NEWS OF THE DAY.

Chamber of Commerce. — A general meeting of the members of the Chamber will be held to-morrow at 3 p.m.

General Government Phizes. —The Christchurch Artillery will proceed to Lyttelton on Easter Tuesday, to compete for the prizes offered by the General Government for big guns. Lieut-Colonel Packe will be in command.

St. Patrick's Day.—The members of the Christchurch Branch of the H.A.C.8.5., will celebrate the anniversary of the bir'h of St. Patrick this evening, by a soiree and concert at the hall, Barbadoes street. The concert programme includes some excellent music, and should of itself, apart from the seductive influence of the tea meeting, ensure a large attendance.

Aktillbry iNSPECTIOiSr.-The Christcburch Artillery, numbering some forty-four of all ranks, was inspected last evening at the drill shed by the officer commanding the district, Lieut-Colonel Packe. Lieutenant Stansell was in command, Captain Craig being absent on leave. The battery went through the gun drill very satisfactorily indeed, the men showing much steadiness and smartness.

Musical Festival. —We understand that Mr C. Alertou, of Kaugiora, is engaged in getting up a musical festival on a large scale, to be hold at Rangiora on Easter Monday, when it is intended, with the help of some members of the Christchurch Society to give Haydn's " Creation." Mr Merton is always to the fore in matters of music in Christchurch, and we hope to see the project succeed. The Late Fire at Mr Hulbeut's.—The agents of the different insurance companies in Christchurch interested in the late fire at Mr Hulbert's have made their valuation, and consider the loss to be fully equal to the insurances in force on the house and stock. They have, therefore, promptly decided to pay the whole amount for which the different offices are liable, and they have also given their approval to a sale of the salvage for the benefit of the principal sufferer by the fire.

Asiiburton Race Meeting.—A meeting of the committee was held in the Courthouse, Aahburton, on Monday evening. A large amount of correspondence was read, and the programme and rules, advertised, were finally decided on. A3 the subscriptions have greatly augmented, it is anticipated that the programme of the two days' meeting will be successfully carried through, and, with fine weather, this country meeting will be as enjoyable a gathering as any likely to take place in the province. Theatre Royal.—" London Assurance " was repeated last evening at the theatre to a good house. Miss Howard, as Lady Gay Spanker, both looked and acted the part to admiration, and Mrs Hill was excellent as Grace Harkaway. The other characters, especially Mr Searleas Sir Harcourt and Mr Collier as Dazzle, were exceedingly goud. Dion Bouc : cault's drama of " Peep o' Day " will be played to-night, aud to-morrow Mr L. Booth, who throughout the season has played the parts allotted to him very creditably, takes his benefit, when " The Soldier's Daughter" will be played.

United Methodist Free Church.—Aβ will be seen from advertisement in our columns, there is to be, on Thursday and Friday next, in Mr G. Booth's store (kindly lent for the occasion), a sale of work in aid of the building fund of the new school. Hitherto the children have been taught in the church, to the mutual inconvenience of teachers and congregation. Amongst other articles offered for sale is a new buggy and a prize iam ; the labour in connection with the former being the gift of two young men belonging to the school, the latter the gift of Mr W. Marcroft. The committee have resolved that there shall be no raffling, but that there shall be honafide sales at reasonable prices.

