NEWS OF THE DAY.

Loyai, BEXIsyoLENT Lodge.—A summoned meeting of the above lodge will be held on Monday next at f.30 p.mu

H.A;C.B. Society. — The half-yearly meeting of -the above society will be held on next .Wednesday evening.

Plasterers' Picnic.—The annual picnic in connection with; the Plasterers' Association will take place at Sumner oa Wednesday, January 6th.

PRESBTTEBIA.N . BAZAAR. — The bazaar

was opened yesterday, and did a very good business, ; particularly during the evening. It will be : opened to-day and this evening.

Rural Sports.—The sports under the auspices of the Popular Entertainment Association, will take place today, commencing at half-past twelve o'clock.

Protestant Alliavce Friendly Society—A quarterly snmmoned meeting of this society-will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, on Monday evening next, at half-past seven k .. ' . - ■'

. ?apanui 'Gift Auction.—The schoolroom, Papanui, will be opened for the sale of qseful and fancy articles, live and dead stock on Tuesday next, at 10 am. All goods remaining unsold at seven p.m. will be put up to public auction and sold without reseive.

: Tea-MbetinO) Springston.—The anniversary tea-meeting of the Springston Wesleyan Church, will take place on Christmas -Day,.at half-past four o'clock, after which addresses will be delivered and several pieces sung Sy the choir.

Bangers.—Under the provisions of tbe Protection of Animals Act, 1873, his Honor the Superintendent has appointed the. fol--1 >wing rangers :—Messrs S. Hossack, Fernside, Rangiora ; T. Acland, Southbridge ; J. Macfarlaiie, Coldstream, Rangiora; C. C. C. Duncan, Papanui.

Tiharu and Gladstone Board of Works —At a meeting of the Board held on Thursday, Mr P. B. Luxmore waselected chairman, and Mr B. H. Tate, secretary.? It Was resolved—" That out of monies payable to the Board from land sales, ninety-five per cent be paid overj>ro rata to the respective Road Boards of the districts, and to the Borough Council, in which such sales have arisen."

The Ashley.—The fljod in this river had gone down on Friday to such an daring the afternoon, 7 Sanson! and Lee managed to get the mails conveyed across on horseback, and expect within a day to have the coach running. The , bridge and approaches to the bridge are co£ supposed to be dsraeged,

Legal,.—His Honor the Judge, the Sheriff (Dr Back), and the Registrar (Mr E. 8. WiUcocks), arrived on Wednesday evening from Timara. where they have been on circuit. His Honor sat in chambers yesterday.

Ebraia.—ln Cr Graham's speech at the meeting for the election of Mayor in Lyttelton, he is reported as saying "That for the last two years they had had a good Mayor, and before that one not so good." This is incorrect, as he did not mean to reflect on Mr Allwright, but oa some who had held the chair od previous occasions since the municipality had existed.

Luncheon.—A luncheon was given yesterday at 1 p.m. by the new Mayor of Lyttelton, at his residence. Dr Donald occupied the vice-chair ; most of the councillors, the town clerk, the solicitor, and other gentlemen connected with the Council were present. All the usual healths were drunk and responded to.

Foresters' Fete.—The Foresters have advertised a very enticing programme for their fete on Boxing Day at the He athcote, and should the weather prove fine, no doubt a large number of persons will avail themselves of the opportunity of taking an outing, The programme contains items of amusement for all and the refreshment department has also been placed in very able hands. Mr Button's band will play during the day.

Aquatic.—The final heats for the Rev J. 08. Hoare's cups (pair-oar), and those presented by the captain of the C.R.O. (fouroar) will be pulled off to-day at New Brighton. The former race is between Drake and Stewart and Houlihan and Wright, and the

atter between Knox and Gundry's crew.

Music Ball.—M. Airee, who will be recollected as being here some time back with the Smith Combination, will open a short season this evening, at the Canterbury Music Hall. The company includes Mdlle. Nellie Forrester, Mr George Turner, Verletti, &c. A very good programme has been prepared, M. Airec being announced to do several of his most daring feats.

