NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ashley Election.—The nomination for this district takes place on Thursday, at noon, the polling (if necessary) oa January llth.

Chbistchcbch Dbainage Boabd.—The first meeting of the Drainage Board will be held on Tuesday, 4th January, at 11 a.m, in the City Council Chambers.

Cricket.—On Monday, a match was played on the Southbridge ground, Chrißtchnrch Cricket Club v Ellesmere, which resulted in an easy victory for the former.

Lincoln Spobts.—The annual sports will be held in the township on New Year's Day. The programme is sufficiently varied, and a liberal prize list is provided.

Heathcote District.—The nomination for this district takes place to-day at noon at the Road Board office, Perry Road. The candidates are Sir Cracroft Wilson and Mr J T. Fisher.

Lbctcbe.—The Rev P. P. Agnew will deliver a lecture this evening at the Music Hall at half past seven, entitled " Tho early sufferers and martyrs of Botany Bay.' The chair will be taken by his Worship the Mayor.

Loyal City ov Chbistcfubch Lodge. —The half-yearly meeting of tnis Lodge was held last evening, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing term :— P.G. Bro H. A Davis, as N.G.; Bro Bradwell, V.G.; Bro H. Jackson, 8.8. The subscriptions received during the evening amounted to £215 3s Bd.

Licenses to Cabmen.—The usual annual applications for drivers' and owners' licenses were considered yesterday by the City Council. The report forwarded by the Commissioner of Police haying been read, several of the applications were declined, consideration of others deferred, and some granted.

Theatre Royal.—" Tbe Handsome Husband" and the pantomime formed the bill at the Theatre last night. Both pieces went well, the pantomime especially going with much smoothness. To-night the pantomime will be repeated and on Thursday a mid-day performance will be given, commencing a) half-past two o'clock.

Tradesmen's Athletic Club.—A meeting of this club was held last' evening at tbe Garrick bote], when the prizes were paid over, leaving a very substantial balance to the club funds. It may be mentioned in connection with the club anniversary sports that tbe match between Gougb and Gibbens was for a trophy, value £10, and not for £5 a side, as mentioned in tbe programme.

Lecture at Sx Paul's Pbesbytekian Chubch.—A lecture on " Oratory, in relation to the British Parliament and pulpit," was delivered last evening in St Paul's Presbyterian Church by the Bey J. W. Cree. There a fair attendance,. The lecturer, who was listened to attentively throughout, dwelt on the influence that oratory has wielded in every age on the destinies of nations and" the "church, culling potenVahd forcible illustrations from history in support of his argument. At the termination, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the rev lecturer.

Pbksentation.—Miss Kiddell, the teacher of the Government girls' school, Rangiora, was presented on Thursday evening last, after the distribution of prizes, with a very handsome bracelet, subscribed for by the girls attending the advanced classes. Miss G. Boyle and Miss Stephens, offering the present, remarked tbat not only the children, but also the parents, were thoroughly pleased with the manner in which she (Miss Kiddell) exercised her onerous duties, showing such affection, moderation, and anxiety in all her relations towards her pupils, and hoping she might long remain among them. Miss Kiddell replied suitably.

1.0.0. F., M.U., Kaiapoi.—The halfyearly summoned meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday evening, December 21st, when a very large portion of the brothers were present. The ordinary lodge business was transacted, and the N.G. then declared the lodge open for the election of officers for the ensuing term. The following were elected:—Bros E. Feldwick, N.G.; G. Gulliver, V.G.; M. H. Smith, E.S.; A. T. Clark, P. 8;; and Mr Fletcher, surgeon, medical officer. The officers were then installed, after whicb P.G. Bate and E.S. Smith were elected auditors; P.G. Bate and P.G. Green delegates; and D.P.G.M. Wright and P.G. Bate were nominated sick visiters; P.G. Bate was elected lecture master. It was resolved that G.M. Keetley receive the N.G.s degree, N.G. Feldwick the V.G.s degree, V.G. Gulliver the E.S. degree, and that D.P.G.M. Wright's name be placed on the Dispensation board.

The Gebaldine Election.—The South Canterbury Times of yesterday says:—The polling day for this anxiously looked-forward to event took place yesterday, December 27th; B. Woollcombe, Esq, being the returning officer. There was much excitement at Temuka and Geraldine, and the result for the latter showed—Mr Wakefield, 61; Hayhurst, 12; and Wilson, 10. In consequence of the lateness of the hour at which the returns were made up at Temuka we are unable to give the exact voting numbers, yet we are in a position to state that Messrs flayburet and Wakefield were ties, and the Returning Officer gave his casting vote in favor of Mr Wakefield, who was then declared as duly elected. We give the above as the result of the poll, nothing doubting but that, if a strict scrutiny were demanded, a different result might ensue, placing Mr Hayhurst at the head.

Woolston Juvenile Templar Lodge. —On Boxing day, the members of the Juvenile Good Templar Lodge, Woolston, to the number of about one hundred, including friends, were conveyed in traps to Sumaer. Shortly after arrival, the children were regaled with tea, buns, and cakes, which was succeeded by a stroll on the beach. Sports of various kinds were afterwards improvised, the winners receiving prizes amounting to £8, the money for which was kindly contributed by Sir Cracroft Wilßon and Mr Wm. Wilson. After the children had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, a substantial tea was partaken of, when a start was made for home, Woolston being safely reached by halfpast six o'clock, the juveniles evidently having thoroughly enjoyed their outing. In the evening, an entertainment, held in the hall, was provided for the adult members, which passed off successfully.

