CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 329, 14 December 1860, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

■ {From the Canterbury Standard.) The^ Provincial Council met on Tuesday evening last, 27th November, and from the large attendance both of members in the house and strangers in the gallery,'it is evident that the present session is looked forward to with more than ordinary interest by the public at large. The Government from what we could judge, has to expect a spirited opposition, and Mr. Olliver as the recognised leader of the same, seems fully determined to drag all sins of omission and commission to light, but we expect that he will find it a Herculean task before the close. At the same time we must candidly confess from what transpired on Tuesday, that there seems no desire on the part of the Government to shun inquiry, and all must admit that in some departments under their control it may do good. Another large sale of land has been effected this week—namely 60,000 acres at the Whaimakarui district. These large transfers of property are most significant of our progress and stability. In fact, we think we are not going too far in saying that, out of the eight provinces of New Zealand, Canteibury offers peculiar advantages for a safe and profitable investment of capital. (From the Lyttdton Times.) Not very long ago Mr. Julius Haast, who has been employed by the Nelson Government in completing a geological and topographical survey of the west coast of that province, discovered a very valuable coal field on the north side of the mouth of the River Grey in the Nelson province. The quality of the coal was tested, and found to be superior to that of the best New South Wales coal, and the seam was of unusual thickness. It is now proved that a similar seam of equally good coal exists on the south side of the river, and in consequence his Honor the Superintendent has made a reserve of 6000 acres, that it may be retained for the benefit of the province. Mr. Haast has arrived by the mail steamer in this province, and we trust that the Government will hasten to secure his services for a similar work to that which has been performed by him at Nelson. Death by Drowning in a Well.—A fatal accident has occurred resulting in the death of a little child of four years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, of Canterbury-street. Considerable excitement was caused in town on Thursday night by the disappearance of the child, and though every effort was made to discover what had become of him, no trace was discovered till Friday morning, when the body was found at the bottom of the well on Norwich Quay, opposite to the hospital. It will be remembered by many of our readers that the unfortunate parents had to mourn the loss of a fine little boy who was drowned about two years ago by falling off Peacock's wharf. The insecure state of the wells of Lyttelton has long been a disgrace to the town. It is not too much to assert that they have been nothing less than traps tor the destruction of children, and it is a matter of wonderment that more accidents have not already happened. The most serious part of the business is that a very moderate outlay in the shape of bricking over the wells, and furnishing them with pumps, would long ago have obviated these chances of accident. We sincerely trust that the authorities (if there are any responsible for the management of these things) will take the matter seriously in hand and not follow the example of those of Christchurch, who have allowed a hole in which two fine children were drowned to remain unenclosed for months, and even now appear to have acquiesced in an arrangement by which it is fenced from the road and left perfectly open from other points; and this after a presentation of the case by the jury sworn in at the inquest. Scab in Sheep.—The anxiety felt by flock owners in the M'Kenzie country, owing lo the uncertain reports of the scab having appeared in this district, will be somewhat relieved when the official return of the Inspector is examined, which was furnished in our issue of Saturday. The return is extremely satisfactory, and shows that there is far less disease in this part of the province than was anticipated. We learn that sheep bearing Mr. Frazer's brand as well as that of the inspector who passed them at the Hurunui dip, have been left with several flocks during the journey down of Mr. Frazer's sheep, some months back. This appears, however, to have been attended with no evil result, even though, in some instances, the suspected sheep have been mixed with clean flocks for upwards of seven months. In the case of Mr. Luxmore's sheep, we are informed that they have been introduced into this province from Otago contrary to the law affecting the importation of sheep, but the owner refuses to recognise their being within the Canterbury boundary, having allowed their inspection under protest. Should an information be laid against this gentleman for a breach of the ordinance, we imagine that the plea which he will naturally urge in his defence will present a difficulty which has been hitherto totally unlooked for ia the way of obtaining a conviction.