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LYTTELTON.

On Saturday last, Lyttelton was visited with one of those strong winds of which we heard so much in England. To buildings of the most ordinary degree of strength, there was nothing alarming, but the flimsy materials of which many of the temporary houses are composed, invested the wind with an apparent strength which it did not possess. Some houses of fern and wattles were blown down; some tents overset; and we have heard of one V hut being blown away. At the edge of the bush an alarming fire occurred, the high wind blowing the sparks of an open air fire against a neighbouring hut, built of dried fern and wattles. In an instant three cottages under one roof were in a blaze, and in less than ten minutes were consumed with the whole of their contents, the women and children having only just time to escape. For some time there appeared to be great danger of the bush being set on fire, which would have perilled the whole of the cottages now built along its edge. But a number of men soon arrived from the town, by whose exertions the fire was extinguished. We hope that this accident will be a lesson to our fellow settlers to use the greatest caution in kindling fires out of doors. All such fires ought to be placed in a deep hole in the ground, or surrounded by mud walls, to the height of three or four feet, in order to prevent the wind scattering the sparks amongst the grass, which is so dry at this time of the year, as to ignite like tinder. The choice of town lots has extended as far as No. 63; most of the recent selections being in the capital; but no advance has been made with the rural sections. This is unfortunate, as the importance of the land purchasers getting upon their land, and not being compelled to squander their capital for an indefinite time before they can begin to invest it profitably, cannot be over-stated. There is said to be a difficulty in consequence of the lines of road, in reference to which the land purchasers are compelled to take a frontage, not being marked np in the map ; but we understand this difficulty will be removed in a few days. On Thursday the Gazelle arrived from Launceston, bringing six horses, and 700 sheep. The horses appear to be good strong cart horses, just the kind of horse of most value to the colony at this moment, but we are told the owner has fixed their price at fifty pounds a piece, which may render their sale problematical. There is little news of importance from the plains. Settlers continue to arrive at Christchurch from the Port, and houses to spring up along the banks of the river. A temporary church has been erected, which will be opened to-morrow, The survey and land office is progressing rapidly. A policeman is about to be stationed at Christchurch as a considerable quantity of property is daily arriving by the river from Lyttelton and Sumner. We have heard of the intended formation of a Horticultural Society, which intends to apply at once for permission to cultivate a portion of the Botanical Garden, so as to afford means of preserving plants and seeds, of which many have been brought by the settlers, and which might otherwise be lost. The Society proposes to correspond immediatelv with similar Societies at home and in the neighbouring colonies, with a view to the exchange of botanical productions. A most valuable building-stone has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Quail Island, not more than two miles from Lyttelton. It is composed of a sand stone grit, and is found to work admirably for all building purposes. The new Gaol now in the course . erection is to be cornered and faced with lt, ‘ Lyttelton Times, Jan. 25. . Only five additional choices of town sections have been made, all at Christchurch. * x selection of rural lots has advanced as far as No. 12. The land already selected is the cpllege section, No. 1, immediately close to Ul «town of Lyttelton, almost the whole of which has been applied for at high rents for

building purposes. No. 2at Sumner. The wood at Papanui, the neighbourhood of the Ferry over the Heathcote, four sections adjoining the capital, and one on the base of the hills on the banks of the Heathcote, include the choices up to the present time. Tenders for 3 contract to complete the road from the Ferry ever the Heathcote to Christchurch are to be received at the Association’s offices to-morrow. In the meantime, in order to place a supply of labour at the disposal of the contractors, the works are stopped on the road from Lyttelton to Sumner. Mr. Godley has thought that as it is impossible to complete the Sumner road in the course of the summer, it is more important to complete that from the Ferry to Christchurch, which may readily be accomplished, when there will be a practicable communication by means of the bridle-path and the ferry, the whole way from the port to the capital. The difficulty as to the survey of the roads has been removed, and all the principal lines are now marked on the map. Any one who has purchased a map, may have the roads marked if he will leave it at the land office for that purpose. The Survey-office at Christchurch will be opened by the 17th of February, when the business of the Land department will be transferred from Lyttelton to the capital.— lbid, February 1.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZSCSG18510215.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 578, 15 February 1851, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
943

LYTTELTON. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 578, 15 February 1851, Page 4

LYTTELTON. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 578, 15 February 1851, Page 4

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