THE PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY DURING THE-PAST MONTH.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 7, 23 November 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY DURING THE- PAST MONTH.

(Prom the Press,- Nov *13). . . Our local politics have been more exciting than usuM during the past m6nth. Ever since the twenty-fourth* of October, there has been a succession of rumours that certain important changes were about to take place in-the executive council, * and also that the Superintendent was about to resign hia office. These rumours nave assumed every variety of Conflicting statement, and- have resulted in a very general impression that Changes site impending, but, when they will come about, and of what nature they will be, no one yet can tell. Neither is there any certainty about the intentions of His Honor, who though he is known to have for some time intended to resign his office*, and though he is also known to have stated in a semi-public manner that he meant 'to carry that intention into practice, has not -vouchsafed the public any official information of his views ; the consequence is that people talk, and not only talk but grumble, and grumble not altogether without reason. The -unanimous feeling is that, if Mr Bealey intended to resign, he should have notified his intention officially before this date, and that, if he did not mean toTesign, he should neves have said in a semi-official manner that he intended to do so. At present His Honor's mind is an inscrutible mystery, and Until v/e have reliable information of its true purport there is no good to be got by speculating about his successor. The Agricul tural show catne off on the 22nd ult. and was a great success in everything except the weather; for the details we refer our readers to the account we give in another paTt of this summary. It will be seen also that there seems "to be a reasonable hope of at least ut.li ing our New Flax; and we w uld call attention to the letters of Messrs Cameron, Donale's )U" aid Cameron which are to be found in these columns. Miss Rye has left us, and is on h*er way to Auckland. We believe that she has succeeded in establishing a Servants' Home, though it is not yet, opened. There have been many conflicting opinions as to the feasibility of Miss Rye's plans, and considerable difficulties had to be conti nded with before a home could be set fairly on foot ; the: c difficulties have beeu overcome, and we should be guilty of great ingratitude to Miss Rye, were wo not to acknowledge the perse-.-verance and energy with which she has devoted herself to the undertaking. The', public mind is at present in a higfrstlate of excitement-about the prospect of. getting the AllT^i^nd Eleven up to Chfistchurch, ,afjtj%liere seems every chance that we shall.-- receive a visit from them. We need no~t say lrow much we hope that the project will no* fall to the ground ; but we could re- ! mind our readers that if it is not to do ! i so, they mub-t be prepared to come down with their money, and subscribe liberally. Even if we only regard the visit of the Eleven as ; an advertisement to Canterbury, we should rejoice at their coming, but we believe we may fairly take higher ground, and point out the advantage of encouarging a game so truly English and thoroughly manly. We are afraid that we shall hardly be favored with a visit from the Keans. The receipts for the sale of waste lands have this month amounted to the sum of L 28,352, which is an excess of L 14.952 over those of last month. Public Works. — The railway is confidently expected to be open next month, and the goods-station will be ready for the receipt of wool by the. end of this. The tunnel proceeds slowly but surely. The West Coast road is in the course of construction, and a regular village of workmen and their wives has sprung up in the neighborhood of the Waitohi gorge. It is contemplated to carry the railway up as far as the Waitohi, and to form a dray road over the Hurunui pass. We hear that the swing bridge over the Waimakiri'ri at Kaiapoi will be open in a few days. This is the largest work of the kind yet erected in New Zealand, and will be a great benefit to the neighborhood, and the whole settlement. The very mention, however, of the 'word Waimakariri- makes us shudder. We believe that the river is now diverted to its oid channel, but not nntil it has done a very serious amount of damage. There are so many conflicting reports upon the subject, that it is an extremely difficult matter to arrive at the exact nature of the mischief that has been done; but we lear that there is only too much truth in the statement, that had the " promptitude '' of the Government been exercised a little earlier than at "the last moment," the damage done would have been much less, aud the cost of diverting the . river far smaller. The Pap&nui bridge has been handed over to the- City Council who will set about the work at once ; we have seen the design for the bridge, and consider that it reflects great credit upon the designer, and that it wiil be a great; ornament to the town. , The Government have also commenced' to clear the Avon above the town; as soon as this has been done and; the watercress had time to float down the river, the- City Council will clear tlie river within the town itself. Below the Town Belt the river is already cleared. , , . - - An important drain is being made in tbe Selwyn7district which^Vvill render a very considerable^ p.ortiou -pf" land avaflable7jf6r cultivation,; and will also greatly facilitate the constryction of the projected railway. , Aprbpros of this subject, we hear that Ihe Railway Commission havey now commenced their sittings : the members of the Com-

mission are "'Messrs. Cass, ' Dobson, Wright, Richardson, and Wylde ; Mr. Roberts was -appointed, but we hear that he declined to act. They will not report for .some' months, but will probably giVe in an interim report upon the bridging of -the Rakaia. - "The formation Of roads, vvith the exception of the West Coast road,' remains still in abeyance}- the -Road District Ordinance not haying- yet come into' operation^ . JtAjvriildo.soon December, upon such day ..after -.the. first ofthe month as the- Superintendent shall ap**point for each-. -.district* In, the meantime it is a matter of regret -that so much valuably, time, is. being lost, but we do not see' how .it could have been avoided. ... . •