Cricret. —The following Tall v Short match will be played on Saturday :—Tall— Messrs Anson, Booth, Dixon, E. Fowler, J. Fowler, T. R. Moore, M'lntyre, Lewin, O'Connell, Ollivier, Stevens, Sweet, and Turner. Short—Messrs Alpe, Beard, Cuff, D'Etnden, Dickinson, Deacon, Fuller, Harman, Souter, G. A. Taylor, Thompson, A. C. Wilson, and J. Wood. Play will begin at 2 o'clock punctually. Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048 B.C.— The monthly meeting of this lodge was held when the installation of officers for the ensuing year was made by J. W.

Oram, P.M

The following officers were in-

stalled: —J. L. Fleming, W.M., Thos. Lucas, S.W., P. Reintal, J.W., G. Toombs, S.D., Dr Campbell, J.D., J Elvines, D.C., —

Webster, JG, Thos. Shirlaw, tyler. In the evening a banquet was held at the White Hart Hotel, to which over fifty members and visiting brethreu sat down. The spread was served up in Mr J. Oram Sheppard's best style. {Speeches and harmony succeeded, and a very pleasant evening was spent.

Leeston.—A meeting on the 17th inst waa held at the house of Mr Caiston, for the purpose of taking steps to erect a Wesleyan church at ; Leeston. There was a fair attendance. The Bey. W. 8. Harper, one of the ministers on this circuit, was voted to the chair. Favorable mention was made of Mr F. J. Smith, who has presented the Wesley ans with an acre of land in the township. The meeting being merely preliminary a building committee was nominated, and a subsequent meeting appointed for the 23rd inst. A subscription list was opened, and a sum of £53 3s at once subscribed, after which the meeting broke np. ..

The German Chubch Bells.—The three bells now being erected at tbe German Church will be rung for the first time on Christmas Eve, commeucing at a quarter to nine o'clock. His Honor the Superintendent/Sir JVC.-Wilson, and hfs Worship the Mayor have consented to start the first peal.- At nine o'clock a sacred concert will be given in the church by the choir of the church, assisted by ; other musical friends, conducted by Mr J. 1. M. Smith, the organist. Admission to the concert will be by ticket only, to be obtained at various places. The proceeds of the concert will be devoted-towards the fund being raised for the obtaining of additional bells. As the contractor has been delayed in the work of erection, owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable timber, the ringers will scarcely be so perfect as they would otherwise have been.

Ashburton Lib.rary.—An entertainment given by an amateur company named " The Venus Minstrels," took place on the evening of the 16th instant, in the Library Hall. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance was considerably less than would otherwise have been the case. As regards the performance itself, too much cannot be said in its praise; in fact it completely eclipsed anything that has ever been attempted at the Ashburton before—either by professionals or amateurs. Where all acquitted themselves so creditably it is almost invidious to particularise; but we cannot help noticing the efforts of Messrs "Barker and Glen, as corner-men, the latter being inimitable; and the song of " The Sexton," sung by Mr Ellisdon, and solo on the Japanese fiddle, by Mr Woledge, being certainly the gems of the evening, The whole concluded with a laughable burlesque farce, entitled "La Sonambula," the characters of which were well sustained throughout, the local allusions being particularly good.

Good Templabism-—Pursuant to an advertisement a meeting of full degree Good Templars was held at the Foresters' Hall oh Thursday evening last at 7.30 p.m. for tht purpose of instituting a Degree Temple '(the first in the colony) in connection with the Subordinate Lodges of Christchurch.' Bro S. P. Andrews, G.W.G.T., called the members to order, and opened the meeting in the third degree, and after explaining all matters necessary for the working of temples, called npon tie members to elect their officers. The following officers were then elected :—Bro Trumble, Degree Templar ; Bro Buxton, D V.T. ; Bro Hutton, D.S.; Bro Taylor, D.P.S; Bro Wykes, D. Treasurer; Sister Trumble, D. Chaplain ; Bro Tregear, D.M.; Bro Thomas, D.G.j Bro Smith, D. Sentinel; Bro Morriss, D.D.M. ; Bro Northam, D.A.B. ; Sister Bette, D.L.H.S; Bro Knight, D.8.H.5., and Bro Cutler as Acting Past Degree Templar for the present term. The officers were then installed by the G.W.C.T., assisted -by Bro Mills, GWS-, and the temple declared in * stituted. It was resolved that the name of the temple be the Olive Branch No 1. The by-laws were then considered, and the next night of meeting decided upon, of which due notice will be given by advertisement, aod the tei#ple glo-fjed with due form and ceremony, ■--..;..

