NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thhi E_.ecth.ic Lighting Tbndbb.—Our report of Cr. Wood's speech at the Council on Monday night did no quite accurately state the terms of the tender submitted for lighting the city by electricity. * The actual terms of the tender were as follows:—-By one tender the Syndicate offered to light the city at a cost of £3500 per annum for a seven years' contract. An alternative tender waa for a period of twenty years, the first seven years at JB2IOO per annnm, tbe next seven years at £2000 per annum, and for the balance of six years .£I9OO per annum. For this it was proposed to provide 100 arc lamps each of 2000 candle power and 60 incandescent lamps of 20 candle power. The Gas Company's tender for a seven years" contract was .£llß2 per annum for 394 lamps. __•-.■ Yai-dhubst. —Our correspondent writes: —The rain which fell during Sunday night was most beneficial to the crops. Previous t<* the downfall the wheat was almost covered with rust, and it was the exception to find a crop free from it. Farmers are much more hopeful now about their prospects, and with a few more tractr rains yields should be well up to the average. Feed ia abundant, and hay will again be plentiful. Those who are cutting would like a few bright days to secure their crops. The boys are in full swing waging war with the small birds, the Sid Board baying the heads.

Womsn's Christian Tbj_-*sbasc_i Union.-—The monthly meeting of the Kaiapoi branch of this Union was held on Wednesday, at the coffee rooms, Baven street, Mrs R. Evans presiding. Assistance in goods or money for the picnic and sale of work, to be held at Willow Farm oh January 2nd, was asked for by the President, to be forwarded as early as possible. An extract from the Union Bignal on " Side Lights for Workers/* was read by the Secretary, after which Mrs Knott spoke a few earnest and encouraging words. .

How ,*ro Learn to Ride.—-Adams, Cbbties and Co. are prepared to teach gentlemen or ladies the art of cycling at any address in New Zealand. Adams, Ctjkties- and Co., 70 Manchester street, Chrtetchorch.—fADv_'.J Tkuth. — Worthingtonianism, Hypnotism, Spiritualism and Theosophy, ready, 2s. '• Health,'" by Dr. Forest, 12s and 14s. Muscle Rollers and Exercisers, his inventions. Dr. Schussler's New Isemedies. Supplies Company, 179 Colombo street next Davles and Lamb's)—[Advt. *

