CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 166, 24 May 1859, Page 4

CANTERBURY.

An accident happened on Wednesday on Peacock's Wharf. A carter named Higgins was bringing a load of stones, weighing perhaps a ton and -a half, to ballast one of the vessels lying alongside. Higgins turned his cart round, and in spite of warnings given him continued to back it dangerously near -the edge of the jetty-; it so happened that at the spot where the cart came a piece of timber lay along the side, arid on it the wheel was raised so as to run over the raised .combing without any check of eon- j sequence. With such a heavy load the ' cart was but a second or two before it j over-balanced and fell by the stern of one [ of the vessels alongside, of-course carrying with it the horse. Biggins had only quite lately set up as a carter, having come down from Australia, whence also his horse, which was a valuable one, had been imported in the Wanderer. — Lyttelton Times, May 14. ' We observe that a contract has been let by the Government and operations eom-i menced to supply metal for the streets of j Lyttelton from the Sumner Road. One; of the provisions of the contract is that the road shall not be closed against traffic by,; the contractor's operations before 11 o'clock in the morning, nor later than 4 o'clock in afternoon. In fact, the road is so closed by permission. Now we must say that it is a great pity, unless it can be shown to be absolutely necessary, to close the Sumner.Road at this time, just as traffic is beginning to find its way on to it; and in these short days, within the hours named, a good deal of traffic is likely to be stopped. Atthe very least, steps should be taken to have the fact made public to prevent disappointment, as far as possible. With this view we call attention to it.— lbid. Canterbury Commercial. — Notwithstanding that one or two sou'westers have lately visited us to clothe the. Southern Alps with snow, and to leave a chilliness in the general temperature of the air, the autumn weather has so far been particularly fine. In consequence business of all sorts, and particularly agricultural pursuits, have been but little interfered with as compared with last year or the average of previous seasons. In spite of these opportunities, the grain market appears not to be sufficiently tempting to induce farmers to make any great struggle for the sake of placing their crops in a condition of security, and the down right setting in of winter, which the next fortnight is generally expected to bring with it, will still find a mass of grain unthached or otherwise exposed tb the rainy influences. A few auction sales worth noticing occurred during.' the week. Messrs. F. Noble ,

Campbell and Co., had a sale on Monday of sugar, wines, spirits, &c, and of a quantity of Nelson apples. The attendance was very fair, and the prices realised showed pretty well what goods forced into the market will produce. The lots put up were such as only the trade could compete, for. Good bright Mauritius sugar fetched £40 per ton; Hennessy's brandy realised 10s. 6d. per gallon; and* other spirits proportionate prices. The apples, ex Lord Ashley from Nelson, went at 3|d. to 6d. per lb. Horses and Stoch Marlet.r- Mr. Fawdirigton and Mr. Guinness reports as follows: On Saturday'there were several horsesoffered for sale by'auction, but the'market was dull, a few were sold at from £36 to ( £70, but many were withdrawn. We hear that the entire horse Somerset was sold for £90. On Monday the celebrated entire Towton was offered at the upset price of £1,400, but he found no buyers. Afterwards shares to the amount of 280 pounds each, five in all, for the horse were offered; ] no one however was tempted to purchase, j Altogether the demand for horses seems to be very small at the prices looked for. The Grain Market continues in a very languid state, little or nothing being done except for home consumption., Sheep are more.'in demand, and prices looking up. Cattle are also inquired for, but prices are '■ still very low.