Popular Amusement Association.—A special meeting of tbe association was held yesterday afternoon at the Council. Chambers. Present: — Messrs H. E. Alport, S. P, Andrews, B. D. Thomas, W. R. Mitchell, and Geo. Gordon (hon sec.) Mr Thomas was voted to the chair. The secretary apologised for the absence of the Mayor, who was engaged elsewhere, and said he had thought it desirable to call the members together, as the weather threatened to continue inclement, and he would like to know what course the association would desire to have adopted, but, fortunately, the weather had cleared up. He had also received two letters, to place before the meeting.' A letter was then "read from Mr Button, stating that he had engaged extra hands -for hia band, on the 16th, who had attended at tbe proper time, and he had thustbeen compelled to pay them £1 15s, the half of their day's engagement It was decided to refund this amount to Mr Button. Mr H. Sharpies also wrote, asking that the amount of his tender for programmes might be reduced, as he had suffered a loss through the sports being postponed. It was decided to reduce the original amount of the tender by £2. It was resolved—" That theentrance fee be 2s 6d for the one mile face for £3 3s (open to all amateurs), presented by Mr R. D Thomas. The amount of entrances to be a second prize." For the £10 10s cup, open tb all comers, it was decided that the eotrsjuKr fee be se, Th* wwtfnif tiwft ftdjcwaed, *

Heathcote Rowing Club.—A special' general meeting of the Heathcote Rowing 7 Club was held at the Wharf Hotel, Woolston,: on Thursday evening last. There was a good attendance of members, Mr W. Mardon in

the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been read add confirmed, the follow-

ing gentlemen were elected as members:—-W.

Taylor, W. Reeves, J. Garland, T. Chapman, and G. Scott. The treasurer reported that he had received a donation from J. S.

Willtams, Esq, one of the vice-presidents. J A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Williams for the same. The hon sec reported that the season had been opened with scratch races on the Heathcote, which were very successful. A discussion then ensued as to the advisability of getting up a Heathcote regatta. It was stated that steps were already being taken by gentlemen outside the club with that object. Ultimately it was resolved, "That Mr Crosbie, the secretary of last year's regatta committee, be requested to call a meeting of persons interested in getting up a Heathcote regatta during the present season." The advisability of procuring a pleasure boat waa then considered. The treasurer reported that the club would jbe out of debt by the end of the season, thus leaving the whole of next year's subscriptions available. After discussion, it was resolved to procure two pair-oared pleasure boats from Salter, of Oxford, England, the boats to be similar to the C.R.C.'s Moa. The hon sec reported that the club held two challenge cups, won at the Christchurch regatta, 1872, viz, the Mayor's (Mr Jameson's) Cup for four-oars, and Messrs Coates' Cup for sculling race. The Christchurch clubs had shown a decided disinclination to row off for them last season. It was decided, " That the hon sec be instructed tc take the necessary steps to have the challenge cups now held by the club rowed for daring Ithe present season. The meeting then adjourned, after a vote of thanks to the chairman.

The Labor Mabket.—Mr John Parker reports as follows for the week ending 19th December :—The demand is in excess of former weeks, but I am sorry to say I have not been so successful with regard to the

number of engagements on this occasion

owing to the unsettled state of the weather, Hay making is completely stopped in consequence, aud most of other outdoor workmen refuse anything but at good wages. Thest are principally old colonistp, who arc wel

acquainted with the requirements.

The new

arrivals, however, good they may be, fill these situations at a much lower rate. With '-! regard to females, very few will accept until after the holidays are over, but employers will welcome the arrival of the ship Pleiades, as many of them have been waiting anxiously for the new arrivals, and I have been given to understand that those immigrants are of a superior class, and in every way suited for the requirements of the province. Employers in the country I are willing to engage men until after the' harvest, or for the year round, but men pre-; fer engaging by contract for the harvest only. Id the town there are many arrivals,: among which are first-class men cooks, who ; feel rather disappointed at not being promptly engaged. In married couples, I have secured situations for several, but similar situations remain on hand. The following are the average rates of wages for the week ending December 19th :—Female servants, cooVs, in town, £30 to £35 per annum ; in country hotels, £40 ; general servants, in town, £30 ; country, £30 to £35 ; housemaids, £25 ; nursemaids, £20 ; under do, £16 to £18; boys, from 10s to 12s per week ; first-class ploughmen, 25s per week, with extra at harvest-; second class do, £1, but few will accept of these terms ; men suitable for every description of farm work, 258 per week to harvest, and afterwards £2 per week, with rations; drivers of teams, I 25s per week ; barmen and waiters, 25s to 303 per week ; gardeners and grooms, 25s per week ; carpenters and joiners, 10s to 12s per day ; married couples, same rates as last week. . '

