The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1887.

Those to whom the County Council is indebted, will be pleased to learn that the County Chairman (Mr BrodieJ, Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr Pitkethley), and the Clerk and Treasurer (Mr Hollia), have succeeded in makicg arrangements with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand which will enable the Council to pay all outstanding account! to-morrow.

The manager of the' Snxou mine telegragbed this morning:—3Olbs pioked stone from Nob. 2 and 4 slopes seaward of the riie at No. 4 level.—F. Jambs."

Owihg to pressure on our space, a letter from the Bey. H. H, Driver has been unavoidably crowded out, but will appear tomorrow. On the fourth page of trie present issue will be found a letter from a London correspondent giving a very interesting UCCOuafc of (be office of the &ond,on. Tjmtp,

3hb Mohawk Minstrels' season conol.ud oa, last evening, but the reception they then received, as well as throughout their stay here, has been so encouraging that they have determined to give one more entertainment this evening in the Academy of Mueio. A double programme has been prepared for the coca sioD, comprising the choicest items out of their repertoire by the different members of the company. As this is really the last opportunity that we shall have of hearing these talented Minstrels, we hope that there will be a bumper house. At the close of the perfor" manca there will be a seleob dance, to which holders of front seat tickets will be admitted.

A meeting of the Committee appointed ta make the necessary arrangements in connection with the athletic sports gathering to be held in Mr Manning's oentrally situated paddock, on New Year's Day, took place at the Shortland Hotel last evening, when the prize money to be given for the several events waß decided as follows —Maiden Baoe, 150 yards, £2; Manning Handicap, 440 yards, Ist £2 and a silver medal presented by Mr Manning, 2nd £1; Running hop-step^and-jump, £1 5 Youths' Handicap (under 16), 2CO yards, 15s, 10s j New Year's Gift Handicap, 880 yards, £3, £1,10s; Running Long Jump, 15s; Local Handicap, 200 yards, £2, 15s. 5s ; Three-legged-raoe, 100 yards, £1, 10s ; Jubilee Handicap, one mile, Ist prize £4 and silver medal presented by Mr Cbiicott, jeweller, 2od £1, 3rd 10s j Boys' Handicap (under 12), 100 yards, 16s, ss, 2s 6d ; Hurdle Handicap, £2, and 10b ; Putting the Stone of 221bs, 15s, 5s ; Sack race, 15s, and ss; Consolation raoe, 150 yards, £L 10s. The programme ",i& nn excellent oue, and from the substantial nature of the prizes offered by the Committee, we have no doubt a large number of entries will be received for the various events. The programme is circulated with this issue of the Stab, from which further particulars as to the entrance fees, &c, will be gleaned. It might be mentioned, however, that entries close at Mr Keven's shop or the Shortland Hotel, on Wednesday next, while the handicaps will be declared on Saturday, the 24th inst.

Thb inaugural meeting of the newly-formed Thames Burns Club took place in 3t. George's Hall last evening, and passed off very suooesafully. There was a good attendance of mem* bers and their friends, amongst whom where a number of ladies. An interesting addrosa was delivered by the President (Capti? Farquhar), and Scottish songs, recitations, &c, given by several ladies and gentlemen, the result being that a very enjoyable evening was Bpent by all present. Judging by the interest displayed at the inungural meeting, it would cortainly appear that the Club will soon become a popular institution. The proceedings last evening concluded with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."

The scheme initiated by several Paeroa residents for the settlement of the Waihou West Block No. 1, 1211 acres, is gradually inoubating. Messrs D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Percy Smith, Assistant' Surveyor-General, have interested themselves in the matter, and it iB quite on the cards fcbat the land will be surveyed into blocks and portioned out in a couple of months.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council last evening was one of the " shortest oq record," while the business transacted was of the most unimportant nature The members present were—G'rs McG-owan (in the Chuir), "Wood, Danby, Eadford, Renshaw, and Crawford.—The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.—Mr W. EL Potts applied to have his name placed on the roll for the Middle Ward, in place of that of Capt. E. T. Wildman, as' one of the coowners of the Naval Hall, but it was decided that it would first be necessary for the applicant to forward to the Council the resolution passed at a meeting of members authorising this to be done, before the request of Mr Potts could be complied with.—Letters from Messrs Ehrenfried, E. Cartwright, and others re water rates, were referred to the Water Supply Committee.—A memo, was presented from the Turncock stating that the water w .uld be off for about ten days, including Christmas day.— The usual reports were read, and the accounts authorised for payment, after which the meeting adjourned.

Ohinemubi is not behindhand in [festivities this Christmas. Boxing Day is to be celebrated by a " Monster Sporting Carnival" at the Mackaytown Domain, when about 20 events (horse and foot races) will come off. The season also includes a concert and dance at Owharoa, a danceat Woitekauri,and a New Year's Ball given by the ladies in celebration of leap-year «t Paeroa.

In anticipation of the hot weather Mr H. J. Syms, the well-known cordial manufacturer of Albert street, has been busily engaged for gome time past making an extensive stock of lemon, raspberry, peppermint, and other cordials, in order to meet the demand which lets in about this period of the year for cool* ing drinks. The nectarine and hop beer manufactured by Mr Syms are of excellent quality, and command a ready sale, being very refreshing. We would direct attention to Mr Syms' advertisement, which appears elsewhere.

Wb clip the following gem from Hansard, where it is to be found in a speech made by Major Jackson during the debate on the Financial Statement:—" While I say that higher education should be paid for by the parents, care should^be taken that provision is made so that exceptionally clever ohildron should, by competitive examination, have an opportunity of fitting themselves for the highest positions in the Colony—fitting themselves for the positions we ourselves occupy in this House." What a brilliant future lies before the Colony! Our clever ohildren fully equipped with all that learning can supply, will reaoh the standard of the hon. members of the period!

A scratch match will be played on the Waio-Karaka Flat to-morrow afternoon by teams chosen from the Thames Cricket Club by the Secretary and Treasurer. The following will comprise the respective teams:— Sbcbetabt'S : Hinton, W. Johnson, Lang, Or. Smith, J. Smith, Maddern, Harrison, Christie, Conway, O'Snllivan, Gellion, T. Johnson, Tregonning, H. Paterson, Ryan, G. Ohristoy, Gibeon, and AHken. Tbbasvber's : Coney, Johns, G. Newman, Dobba, Cantloy, Airoy, Griffiths, Hind man, Bryant, Styak, W. Newman, Payne, Garrett, W. Paterson,'Eattray, Hunter, and Fletcher. Flay will commence at half past two o'clock. '' ,

At a meeting of the teachers of the W> sleyan Sunday School, Pollen-street, held last evening, the question of providing funds for the annual Festival on the 29th of January next was discussed, when it was decided to arrange with the proprietors for the use of the Tararu Gardens on Boxing Day. We understand that satisfactory arrangements have been concluded, and on Monday, 26th Dc cember, it is proposed to have a picnic to the Gardens. Particulars regarding band, refresh* ments, amusements, &c, will be published later. It is hoped that should tha day be fine, there will be a large gathering at this favorite resort, and an enjoyable day spent with profitable results to the. projectors.

S^ECUIj shipments of drapery, millinery fancy goods, New Zealand clothing, and furnishing for 'Xmas and New Year's trade are now being opened up at J. Marshall's, Albert etreet.—[Advt.]

"Kott&h o» Rats."—Clears out rats, mice,' roaches, flies, nnts, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, sparrows, gophers. At chemists and druggiiti.