NEWS OF THE DAY.

*, Spicial Tbain.—On Easter Monday a ■ate train will run on the Northern line, for convenience of persons visiting Banpiorn race*. b*zaar, and oiatorio, or Kaiapoi Weelev an school anniversary. 'Foaiu Grain, and Boot Show—A report of this sbov, which took place at Kaiapoi on Thursday, appears in the Weekly Preu of this day. THB BELLBDJGEBB m PORT.—The Lynch family gave one of their performance* oa Thursday night at the Colonieta , Hall, Lyttelton. The attendance waa excellent, and the audience appreciative.

The Volunteers.—ln a local which apin our Thursday's issue, it was stated that the Artillerj corps had formed a portion of those who, on the previous night, had had at V march out." The word " Artillerj " was inadvertently inserted far " Engineers." The Baces. —The prices of admission to the Racecourse will be found in our advertising columns. The races will start each day punctually at 1 o'clock. Nominations for the Champagne Staked, 1877, and the St. Leger Stake*, 1878, must be sent to the secretary not later than 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening next. Bifle Association.—The Easter meeting, under the auspices of the Canterbury Rifle Association, begins on Monday morning' and promises, should the weather prove fine, to be in every way a success. The prizes to be competed for are of very considerable value, and a large amount of interest is being taken in the contest. Several visitors from Dunedin also intend to take pait in the different matches. The Colima. sensation was created in Melbourne on the morning of April sth, by the publication' in the A r giis of a telegram stating that the Colima had been lost off Akaioa, and our contemporary devotee a column of matter to a description of the vessel and the arrangements made for the saving of life in case of a disaster. A correct account of the accident was published in the next issue. Rangioba Volunteer Fibe Brigade.— Favored with glorious weather, the annual picnic of this brigade to the Woodend Beach yesterday was in every respect a success. The members of the brigade, accompanied by their friends, were conveyed to the beach in vehicles of various descriptions. Here sports of divers kinds were organised, and refreshments liberally provided. The com* pany spent a pleasant day, and returned to Bangiora before 6 p.m. I.O.G.T.—The members of the Southern Cross, No 68,1.0. Q.T., held an opening meeting acd entertainment at the Orange Hall, Worcester street, on Thursday evening, having moved their place of meeting from the Temperance Hall. About 180 persons were present, the sexes beingpretty equally divided. Mr J. M. Watt, W.0.T., was in the chair, and delivered an address appropriate to the occasion. A number of readings, songs, and recitations, were afterwards given, and a very pleasant evening was spent, fruit being distributed at intervals. Sons of Temperance.—A soiree in connection with the Perseverance Division of the Sons of Temperance took place on Thursday evening in the Music Hall. There was not, however, perhaps owing to counter attractions, a large attendance. After tea a public meeting was held, when addressee were delivered by several gentlemen. Spbeydon.—The fourth anniversary of the Methodist Free Church was celebrated on Sunday, when Rev S. McFarlane preached, and on Tuesday a tea meeting was held in the church, and [a public meeting,, at which Rev S. McFarlane presided. Mr Carr read a report showing that the church is now free from debt. Addresses were given by Messrs Leadly, T. Clarkson, Marcroft, Flesher, and Rev R. Wilkinson. A good subscription was then made towards the harmonium fund, and Mr McFarlane promised to give a lecture on " Home, sweet home" , in aid of the same fund. Leeston School Committee.—A meeting of the committee was held in the school room on the Bth inst, at 7.30 p.m. Present Messrs G. Sandrey (in the chair), P. O'Boyle, and T. 8. Lewis. The chairman read a letter from the Minister for Education sanctioning the expenditure of £185 10s for aide school, Doyleston ; also, approving the reappointment of Miss Taylor until next quarter. A copy of letter from Mr Borthwick to Miss Taylor re school duties was also read. The chairman stated that he had made arrangements with Mr McLachlan to erect a division fence at once, and charge the committee with one-half of the coat; and ■ with Mr Bennett, to build a bridge at a cost not exceeding j614, the sanction of the Minister for Education having iieen previously obtained. The chairman laid balance sheet, amounting to £35 6s 6d, before committee, and the meeting adjourned. ' RiCCABTON Libbaby.—The annual meet; ing of subscribers to the Riccarton Library was held on Monday evening at the, school-, room after the annual school meeting. Owiog to the bad state of the weatherthe meeting was a email one. Mr H. F. (3-ray occupied the chair, and read a short report of the proceedings of the committee for the p<ist year, giving at the same time the financial state of the institution. The election of a new committee was then proceeded with, and Messrs J. B. A. Acland, L. Harper, Marsh, J. P. O'CaUaghan, J. E. Hanson, H. P. Lance, H. F. Gray, and Rev C. Turrell, who comprise the school committee, were elected. After election the committee met, and elected Mr Gray as president, and requested the Rev 6. Turrell to act as secretary and treasurer, The library has been built on a site on the Middleton property, kindly presented to the district by the Hon C. C. Bowen, and will cost, with the fittings, and including the value of the site, about £200 ; of this £190 ie a building grant from the Provincial Government, and the balance local contributions. A further grant of £50 has been obtained from the Government for the purchase of books. Mr Walter Blake has been good eneugh to act as architect gratuitously. It is hoped that the library will be ready foi opening in the coarse of a few weeks. NOBTH CANTERBURY DISTRICT, M.U., I. OOF.—The half-yearly meeting of the above district was held on Thursday, April 13th, in the new Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, at 11 a.m. Present —Pro G.M. Bro J. Taaffe (in the chair), D.P.G.M. Bro R. Wright, Pro C.B.P.G. Bro A. A. Belig, Tyler P.G. Bro E. Jones. Delegates from the following lodges were also present, and handed in their certificates: —City of Christchurch Lodge—Bro P.P.G.M. T. W. Jane, Past Grands, Bros A. Clephane, W. Rodger, W. Thin;PermanentFecretary,S.Harppr. Kaiapoi —P.P.G.M. Bro Clark, and P.G. Bro Green. Rangiora—P.D.P.G.M. Bro Robinson, and P.P.G.M. Bro Stephens Volunteer—Past Grands, Bros T. FounUine and Cameron. Benevolent — Past Grands, Bros C. P. Hulbert and T. B. Thompkins. Perseverance — P.P.G.M. Brcs Parry and N. G. Beaumont. Nil Dejperanduin—Past Grands, Bros Sedcole and Ryde. Cast—Past Grand, Bro Trneman. Southbridge—Past Grand, Bro James Lewis. Woodend—G.M, Bro Smith. Star of Waltham—Past Grand, Bro Crawley. Oxford—P.G. Bro Youngman. Ashburton, Leithfield, and Doyleston were not represented. Leave of absence was granted to Bros Hulbert ani Thompkins. The P.G.M. having declared the meeting open, the following bns mess was disposed of: —Correspondence was reau from the Grand Master aad Board of Dire-tors ; also the various Lodges in the district. A letter was read relative to the amalgamation of the Lyttelton District with the North Canterbury District. The Auditor's ieport and baiauce sheet waethenread, received, and unanimously adopted. It showed .receipts for the half-year from levies, &0., £279 18s I fid ; balance in Bank from last half-year, tloG 0s H : total, £435 18i lid; expenditure £266 4s- 6d. The balance to the credit of the district was stated to be £282 14s Id. Funeral money to the amount of £70, and various other sums, were passed for payment The financial members, good on the bois to December, 1875, in the district, numbered 1048,, A large amount of routine business, appeal", &C was disposed of. It was unanimously resolved, on the recommendation of the District Officers, that a uniform printed balancesheet be prepared for the whole of the lodgfs in the district. Nominations were then taken for the offices of Pro G.M, DP.G.M., and Pro 0.5., elections to take place at the October meeting. The meeting then adjourned until 7 pm, when the Prov G. M. conferred degrees upon past officers holding proper certificates, after wbich the lodge, consisting of Past Grande, was duly opened for the. purpose of conferring the " Purple" degree, when several P.G'e received the same. The lodge w*a then closed with the oeoal formalities. Then were a great many present at both meeting*, «nd the interest evinced showed the desire of mil, with the district officer*, to ttphotd the principle of th* Order.

