CHRISTCHURCH. [From the Guardian and Canterbury Advertiser.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 716, 12 June 1852, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. [From the Guardian and Canterbury Advertiser.]

On the 13th ult., Mr. W. Valpy, jun., of Otago, with two servants, started from Christchurch on horseback, to explore the overland route to the southward. He intends, if he can find any practicable means of crossing the Waitangi river with sheep, to drive his flock into the Canterbury district ; because the pasturage regulations, whether of the Otago Association or of the Government, are discouraging to pastoral enterprise in that part of the country. 554,750 acres of land have, up to this time, been applied for within the block, under the Canterbury's Association's pasturage Regulations. According to their conditions, breeding stock, to the amount of 28,000 sheep, must be on these runs within nine months of the application. One head of large cattle is reckoned equal to six ewes. The rent paid for this land will be £280 the first year, gradually increasing up to £2,800 in the fifth and two succeeding years. We hope to give in an early number an accurate list of the different runs taken up and stocked, within the whole district between Kaikora and the Waitangi River. Mr. C. W. Cookson's moveable thrashingmachine is now working at Riccarton farm. The price is Is. per bushel. There is every reason to hope that at least one Flour mil] will be erected this year near Christchurch. An American reaping-machine has, we believe, .been imported in the Stag ; and also some of the principal' implements required for a brewery. The South Lincoln road has been now rendered passable for carts, to the distance' of eight miles from the Market-place. The road is also being levelled and formed along Oxford Quay, from Hagley park to the Market-place bridge. The metalling of the Ferry-road is proceeding" vigorously, about one-half being already laid down : but the sides of the road are suffering from the practice of driving only one wheel on the gravel ; rails should be put up, to confine the traffic to the centre of the road. A small Lock-up is being bu ; lt in the Marketplace. A foot-bridge across the Avon, near the Bricks, is nearly completed. The Government domain has been substantially fenced by the lessees from the Association, and now forms a compact paddock. A new road has'recently been made passable for horses and carts, between the Waimairi and Wairarapa rivers. It begins at the N.W. corner of Hagley park, where two branches of the Avon are bridged across, and traverses the farms of Messrs. Tod, Fendall, Hill, Bowen, and Pollard, issuing into the open plain to the north of Mr. C. W. Cookson's farm, near No. 1, Trig. Station. In going to Baxter's ferry on the Courtenay, a saving of two miles is gained over the- old road round Mr. Bray's fence- The Papanui road is also at length open for carts, up to the third mile-stone. There have been slight frosts nearly every night during the week ; but the days have been remarkably fine and even warm. Ploughing and sowing have been going on successfully in all directions. A serious, though singular, accident, occurred to a child of Mr. Moore's, of this place, on Sunday last. The child, a fine littlefellow, about four years of age, went into "his father's work-room, and took up a shogr&iiife, and in attempting <xk§± fne^Bandfe, the point penetrated^tlie clothing, and entered the abdo-men,^-0n removing the knife, a large portion of'oowel protruded through the wound. Medical assistance being obtained, the bowel was returned, and the wound sewed up, but the little sufferer lies in a very precarious state. We rejoice to hear that steps have been taken to open a Masonic Lodge at Christchurch. The application for a charter or warrant of Constitution had been forwarded to the Grand Lodge of England, and we expect to see a Lodge opened on the plains in something less than a year from the present time. We understand it is contemplated to call the new Lodge after the patron Saint of Canterbury, (Saint Augustine.)