The Murderer Sullivan ih Australia.—The Daily Times says :—" A fevrf months ago" we stated. how the murderer

Sullivan, after having been hnjated about in England, and kept nnder such 'rigid surveillance by officers of the detective force specially deputed to look after him. had things made so hot for him that he declared his intention Of going to the United States. This may have been a blind, or he may have really intended to do so, but no doubt the Scotland Yard gentry did not trouble themselves much about what place he next honored with his presence so long as :tbey got him out of Great Britain, and were quit of the trouble of looking, after him. • We have it now on the best testimony that Sullivan is in Australia. A New Zealand gentleman recognised him in Sydney. Standing on the quay watching the passengers by the Paramatta from London land, he saw one of them whom he was certain was Sullivan. He found that Sullivan had Bet op for a dog fancier, having brought out a lot of dogs and canaries with him. Sullivan, being known to this man. did not attempt to deny his identity, and apparently felt assured that he would not be •* peached" upon to the police there. His discoverer, though puzzled for a time with the appearance of his whiskers and hair, was never for a moment doubtful that the scowling face before him was that of the Manngatapu murderer. Sullivan was well dressed, and managed to look greatly different to what he did when in gaol here, and when on his trial for murder. The following :week Sullivan was recognised by the same gentleman in Melbourne—his make up then was also excellent. Each time it was at the theatres except the time ; on the quay—that he wan recognised. He seemed to have plenty «f money, and attended pretty regular at the Hoskins-Colville perfqrmances. He stated that the detectives in London had so tracked him about that he had no' rest, and that therefore he intended tp make his way to the Australian colonies once more, though he might stay in them $nlj for a time, Tfiß AND OSEHUNGA BAlLway.—The Auckland correspondent of the Daily Times says :—There is great controversy over our- railway to Onehunga. Mr Passmore has been carrying things with a high hand, dismissing nearly all the officials —from the Manager to the porters, and safe, stituting for them new and unknown men at salaries considered far too low to secure competent people. The rates for passengers and goods have been also raised, and the secret of the whole appears' to be that the -railway is not,- paying. Straightway Mr Passrhoreis ordered off from Wellington to set things right, and the above is the process he has adopted for the purpose. Bat "the result is, that people are losing confidence in the safety of tbe line. Passengers are returning to their carriages and omnibuses, and carters are again carrying good* between the two places. The station in Auckland is at a very inconvenient distance from the centre of the traffic in town, and may be regarded as"'another drawback, but t"iere is {no sign of attempt to remedy it. On thjwhole, the po peiis of this line nnder General Government 1 a«-e not bright. Possibly there is some one responsible- for its management and for tbe safety of passengers, but, if aa, it is kept a profound departmental secret, and the public are left to infer that if accidents happen, it will be herd to §nd out to whom they are really due. Mr Passmore may be acting trader the orders of the Minister of Bailways, or the manager may be acting under Mr Psssmore's. In the former case there wonld be no redress ; in tbe latter, Mr Passmore, not being here except for a few days at a tijne, cannot well be held liable for details. The result is a lqss of confidence in the line, decreased traffic, and very general dissatisfaction. Mr Graham, the proprietor of KHerslie, who has 7 spent much money iri ! establishing a new snou-b there on the strength of railway fa<iuWes,: writes to the paper complaining londly-bf the prohihltorT tarrff for passengers on the line. Railway about & quarter past three yeataday,afternoon a collisioir occurred between the Ko % engine, drawing a goods train of fourteen trucks from Christchurch, and the shunting engine at Lytt alto n. AFh©collision occurred A»m chain* $v »de the tunnel from the Jjytteltfia.eo4*^Tht fboatiaf cogint ii»dfttiQciwat*inicf l o»«

