BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 213, 25 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(FROM OUIt O^Y>' CORRESPONDENT.) CIIItISTCHURCH, Thursday, 5 p.m. The South Australian arrived from Duuedin, and sailed for the North.

Yesterday was observed in town hb a general holiday, in honor of tho anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday. Tho weather was not very favorable to out-of-door pleasure seekers' rainhaving fallen during a considerable portion of tho day, and a strong gusty wind blowing during the afternoon. All tho principal business establishments in town, as well as tho Government offices, were closed, aud thoro was a gay display of bunting from tho shipping in port, tho hotels, and many merchants, stores. Tho Bruco was prevented making her promised excursion trip, owing to tho sovero indisposition of Captain Korloy. The theatro, in tho evening, was fully attended, and tho performances went off with great spirit, tho National Anthom being most effectively sung by the full company, with the assistance of amateurs. The lateness of tho hour at which the performance closed, obliges us to hold otci* a fuller notice For tho saino reason we must defer oiu* notice of tho Fire Brigade Ball. Wo may add that tho experiment of lighting tho stago of tho Prince of Wales was a very dooided succqss. A correspondent, writing from Sydney under date of May 16th, states that tho steward and stewardess of tho s.s. Barnron had boon committed for trial at tho Assizes to bo hold in August, on the oharge of stealing 1000 ozs. of gold missing from tho steamer. Last night, a meeting was hold at tho Mechanics' Arms Hotel, of tho North Eovell street West Improvement Committee, Captain Whito in tho chair. Tho minutes of tho former mooting having been read and adopted, tho secretary laid on tho tablo tho momorial framed by tho sub-committeo, Humorously signod, requesting tho Government to extend tho survey of tho street, to inoludo tho east side. It was fuvthei\moved and adopted that measures bo taken to form a footpath on tho east side of Eovell otreet. Several gentlemen having been admitted members of tho committee, the meeting eoparated. Last night, a boatman camo rushing into the camp to report that a gang of bushrangers had stuck-up a large number of packers on their way from Totara, at a placo about four miles south of Lagoontown. Prompt measures were taken by tho police which, however, only resulted in the discovery that tho whole affair was a mistake, and decided case of false alarm. It appears that a packer was coming along tho beach with a number of unladen horses, when sevornl djggors approached him with the intontion of seeking a rido to town. Tho packer, however, had madoup his mind that the men wore bushrangers, and aftor striking ono with his whip, ho madly rushod off in the direction of Lagoontown to report tho desporato encounter ho had ju»t been engaged in. By his ordors a boatman was at onco despatched to the camp to inform them of tho ciroumstancos as his vivid imagination had viewed tho facts Of course, on tho polico making thoir appoaranoe, tho wholo matter oxplained itself, not, however, without causing two of tho diggers a journey back to town.