Woodekd DiSTBiCT School.—The annual distribution of prizes, to the value-rf £6 10s, took- place schoolroom, on Thursday afternoon. A few friend* attended with the chairman, Mr James Little, who after a few words of encouragement and advice to the children, distributed the prizes to the following successful scholars :—Standard V— let prize, John Sowell ; 2nd, Mary Norton. Standard IT—lst prize, James H. Balkeld . 2nd, Wm. Smyth ; 3rd, Joseph Salkeld; 4th, John Banby ;sth, Grace Farrell; 6tb, Sarah HowelL Standard lll—let prize, John Hewitt; 2nd, Thos Murfitt; 3rd, Wm. Bobson ; 4th, Geo. Porter. Standard 11-—lst prize, Arthur Norton ; Leslie Hinge ; 3rd, Mary Ealin. Standard I—lst priae, Alexander Ironsides; 2nd, Arthur Hinge; 3rd, Harriett Stevens. Sewing—lafcjiivieion j —Istprize, Martha Muifitt;2nd, Sarah Booth; Sewing—2nd division—lst, Annie Murfitt; 2nd, Annie Little. Knitting—let prise, Elizabeth Ball; 2nd, Margaret Stalker. Money prizes were also subscribed by Mrs Porter and Mesdamea Ivens, Salkeld and the teachers for those children who bad not one absent mark to their names last quarter, which were taken by Rebecca Norton, j Bobert Pefcre, Sarah Ho well, and Mary Sills. Mesdamee Salkeld, Turner, and Dickenson kindly acted as examiners of the sewicg and knitting.