gopds in fronts and entered the tunnel for the purpose of shunting the waggon on to another line. The shunter was just reversed, and on the move T»ck towards Lyttelton when the'collision took place; the waggon fortunately being between the two engines waa lifted completely off the line, and the foremost post, next the shunter, was thrown onto the shunter and completely smashed. The smoke box door buffers, and buffer planks, break screws, one step, and the guard irons, were broken to atoms. The shunter had eight trollies behind her at the time. No 2 engine bad one buffer broken off, but was otherwise uninjured. Blackmore was driving the shunter, and C. Fowke waa the stoker. No 2 engine was driven by Ashton, and the. stoker w«s Salisbury. Luckily, the men on both engines escaped without injury. The goods engine drove the shunter with her load 2 £ chains before a stoppage was effected. We learn that the signal man at the tunnel month, the shunter on the shunting engine, the driver and stoker of the shunting engine are suspended, pending, enquiry into the cause of the accident. The" station master, Mr Bradley, at once tele- ' graphed to Christchnrch .respecting the accident, and an engine with the railway engineer, Mr Warner and his staff, was at once despatched to the scene of the accident, prior to whose arrival Mr Bradley had , employed all available labor to clear the line, which was effected in about an hour. The news of the accident Boon got abroad, and many of the inhabitants were Boom on the scene of the catastrophe. The railway engineer, Mr Warner, had the line inspected and repaired at once, and everything Is now in complete working order, and trains running as usual. An inquiry will, we hear, be held to-day. Opera Concert,—The principals of the Royal English Opera Company made their final appearance before a Christchurch audience last evening, at the- theatre, the occasion being a ballad concert. Only very short notice was given of it being held, hence the attendance was not so large as we expected to see to bid farewell to so great a favorite amongst us as Miss Alice May, as well as the other ladies and gentlemen who have so largely contributed to our amusement during the past season. However, those who were there enjoyed themselves moat thoroughly, if we can judge from the enthusiastic applause which greeted the singers. Miss Alice May, who was in fine voice, sang that pretty ballad, " She wore a wreath of roses," splendidly, and received a well-deserved encore, tb which she responded by giving " Katey's letter." Her part in the unaccompanied duet, "Ye banks and braes," was also rendered with great taste and pathos. In the second part ihe sang "Come back to Erin," and, being encored, gave " Andy Bawn," - a composition, of Mr Allen's. She also received an encore for her singing of "Beware," to which she responded with " Yon and I," prettily sung. Miss Lambert sang " The wanderer" and " By the sad sea waves," both well, and Miss Howe achieved quite a - triumph with " There is no home like my own," a pretty little lied. Mr Hallam's contributions were all very carefully and well sung, especially "Alice where art thou," and " The anchor's weighed," iwhich were loudly applauded. Mr Templeton'a "Hark, hark, methinks I hear" ("Rose of Castile"), was sung with fire and great success, and he also sang "In happy moments." Mr Vernon sang " The death of Nelson " capitally, as also he did "Happy be thy dreams." In .response to an encore he gave "The Colleen Bawn" ("Lily of Killarney") capitally. The laughing trio, which closed the concert, was capitally done. We take leave of Mist Alice May with regret, as one of the,best vocalists we have yet had here, and one who will always be remembered with kihdlj feelings by the people of wish the company success and. bon voyage.' Latest from Europe.'—The celebrated physician, Dr Maclean, of Netley Hospital Dr Pigne Dupuytren,. and Dr D'Olivera ol the Hospital of France, and Dr Stout iol America, state that. after abundant testi they have found nothing so serviceable it affections of the' throat, chest, and mucoui membrane in general, -as. Eucalyptus ; it h also a'good tonic,jand of great value in de rangemeats of the stomach and lifier, iti antiseptic qualities also render ifelofincalul able service in wounds, sprains, rheumatism inflammation, &c. In Spain it ia called the fever tree, and is used as a valuable substi tute for quinine. Henry's syrup, pills, anc ointment may be procured of all chemist! and storekeepera. The Pilhr are eafcirelj free from theae scourges of humanity, mer cury and aloes, the basis of nearly everj antibilious pill. This renders them particn larly safe. No family 1 should '■ be withou themi [Adv.]