NEWS OF THE DAY.

Board of Education.—Tbe Board will meet at the Normal School to-morrow, at 3 pan. Barlow's Ciecu&— This company gave s> perfonnarce laat evening, which was fairly attended. Tbey proceed overland to Dunedin, County Council.—The adjourned meeting of the Council of the County of Selwyn will be held at noon to morrow, in the Provincial Council Chamber. Poultry Association. — The annual general meeting of the Christchurch Poultry, Canary, and Pigeon Association will be held at Warner's Hotel, at 8 p.m. to-morrow evening. Canterbury Bowing Club. —A general meeting of members to discuss the question of ordering new boats by the outgoing Suemail will be held at Warner's Hotel oo Thursday evening at eight o clock. Cathedral Guild—A meeting of the Guild will be held this evening, at the College Library, when papers will be read by the Bey H. Flavell and Mr H. S. J-mith. The choir of the Guild will perform Bompieces of music during the evening, LEGAL. —Hi 9 Honor Mr Justice Johnston will sit in Chambers at 11 am. this clay. A special sitting of the Court of Appeal will be held on the 12th instant. It is probable that at this sitting the reserved points in the case of Begina v T. H. Knibbs, for stealing a post letter, will be argued. Cardigan Castle.—Dr Donald and Mr March vis'ted the Quarantine Stations at Bipa and Qsail Islands yesterday, in H.M.C steam launch. The health of the immigrants was much the same as yesterday. There were four births on the passage out from England.

7, Music Hall—There was a capital attendance at tbe Diorama last night. The various scenes were applauded, and Mr Stanley's descriptive lectnre seemed to be highly appreciated. The nsnal distribution of gifts closed the performance. Tbe Diorami will be exhibited again this evening, Chess* Club—A meeting of gentlemen desirous of forming a chess club will be held tomorrow evening at Warner's Hotel, at eight o'clock. As it is known there are a great many lovers of the g*me in Christchurch, very little difficulty should be experienced in forming a very strong club here. Theatre Boyal.— M Jan " was repeated last evening toa good honse, and Mr Emmet's fonniment. and songs went well throughout. The other characters were well filled, and applause and laughter were frequent. " Jan" will be played again to-night. As this' is positively the last week of Mr Emmet, those who have not yet Been " Jan " should take an early opportunity of doing so. Sheep FOR the Chathams.—The Seabird, brigantine, takes to the Chathams some splendid sheep that have been purchased by Messrs Bitchie and Kerr, of those islands. The former gentleman has bought fifty ewes and one ram from Mr Boys, of Bangiora, while Mr Eerr has purchased six rams from Mr Marcroft's celebratsd flock. No doubt these animals will tend to greatly improve tbe Chatham Island sheep. Boat Accidekt in Lyttelton.—A very sensational story was current in town on i-nnday evening, to the effect that the gig of the Langstone had been upset, and the captain, mate, and a lady drowned. No such accident, however, occurred, we are happy to Bay. The story arose from the fact that the cook and second mate of the Langstone tumbled the boat over in shallow water, and then had to scramble ashore. Drainage Board.—A meeting of the Drainage Board was held yesterday. It was resolved to write to Mr Carruthers, asking him to fix the earliest date at which the Board could receive his complete plans re drainage scheme. The members of the Board determined to go down the Biver Avon, so as personally to get an idea of its state. An opinion was read from Mr Garrick stating that tbe Board could not send their drainage down Free's Cteek without compensation to the owners of land abutting thereon. The; appointment of Messrs Alport and T. B. Craig as auditors to the Board waa approved ! by Mr W. Bolleston as General Government agent. A resolution, having for its object the ascertaining of the co3t of discharging the sewage of Chrißtehnrch at various points beyond the" pumping stations, was carried. The election of chairman for the.ensuing year, was deferred until next meeting. Board of Health.—A meeting of thg Local Board of Health took place yesterday. An opinion was read from the solicitor, to the effect that the Drainage Board could not u«e its funds for the purposes of the Local Board of Health. It was decided, after some discussion, to borrow the requisite amount from the Drainage 3oard, and next ees3ion :to obtain power from the Legislature to rais*» funds, when the Joan could be recouped. It was decided that tbe Board should take over the night Boil removal and scavenging contracts now held by the City Council. The chief inspector of nuisances reported that he had visited Mr Horler's soap boiling works on tbe Ferry road, and it was resolved to call Mr Horler's attention to clause 76 of tbe Act, and to inform bim that the Board were of opinion that he shou'd remove his works to some more sequestered spot The report of the committee appointed to draw up the fchedule of duties of medical officer, and suggest a salary, was approved, after the alteration of the .alary proposed from £300 to £250 per annum. It was resolved to advertise for applications for the office to be sent in by next meeting. Several cases of scarlet fever were reported by householders.

Trial op the New Reaper and Binder—A private trial of the new reaping and binding machine recently imported by Mr John Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, and purchased from him by Mr A F. Gray, Avonhead, took place yesterday in a field of oats belonging to Mr Boon, Biccarton. The oatß were barely ripe, and owing to the strong north-west wind of Sunday last were twisted in many places. The crop wonld average over fifty bushels to the acre. Notwithstanding these drawbacks the machine did its work well, tyin° the sheaves j into any sizsd bundles that the person in charge of the machine liked, and pitching them from five to six feet clear of the line of tbe horses, thus leaving a clean track for the next round. It is usual in America to work three horses abreast, but yesterday only two horßes were used, and owing to the smooth way in which the machinery worked they did not seem to be distressed in the Uaqt— i in fact tbey did not •' turn a hair." It must I be satisfactory to both Mr Anderson and Mr Gray, as it was to the few gentlemen who were present, to see that this, the latest addition to our labor-saving machinery, is so great a success. We need not go into particulars regarding the working of the machine, as it has already been fully described in our columns in a communication from Mr A. Saunders. The Country Journal just published also contains an account of this ingenious implement. We advise all who wish to see the machine at work to pay a visit to Mr Boon's farm, at Opuer Biccarton, tomorrow, when they will have an opportunity of inspecting it.

Dunedin Hospital—The Guardian of the sth inßtant says :—" Sir John L. Kichardson, on behalf of the Committee of Management of tbe Dunedin Hospital, had an interview with the Hon the Commissioner of Customs yesterday, with the view of ascertaining the inttnticns <t the Government with reference to the future maintenance of that useful institution The reply received was tbat the present committee would have the management an control of the hospital in the meantime, and that tbe Government had arranged to provide sufficient funds for carrying on the institution till June next After that he waa not in a position to say distinctly whan would be done, bat he nnder--: stood that the citizens would be called upon" to contribute to the support of the hospita', the Government allowing a subsidy of £2 Sfor every £\ contributed. Mr M*Lean considered that the present state of the Treasury, would prevent the Government from supporting these charitable institutions in tbe same way as the Provincial Councils had done, and the burden would have to be

partly borne by tbe lecal authorities. - Tbe report of the meeting was submitted at a private meeting of the hospital committee held subsequently in the Univeraity Library It was suggested that the funds required might be raised by pablic subscription, but the committee seemed to think that a general tax oa the community wonld afford a more certain source of income, and for that reason would be preferable. What farther transpired it is impossible to say, as the memt ere of the committee declare they are "groping in the dark " themselves, and the representstives of the Press are strictly excluded from their meetings." ____________