EANGIORA RACES.—At a meeting of the Kangiora race committee held recently, it was decided to put the racecourse into proper running order at once, and a subcommittee was appointed to lay out the course and see the necessary work done. This committee met on the ground on Monday, and having pegged out the course, set a number of men to work to level it, so that it will be in order by the end of this week. It has been decided that a race meeting shall be held on Easter Monday, and the district is being canvassed for money to carry it out. We may mention that the funds necessary for the levelling of the course have already been subscribed, and if the stewards can offer some prizes worth running for, no doubt the meet will be largely patronised. SouTHBBiDGE. —A public meeting of the inhabitants of this township was held in the new library on Friday, March 12th, Mr B. J. Jj°e, president, in the chair. The chairman opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement convening the meeting, and called upon the secretary to read the rules, drawn up by the managing committee. It was proposed by Mr Graham, and seconded by Mi Wilkinson —"That the rules as read be adopted as rules of Southbridge public library and reading room." The secretary was instructed to have 200 copies printed immediately. It was resolved—" That the library and reading room be opened on Saturday, the 20th inst, the library to subscribers, and the reading room to the public, notices thereof to be posted up in suitable places.' . The secretary was instructed to get advice as to what steps were necessary to insure the registration of the company. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Mb and Mrs Case.—These clever artistes gave their second entertainment, entitled a " Housewarming," last night with great success to a capital house. The entertainment affords plenty of scope for the display of the astonishing versatility possessed by Mrs Case, the various characters being represented to the life, especially Mrs Major Buster, a splendid specimen of the genus mother-in-law. Another character, which was excellently personated, was a represent tation of the servant girl of the period. In the second part, as a gushing young tenor. Mrs Case sang a new song, " The Daisy Valley," splendidly. The song itself is a very pretty one, and shows off Mrs Case's marvellous range of voice, enabling her to sing a pnTe tenor with ease and effect. For this she whs encored, when she sang "General Jinks" with great humour and success, receiving the honor of a double encore, to which she responded with "Awfully Clever." Mr Case contributed some excellently played pieces on the violin and concertina, and despite a severe cold managed Wβ part of the enter-

Kifle Association. — The adjournei meeting of the council of the Rifle Association was held last evening at Warner's Hotel. Present—Messrs Allison (in the chair), Craig, Manning, Roberts, Raven, Patoo, and Hesketh. The programme for the forthcoming Easter meeting to be held at HMl«borough, was bronght up, revised, and finally adopted. It -was resolved to add £1 Is from the funds of the association to form a third prize for the Mayor's Cup. Mr Hesketh reported that the manager of railways had consented to allow the 7 a.m. down train on the morning of -trie firing to stop at Hilleborough for the convenience of those attending the meeting. The secretary was instructed to write to Colonel Packe, askiug him to take command on the range during the meeting. The sub-committee appointed to select the prizes reported that they had done so, and that several very valuable prizes would be available. The meeting then adjourned to the 24th inst.

Football Club—The annual genera , , meeting of the Christchurch Football Club was held last evening at Warner's Hotel, Mr G. A. Macquarrie in the chair. There was a Attendance of members. The first business was the election of officers, and the following gentlemen were chosen to act for the ensuing year, viz : President, Sir H. J. S. Harman ; captain, Mr G. A. Macquarrie ; secretary and treasurer, Mr Thomas Gordon ; committee, Messrs J. Anderson, A. Ollivier, und J. Wilkin. The three fhst-naaied officebearers were re-elected. Messrs A. C. Newton, G. Gordon, Lewin, Martin, Atack, Nelson, Robertson, Nichol. Kaox. Dorrington, and Gibson were elected as members of the club. A motion by Mr Macquarrie that the {club be diyided into two divisions to pl ft y against each other when no other match was projected was lost on a division. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Macquarrie, that the opening match of the season take place on April 10th, aod that the College be iuvited to ioin in, the match to be an alphabetical one. On the motion of Mr L. Ollivier, it was resolved that whenever an infringement of the rules takes place, the ball be placed for a scrimmage A cordial vote of thauks was passed to the retiring officers, and the meeting closed.

Kaiapoi Begatta.—A final meeting of the committee, was held at the Borough Council Chamber on Monday evening. Present all the members. Dr Dudley, commodore, in the chair. A letter was read from Hon C. C. Bowen, forwarding a subscription of £5, and from the Bank of New Zealand, subscribing £5 ss. Entries were opened, and the number received was, for Junior Pair-oars for Mr Oram's prize, four: Senior Four-oared race, two; Junior Four-oared race, four; Sailing race, four; Senior Pair-oared race, two; Junior Pair-oared race, four; Champion S ullers' race, two; Canoe race, four; in all, twenty-six entries. A sub committee of Messrs C. Sims, E, Balch, R. Macfarlane, and J. Dawson, was appointee to lay out courses and moor boats. The meeting then adjourned. To-day, the first race takes place at 11.30 prompt, to allow oi the principal events taking place on high water. Punctnality will be the order of the day. The course for the fours-and pairs will be up the river, the other races being started and winning at the winning post near the swing bridge. Mr Button's band will be in attendance, and a large concourse of visitors is expected. Programmes of the events will be obtainable on the ground.