TOWN AND COUNTRY.

• Hotel Accommodation. —In many respects, we are certainly not an enterprising people. Avery short sojourn in the settlement suffices to impress the visitor with this idea, and in no way does it come home to him so forcibly as in experiencing the want of hotel accommodation. At the present time there is ample room for another good family hotel. We have reason to know that it is almost impossible to get admitted into any of the existing establishments at a short notice. In the new towns of America, the first building generally erected is a gigantic hotel; equal in size, perhaps, to all those now to be found in Christchurch. At home, commercial enterprise is all in favour of grand joint stock hotel, schemes, which are said to answer extremely well. We are surprised that capital has not discovered this vacant field for employment here, especially as money is said to be superabundant just now.

A Warning Against the Illegal Exportation of Arms from Australia. —We understand that in consequence of information sent up from the Customs' department here, the authorities at Melbourne lately instituted immediate proceedings against a firm there who illegally shipped a quantity of gunpowder, shot, and percussion caps to this province some three months ago. These articles were not sent separately, but were packed with other goods, thus producing an impression that concealment was intended, especially as the captain of the vessel received no notice that he was carrying a dangerous freight. The consignee here was no party to this transaction, and took steps at once to make it known at once to the proper officer. Explanations having been offered by the shippers in extenuation, the case against them was not carried into court, a mitigated penalty having been consented to. The full penalty under the Victorian law would have been, we believe, £500. In another case of illegal exportation of gunpowder to Dunedin, a fine was also infiicted at Melbourne on the shippers thence. The landing surveyor having been sent across from Dunedin expressly to prove the case.

The Bridge is condemned as being unsafe for traffic, and the City authorities have closed the thoroughfare over it. The time has arrived when iron should take the place of wood in the construction of works to be of a permanent character. We trust the new bridge for this district will shortly arrive.

Miss Aitkin.—We are sorry to hear that this lady haß announced her intention of not giving any further entertainments in Christchurch. We are informed she has been invited by the Young Men's Christian Association and the Mechanics' Institute to give "Readings," and we trust she will kindly accede to their request.

The Christchurch Musical Society purpose giving a concert in the Music Hall, on Tuesday evening next. We have no doubt it will be a decided success.

The Governor's Bay Stoppage.—The first act of this farce has been played out, and the scene closes wi th the compulsory appearance of Westby Hawkshaw Percival before the Lyttelton magistrates, by whom we understand he has been forwarded to Christchurch. The collector of compulsory tolls was brought up under a warrant to Answer a charge of assault preferred by Forster, of the accommodationhouse, whose skull it is said he had threatened to cleave with his axe.

Akaroa—We have great pleasure in congratulating the worthy pastor and parishioners of Akaroa on their receiving a new bell, harmonium, and altar fittings for the use of their church. The bell was sadly needed, as for some time past the old one has been cracked, and gave out anything but a harmonious summons to the house of prayer.