CANTERBURY.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 105, 23 October 1863, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

(prom otra own correspondent.) Christchurch, Oct. 16th, 1863. I have very little news of any interest to write about; perhaps the matter 'of most pnblic importance lately has been the last freak of that very eccentr'c and unmanageable river the Waimakarivi. This river, some ten or twelve miles from the sea, divides itself into two branches, which re-unite lower down, enclosing between them a large tract of country known as Kaiapoi Island. The main current has hitherto flowed through one of these channels, but lately has taken a sudden 5 " fancy for prefering the other, and not conlent with the change, has also submerged a considerable extent of land lyingbetween all in a high state of cultivation, doing very great damage, and I fear in many instances causing the entire ruin of the smaller farmers. The Government have done all they could, and a body of laborers, under the direction of the Provincial Engineer, are employed in removing the shingle and other obstacles which have prevented the river from continuing in its old course, and it is hoped that with this assistance the river will of itself complete fie work by scouring; out the channel, especially when the nor-weaters set in and by melting the snow on the hills send down the usual heavy freshet?. Still, though the difficulty may be got over for the present it may recur at any time, and it seems that nothing but very elaborate and expensive works will suffice to keep the stream perpetually within bounds. The fact is, the Waimakarivi, like many other rivers which come down from mountain ranges upon a flat country, does not flow within banks, but finds its way to the sea ou the surface, and thus by the con- ■ ant deposition of silt brought down from tl:*- Kills has gradually raised its bed to a level somewhat higher than that of the surrounding country, so that any temporary stoppage, such as a bar of shmgle thrown up in a fresh, is sufficient 'to turn its course, and cause the mischief wliich Christchurcli has been so often and Kaiapoi is now suffering. The legislation of our Provincial Council during the last session has borne its first fruits, not under the best of auspices. The new Public-House Ordinance having come in force, Tuesday week was the day ; fixed for the first quarterly licensing meeting. At the appointed hour no one made his appearance but the Resident Magistrate, who was piesent ex officio, nor was a quorum of magistrates got together after much waiting and an energetic whipping up of every errant J.P. Some such result seems to have been contemplated by the framer of the Ordinance, as a clause was inserted, empowering the Superintendent, with the advice of his Executive, to perform all the functions deputed by the Act to Justices of the Peace ; and if the dislike of the magistrates to the new Ordinance continues, it seems likely that the Government will have more work thrown upon them by it than, peahaps, they had reckoned on when, upon a certain division, they lent their voices to swell the . chorus of the Ayes. The real state of the case is, that the magistrates under the new law ate deprived of all power whatsoever in the matter They are bound to issue licences on application, without any exercise of their own discretion, and it is not likely that a numb?r of. gentlemen will take the trouble to assemble together on stated occasions, merely lo go through acertain routine, and do the work of ordinary clerks, especially as the loss of dignity is not atoned for by any considerations of another sort. I cannot say what is being done with respect to the most important matter that was brought Under the. consideration of the Council — the extension of the railway north and south. The Council acquiesced in the Superintendent's opinion that the loan should be principally appropriated to this purpose, and that some deviation from the line marked out should be allowed, to guard against a continuance of the excessive demands made by owners of land taken for the railway. £50,000 was also set aside out of the loan for a bridge oyer the Rahair, an integral part of the southern line, of which £ 10,000 was supposed to be going to be spent this season, bnt I have not heard of anything being done yet. The works at the tunnel are progressing favorably, though somewhat; impeded at the Lyttelton end by water, and the rest of the line will shortly be opened. "The goods station at Christchurcli will be completed next week, and the passenger station within a month, and as most of the rolling-stock is already on the ground, we may expect the line open for' traffic within six weeks. I think I told you in a former letter of the trial in the Supreme Court, Holmes v. Hay, and how Mr Holmes got a verdict ■ of .£4.000 damages for tire burning of his ' bush by a fire originally lighted by a son of Mr Hay. Tlie defendant attempted afterwards to get a new trial on the ground partly of misdirection on the part of the judge, but chiefly that the verdict was against the evidence. The motion for a new trial was refused with costs, as the judge was of opinion that the evidence clearly preponderated on the side of the plaintiff. It is lo be hoped that the new Bush Fires Bill will do something towards putting an end to these destructive fires, such as last year devastated the greater part of the Peninsula. We have had another. arrival from England this week, the Lancashire Witch, which came into port at noon on Tuesday, -ninety-six days out. She brings about; 400 immigrants. That unfortunate vessel, the Captain Cook, has been again brought disagreeably into public notice. Several of the sailors refused to do duty on board, and when brought up before the Resident Magistrate, pleaded in defence that the vessel was not sea-worthy, and that tbey would be risking their lives if they remained on bo*rd. The Magistrate accordingly ordered a survey which was held by three shipwrights of Lyttleton, whose report was condemnatory of the ship's condition. This report however appeared in the papers and showed that, whatever might be its professional merit, the writers had very little acquaintance withthe rules of Lind ley Murray or the graces of elegant composition. The master

