LYTTELTON. [From the Lyttelton Times, May 7.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 812, 14 May 1853, Page 3

LYTTELTON. [From the Lyttelton Times, May 7.]

The Resolute, a new ship, owned by Mr. Green, arrived at Melbourne on the 28th March, reports the arrival of the A.R.M.S. Adelaide at the Cape of Good Hope on the morning of the sth February. News came down from the interior the same day, that the Cape war was finished ; that General Cathcart had been victorious, and had taken prisoner Seyola, one of the most determined chiefs, also some parts of his household. Owing to the ship leaving the day the news came down, it was not practicable to obtain any fuller account. The Barque Gwalior arrived in our harbour on Wednesday morning. We regret to state that Captain Davidson, the commander, threw himself overboard on the 16th April, being at the time, we understand, in a state of delirivm tremtns. He had been for some time previous in this state, and, on the morning in question, he managed to evade the attention of those employed to watch him, and, suddenly starting up, flung himself overboard. Every effort was made to save him, but without success, the barque being hove to so suddenly as to place her in considerable danger. The present chief officer, Taylor, is well known here from having commanded the Mary t of Nelson. The Gwalior, it may be remembered, was upwards of 200 days from England to Auckland, and we understand her unfortunate captain then underwent considerable mental anxiety, which he endeavoured to alleviate by having recourse to stimulants. The following declaration has been made by Mr. Taylor, the mate, and several of the passengers and crew :—" We declare that about breakfast time on the 16th of April, the Gwalior being then at sea, in longitude 158, latitude 33-30, Captain Davidson did, in the presence of Mr. Thompson and others of the crew, jump overboard, and that the Barque was hove to immediately, but before the life boat could be lowered in consequence of being hampered up with hay, the unfortunate gentleman disappeared. A stiffish breeze was blowing at the time of the catastrophe from W. by N. with a heavy sea running from the N.W., with a S.E. swell." The Gwalior has had a favorable run of 21 days from Newcastle, and has landed her stock in capital order, and with trifling loss. We have received no account of the Horticultural and Agricultural Show on Monday last, at Christchurch, but we understand some fine peaches, apples and pears were exhibited by Mr. Deans. A very splendid sample of carrots (one weighing 91b.) and mangold wurzel were shewn by Mr. Brittan ; also of potatoes by Mr. Bowen, and of swede turnips by the Rev. O. Mathias. Mr. Wilson also exhibited a very handsome collection of seeds of various kinds ; and the exhibition of cut flowers was very pleasing and beautiful. The rivers on the Plains are swollen to an unusual height, and the body of water that has fallen during the last few days is enormous. It is reported that a very Taluable horse, with the dray, have been swepped away in attempt-

ing to cross the Selwyn, — the diirer, Horatio Parkes, nairowly escaping with his life. The horse and dray were the property of Mr. Willis, of the Heathcote. We regret to hear that the continued wet has had an injurious effect on the potatoe crop, and that serious fears are entertained that a considerable portion will prove rotten. The weather has improved within the last three days, which have been pleasant and warm.

The following letter, referring to the quartz rocks of the Middle Island, published in the Lyttelton Times, \\ ill be perused with interest by our readers :—: —

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times, Sir, —The following extract from n letter, dated 20th April, which I have received from Mr. Walter Mantell, Commissioner of Crown Land^ for Otago, may be worth inserting in your paper —" The quartz rock brought down by the rivers flowing to the sea along the ' ninety mile beach' is identical with the auriferous quartz rock of South Carolina. My authority is Dr. Shepard, Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of South Carolina and Massachusets, and Professor of Chemistry aud Mineralogy in Amherst College. I have received a specimen from him selected from those collectedly me in IS4B : of this I enclose you a chip." Mr. Mantell was employed by Government as Commissioner for the purchase of the Middle District of this Island from the Natives in 1848-9, and on his journeys collected numerous geological specimens, all of which I believe were forwarded to eminent scientific men at home. I shall be glad to shew to any one curious in geology the specimen above-referred to. I am, Sir, Yours obediently, J. W. H. Lyttelton, May 3rd, 1853.