HEBEFOBD STBEET BAPTIST SUNDAY School.—The usual annual treat to the scholars attending this school took place on Boxing day, the children assembling at the church at nine o'clock, where vans had been provided in readiness to convey them to a paddock at the end of Colombo road. As the weather had all the appearance of con- | tinned rain, it was thought advisable to give up the original intention of holding the treat out of town, and a messenger was despatched to Colonel Packe, who at once kindly gave permission to use the Drill-shed and grounds. The children were marched to the shed, where a substantial luncheon was soon spread for them. The weather having by this time cleared up, it was determined to utilise the vans by taking the children for a drive down to the hills, where, on arrival, they were liberally supplied with milk by Mr and Mrs Davidson. A return was soon afterwards made to the Drill-shed, and tea having been partaken of, sports were indulged in and toys distributed, the children separating at dusk for home, having spent a very pleasant day. Fatal Accident.—The South Canterbury Times gives the following particulars of a fatal accident which happened on Christmas Day in the Mackenzie Country :—A sad and fatal accident occurred on Christmas Day last, whereby the infant daughter of Mr A. Ormsby, solicitor, of this town, met her death. It appears that Mr Ormsby, accompanied by Mrs Ormsby, child, and nurse, were driving along the old track to Mr Kimbell's station, Mackenzie Country, and when about thirty-five miles from Timaru went through a mud pool, tbat appareotly had a sound bottom, but after going a short distance the near side wheel went into a hole, and through the plunging of tbe horses forward caused the nurse and child to be thrown out. Seeing that the child was badly hurt, Mr Ormsby, after getting her and the nurse into the trap again, drove at all haste to the residence of Dr Kimbell, who, on examining the child, stated that it had been dead about half-an-hour, or an hour and a half after the accident had occurred. The ' body of the deceased was afterwards brought to Mr Ormsby's residence. An inquest was held on the body on Monday, December 27tb, at the residence of Mr Ormsby, before B. Woollcombe, Esq., coroner, and a jury, when a verdict of " Accidental death" waß returned.

Masonic. —The installation of the officers of the St Augustine Lodge, No 609 E.C., took place on Monday evening, at the Masonic Hall, when the following brethren were duly installed for the ensuing'year:— W.M., Bro W. Deamer ; 1.P.M., Bro R. D. Thomas; S.W., Bro 8. B. Seymour; J.W., Bro R. C. Bishop; treasurer, Bro W. R. Mitchell; secretary, Bro F. C. Tribe: 8.D., Bro T. D. Condell; J.D., Bro N. Wolfe ; tyler, Bro J. Hughes. The installation ceremony was impressively performed by B.W. Bro H. Thomson, D. District G.M. The installation of the W.M. and officers of the Lodge of Unanimity, No 604 B.C. (Lyttelton), took place at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday last, by the R.W.D.G.M. Bro Wm. Donald, assisted by the D. District G.M. Bro H. Thomson. The following brethren were installed, viz. — W.M., Bro B. Anderson (re-elected); 1.P.M., Bro H. McLellan; S.W., Bro P. Cunningham ; J.W., Bro ; treasurer, Bro P. Cunningham; secretary, Bro White; S.D., Bro C. A. Rich ; J.D., Bro W. B. Allwright ; IG„ Bro Waine ; organist, Bro Giraud ; stewards, Bros Brown and J. Hobbs ; tyler, Bro A. Gordon. We would remind brethren of the craft generally, irrespective of lodges, that a grand Masonic banquet will take place in the Oddfellows' Hall on January 20th, following the annual communication of the District Grand Lodge, which takes place on the same date.

The Regatta at Lyttelton.—The whaleboats from Timaru and Akaroa, intended to compete at this regatta, arrived by the s.B. Wanganui yesterday. The following are the crews:—Timaru—l, Collins; 2, Rodgers; 3, Gedge; stroke, S. Graham. Akaroa—l, Carter; 2, J. Wright; 3, G. Brongh; stroke, T. Brough. The Scud and Venture, which are intended to compete in the yacht race, sailed from Akaroa yesterday morning for Lyttelton, and will probably arrive to-night. The Cynthia, a Wellington schooner, is expected hourly from tbe Pelorus Sound. The Duke of Edinburgh will be the flag abip. There is every prospect of good competition in most of the races.

M.U.LO. Oddfellows.—The second anniversary of the Loyal Southbridge lodge was celebrated on Boxing Day, December 27th, with a picnic and ball. The Southbridge lodge, which was opened as a country lodge in connection with the North Canterbury district, on the 31st December, 1873, at first mustered only ten members. Since then the numbers have largely increased, and nearly seventy members have been enrolled on the books of the order, and there is every prospect of there being a still larger increase. Owingto the unsettled state of the weather the originally proposed programme could not be adhered to in its entirety, and the luncheon, provided by Mr Paddy in his very best style, was partaken of in the Town Hall, instead alfresco. About 100 members of the order and their friends sat down, and having done ample justice to the good thing provided, marched in procession to the cricket ground, headed by the Southbridge brass band, whose first performance in public was in every respect most creditable, and we are sure that their services will often be called in requisition, and will, as on the occasion of present fete, considerably add to the harmony of any social or even political gatherings in the district. Sports, dancing, and amusements of various descriptions were carried on till dusk, when an adjournment was made to the Town Hall, where dancing was kept up, to the music of Mr Gardener on the piano, till daybreak, when, after having spent a very enjoyable day, the party broke up.