of the' Captain Cook refused altogether to submit to the verdict ofthe ungrammatical ones, and loudly declared that, all they {Wanted was to , secure' the job of making, as workmen, the repairs whicb, as judges, they had decided to be necessary. He at once got up a counter survey of his vessel, employing the masters and carpenters of ttwo- other ships • now ihport, who after careful examination <Jame to the conclusion that there was 'nothing whatever wrong about the ship, and that it was perfectly sound and sea- worthy. 1 'For 'the sake of .the crew, who will have tb'iry'the experiment; I hope that^tlie nautical' judgment was correct. Shi ps castera appear to ihave a great deal of trouble fiom the constant desertions among, their crews in this port ; there have been many letters in the papers lately on the subject, and I observe that a deputation has waited on the Superintendent to induce Government to take the matter up. An efficient water police, and a much more stringent system of punishment than what goes under the name of hard-labor, are apparently the remedies most in demand. ' We have been well off for the last fortnight in the way of amusement; thanks chiefly to the hristy Minstrels, who have been performing every night to crowded audiences by whom they 'have been highly appmriated. They certainly are a very clever company, and thefr presence has been a great attraction. They wind up the season here on Monday, and the Californian Circus, who are now at Lyttelton, will hecome the lions of ihe day in their stead. The latter are what their name impoits, a modification of Astley's. Miss Aitken has given a few "readings" in Christchurch,;: but failed somehow to secure the support ; which her talents undoubtedly deserved, partly, I believe, owing to" the person in whose hands she had placed her business arrangements, and whose antecedent's", have* not gained him any great fame in Canterbury. ' ' On Thursday week the Agricultural ; and; Pastoral Association hold its annual show., which is expected to provea great success.? This society was only established last year,'; and its first exhibition, notwithstanding .the disadvantage of its' being the first and that too rather horridly got Up,' was very ; successful, so something unusual may be! expected. The Superintendent has set a very good example by proclaiming a public holiday, and, barring the accident of a sou'wester, which, willsometimes perversely occur on the very day when its presence is least desired, the public will not fail to enjoy it to the full. The Lyttelton people are commencing preparations for their great holiday — the regatta on New Year's Day, and appear likely to make a yery sparkling affair of il. The Committee report that " their efforts to establish the regatta on a permanent footing have been attended with retiiarkabie success; that not only have' the public got a superior class, of boats for harbor use, but amongst the owners of sailing vessels they have arouseda spirit of emulation which is increasing every year, and before long Canterbury willpossess a class of coasters that will add greatly to her wealth ahd reputation. A public meeting was held lately, to consider the best means of obtaining^ a powerful steam fire engine for the city/ttf Christchurch. The Volunteer Fire Brigade are very desirous of importing from Eng- - land an engine which rejoices in the significant name of the " Deluge," which, by all accounts, its performance does not discredit. They failed in an attempt to induce the Provincial Council to vote the money required (about £1200), and at this meeting the eloquence of many speakers failed to conv.-nce the agents of the? different insurance companies tha.t it was their bounden duty to provide in every possible way against the chance of a fire, by whic'v their offices might suffer. The agents expressed themselves much obliged for the valuable advice offered them in the conduct of their business, hut declined to unbutton their pockets. Finally, however, the "Deluge " proved irresistible, and it was determined to {import it, aud raise the money by subscription. The Government and the City Council give £250 each, and the rest ought to be raised, without much.. difficulty, considering the importance of ! the matter to the citizens of Christchurch The steamers which left this for the North, last week, took up three of our members to the General Assembly, Messrs Fitzgerald, Cracroft Wilson, and Jollie. ■ Mr Thomson will follow him, whenhe has got through his business connected with the Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Mr Wild is detained by private affairs, and Mr Ward is in England. Two 'other seats are vacant, but the election for one, the Heatl ;oe district, is announced for the 21st. There will be no opposition % to Mr. A. Cox. From a return published in tbe Press monthly summary, of the land sold in the different districts of Canterbury in the inonth of September, I observe th.3t there ! were sold altogftber 6,700 acres, bringing in to the Provincial Treasury the sum of £13,400.