas exhausted. On returning he found his mate gone, and supposed by the direction of his tracks that he had gone back to Blenheim. The magistrate was very naturally of opinion that more proof should have been brought that Sampson yvas dead before accusing Thompson of murdering him, but acceded to a request from the police for a remand of eight days, to allow further inquiries to be made. The " Press " of Saturday last published some reports forwarded to the Commissioner of Police by Sergeant Broham, a constable stationed on tbe West Coast. Things are getting on very badly there. There ia but a small extent of auriferous ground as yet discovered, and that is quickly worked out; provisions are scarce, and the place is alread}' veiy much overcrowded. I enclose a copy of these reports, in case there should be any persons in your neighborhood who need a warning to think a second time before they venture on any rash expedition to the West Coast diggings.