SOUTHBRIDGE.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 199, 28 January 1875, Page 4

SOUTHBRIDGE.

{From the Press.) Our correspondent writes : —The contractor forthe South bridge and Racecourse line hasso f*r accomplis-h d his ta«k that the rails are nt the present moment laid and linked together as far as the terminus, and we believe the permanent arrangement of the sleepers will be completed '•erj shortly, when nothing will be wanting 1 tit the necessary ballast and the station buildings to complete tl.e work, the necessary fencing being completed throughout. At the present time the Leestou buildings are in the course of erectioD, and the necessary material for those of South bridge are en route, having reached the other side of Leeston. So it is to be hoped, although perhaps rather far on in the season, some of the Eliesmere farmers will be in a position to reap the benefit of the iron horse for the transit of their grain and produce to Christchurch. We may state that up to the present time the weather has been most favorable for harvest purposes. A large quantity of corn has beeu cut and stooked, and, although not many stacks have up to this period been built, in a short time we expect to see them rising in all directions, and from the present appearance, we can very plentiful yield of better filled grain than it has been our lot to witness for several years past, and although the caterpillars have been committing ravages in some parts of district, on a whole these pests have not been any more plentiful than ordinary, so 1 hat the steam threshing machine, some new specimens of which have come before our notice, will be likely to yield more adequate returns for their outlay than usual.

Owing to the near completion of the building, the trustees of the Townhall and Library Company, Messrs E. J. Lee, 0. Browne, and C. J. Bridge convened a meeting of the inhabitants of the district to make preliminary arrangements for the opening of the same on Friday evening, the 22nd inst. The builuing has been erected at a cost of £l6O in a suitable and substantial manner by Mr Early and Son, local builders, and is of the following dimensions: total length, 30ft; breadth, 18ft; height of stud, lift; and a flue lofty roof, lined throughout with angular lining, a room being partitioned off for the use of the librarian. The building presents a very prepossessing appearance, and is, on the whole, a very creditable addition to the township. There were about thircy persons present, by whom Mr G. J. Lee was unanimously elected chairman. Before opening the proceedings the Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting, and, as one of the trustees, stated that the first steps to be taken would be the election of the various officers ; the management of the library, &c, being vested in a president, treasurer, librarian, hon. secretary, and a committee of five. He hoped that the preliminary arrangements that had been made would be considered satisfactory ; and, although there were not sufficient fuuds to complete the interior arrangements in a satisfactory manner, he hoped that they would be able to obtain a supplementary grant from Government, which he had already taken upon himself to apply for. At any rate he was sure that they would be handsomely supported by voluntary contributions, and recommended that the subscription to the circulating library should be fixed at the rate of 20s per annum, although it was most desirable that the reading-room in connection withj the same should be free to the general public. He informed the meeting that £3B was at present in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand for the purchase of books, and that a sum of £25 had been sent to England some time since as an order for the purchase of books from the societies for promoting purp knowledge, who were, be believed, in the habit of supplementing such orders largely. He stated that it would be the first duties of the committee, when elected, to draw up a oode of rules, the same to be submitted to a public meeting of the. inhabitants for their approbation. Mr Bridge then informed those present that he had great pleasure in presenting to the ctmmittee a number of books which be had brought up with him (and it is the intention, we believe, of several other geutlemeu to make sinilar contributions to the stock. They were also indebted to Miss Hastingss for a very handsome present of furniture &c, for the use of the rooms. It was then proposed by Mr Bourne, seconded by Mr Graham, and carried, that unanimously,Mr E.J.Lee be the president. Mr H.Lee was elected treasurer, librarian, and hon secretary, it being desirable in the opinion of the meeting that those three offices should be centered in one individual, and at the same time they considered that the gentleman elected was in every was in every way adapted for the office. The following gentlemen were then nominated as a cummittee :—Messrs Bridge, Bourne, Winter, Spring, Wauchop, Storrie, Graham, Luckie, Webster, Paddy, and Harris. A ballot being taken, resulted in the election of the following five gentlemen: —Messrs C. J. Bridge, Spring, Bourne, Harris, and Wauchop. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. At a committee meeting held immediately afterwards the secretary was instructed to communicate with the secretaries of the various libraries in Canterbury requesting a copy of their rules and other information relative to the management of similar institutions. A subscription-list of intending subscribers to the library was handed round the room during the course of the evening, and received about twenty-five signatures. A concert was given in the Town Hall, Southbridge, on Saturday evening, the 23id instant, by Mr T. H. Rainford, assisted by Madame and Miss Winter, Mrs Kainford, and Mr Walcott. The attendance was very fair, and the audience seemed thoroughly to appreciate the treat accorded them, and on the whole a most enjoyable evening was spent, several selections sung by Mr Rainford and other members of his company being most vociferously encored. ■The near completion of the railway to this township is already productive of good results in giving an impetus to trade in general, and that of builders in particular. Siuce the erection of the barracks and immigration cottages, some few months back, there has been a steady influx of new arrivals, who have as a rule found ready employment in the neighbourhood ; bin although there is no lack of work for all hands, yet there is a great scarcity of hous< accommodation, especially for families, every available building being pressed into ser vice, and indeed it is expected that before long tents will have to be resorted to. But the wants in this direction have induced several persons to take speedy steps for the erection of laborers' cottages in convenient situations, Amongst others, Mr John Smith,

of Pellfield, is pushing on the work in his usual energetic manner, having let a contract for two buildings of a size sufficient for for the accommodation ot five or six families. Mr 0. J. Bridge has also decided to build, but, owing to the press of work in this line,' has not yet been able to effect a start. The new Post and Telegraph Office has been finished for some time, but apparently there seems to be no undue haste on the part of the powers that be to proceed to the next step—that of utilising the same. The building was erected by Messrs England Brothers, of Christchurch, and reflects great credit upon them, being finished throughout in a style rarely to be seen in large towns, let alone in up country townships, good taste combined with strength being plainly visible both on the exterior and in the interior arrangements of the building. The public library is now ou the point of being completed, and as there will be a good stock of books, papers, &c, forthcoming at the proper time, we can now look forward to this long felt want being speedily provided for. The parsonage is also in course of erection, the contractor, Mr Jones, having at last got fairly started. He expects to have the place finished without any further delays. The building, which will contain ten rooms, will be thoroughly finished throughout, and will be in every way suitable for the requirements of a married clergyman. A Wesleyan chapel is also, we believe, about to be commenced, this body having now attained sufficient numerical strength to warrant the undertaking, the small chapel at Gospel corner being found far too small and out ofj the way for the wants and convenience of this denomination. The contract for the police and court buildings, which are to be erected in close proximity to the railway terminus, closes on the 27th instant, and we hope the work will be in every way expedited, as the want of a lock-up in this place is often, and more particularly at this time of the year, detrimental to the efficient discharge ofhis duties by the constable in charge. Mr Le Breton, of Christchurch, has just completed a very creditable block of buildings in a most central position, being immediately opposite the Royal Hotel; and has succeeded in securing as tenants the two banks and a representative of a drapery establishment from Christchurch. The ground on which these are built was formerly the property of Mr J. J. Loe, of Leeston, being purchased a short time back by the present owner at the high rate of 50s per foot, a fact which of itself speaks volumes for the growing prosperity of the township.