SUJWTSIDB ASThUH.-_.T_„ 1 Seddon, Minister for p a s*> S j I accompanied by the EnginJ-Y' 1 .! »< I a visit to the SunnysidUfy I morning and in 3 the I the repairs in progress. m *H t& i MOT-fTT SOCIKTT.—Thn -.„ « F "The Spectre's Bride " !n o * 6la '>«' -I I this evening, ha, Wlfi 1 * M postponed owing to Mr W-X.H n H! unable to conduct. eUi * W )■ Railway Sbrva-sts* Socib*- t quarterly general meetint. __7?' r* 11,1*''. bury branch will be held at L ,fe_**n.a Working Men's Club Hall tof •7.30 p.m. Wi to '**"orr.".7 s r. Nkw Beioutoii Lo AN __. ,»,„, t the ratepayers of New Bri_-_^„*■*■* f 'l last night to consider w_us2l£ M _ hl - , _ * be formed out of the loan Aft 'Hf ■ discussion it was to meeting for the receipt of fX a U «* - formation. * l lUfth "r fc^, A Nbw Chuech __*_ r. nv i„ v . ,rBiahop of ChrLstchurch ia « blp arrive at Timaru to-day and f >° tyd w*"" ■ foundation stone of St MarF H'" Beaconsfleld, to-morrow af£j__ new church is situate ia tha Z\„ i r Nf circuit of the Rev. L. Cart-lev S m t will be attended by in the Beaconsfleld and vllt T' h l ' districts. pper ******* Persona*..—At the TinwaM a 1 »■' yesterday, Mr Leister *££$$&£* % portunity at the close of the sale & a few words of farewell to tha f*. ! £ present. Mr Matson had for eomo £? f' past acted as assistant aalestnan tatJb* If Thomas, and besides quickly develop ' I peciUiar aptitude as an auctioneer S' f" made a wide circle of warm'faT I Young Mr Matson, as is pretty ™«Z* I known, is leaving Ashburton audhV ** I' up in Christchurch the important d? I' that had been so ably conducted Li i brother, the late Mr John T. Matsoff* I All will wish the young and promC* I salesman every success. §' Wedding at Ashburton There ** I large assemblage in St. Stephen's Ch™ 1 Ashburton, yesterday afternoon. t. B 3 I sion being the marriage of Mr &JT"' I' Rayner, son of Mr Henry Bw_!!r*_ 1 Christchurch, with Misa Li..i a ' P I daughter of Mr Jam.B Lane, the ___S? I proprietor of the Somerset HouF v - wedding waß a very pretty one,and? I marriage ceremony was performed by » 1 Rev. B. A. Scott, whonfterward«_d.resH 1 a few kindly words of congratulation «_1 . advice to the newly wedded «mpl. t\ I bride and bridegroom shortly dte*m*j! ! leaving the building aroidsi aWteriT? ! rice aud rose leaves. A large p_fa ™J 1 hospitably entertained at the reßidcno. d I the bride's father, when a nnmbo* _ I toasts appropriate to the oec&tioa vm I honoured. ' s f P«KBB_,BTON LAWN TItNNIS C_oß.~l | general meeting of this Club ■«___}_« F Monday evening. Thore was a very gttf I attendance, aud the Rev. W. F. KboblS S occupied the chair. Tbe rules dra!^b | the Committee at a former meetiaj* trwj § amended aud adopted by "flu* Ci_& I Thursday, D.cember 22nd, waa fixed <* 1 the opening day, when members ehcsl' 1 have the privilege of iuviting friendsca, 1 side the district, and the ladies I resolved to form themselves into aOsai, | mittee to arrange about refreshment-! ft* 1 the afternoon. Mr Low's offer to mow ti» I lawnß when required was accepted »•& 1 tbanks, and the Secretary was empofrejed 1 to obtain additional material as soon v I possible. It was decided tliat the colonrt 1 of the Club ahould be white and blue, I St. John's Chuuch, Eangio_a~oß I Monday evening there waa a lull ateai. I ance at tho usual vestry meati_|* ct §t I John's Church, the Rev. F. P. Fendai! ia I the chair. The question of a mouumeat t* 1 the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley *■*••» $& 1 cussed, and it was suggested that th* 1 completion of the tower and spite o" \ia 1 St. John's Church would ba a suitatU 1 work to carry out. The matter was t&fe-a 1 up with a good deal of interest, ar.d it n* § decided to further discuss the quoati*. al | another meeting. The erection o* 11 3 | tower, which was included in MtB.W, I Mountf ort'_ original design of the fell, | ; would provide accommodation fa; t-s f organ and belfry. Its cost k*. | about .£570, and would, if carried out, ad* | greatly to the finish of the chtjreS "build* f ing. It was expected that the usu.** § friends of the late Archdeacon would mh | to see a substantial and ap.ro.n&te | memorial erected to his memory. g Th.ateh RoTAt-.—-"Pepita" with it* |{ bright dresses, pretty music, and attracUrs 0 I dancing has evidently taken tbe fancy o( I Christchurch opera goers, as last | there was a crowded and onthuaisitia | | audience. All the principal songs wers 1 I encored, the duet "Ky excellent friondj ft ! Bombardos" receiving a triple complim-mti I The dancing of "Ta ra" alao .resit-d | quite a furore being redemaaded | times. To-night, it may be noted, >. | positively the last occasion upon which | " Pepita" can be played as it has to he | withdrawn to enable the farewell f.;r< | formances of the " Yeomen of tho Guntd" | ( and '* The Mikado" to be given. Tho.a | therefore who have not yet seen •'_\?pita" | will not be able to do so unless they go 1 this evening, - I Paiza Essat Co_tPSTiTiow.-—The exfttat* | nation of the papers written upon Mr | Jude's prize essay children's aervico hu\ 1 at last been completed. The unlocked for 1 and muoh to be regretted delay ha. heca I occasioned through the temporary loss ct * Mr Wyatt-Patton's travelling-case, «!«'''• | contained all the essays and which ha | only recently been recovered. The Eov, $ C. M. Nelson, M.A., Cantab, Examistßg | Chaplain to the Bishop of Auckland, sho j kindly acted aa principal adjudicator, | writes: —" I have gone very carelaUJ | through the compositions, and the nintto j of decision has beau by no means eoa?. | Much intelligence has been shown is jj j nearly all the papers, and the four that 1 j deem the best are really excellent produc» | 1 tions. They are the essays of «•«?• | Croxton, Leonard Wilkina, Alice w$ I Annie C. Finlayson." In accordaac. w-w r this decision a presentation volume m | the award of one guinea have bees fflfcj * forwarded to Miss Mabel Croxton. | Sir A. GOi-DOtf.—The London «««•• j pondeut of tbe writes .—Sir Arts'" | Gordon has been on a pil gr image of rceoa- | cUiation to Hawarden. Some I wrote that he had at last made «_> W mind to descend on the Gladetonjan it' . of the fence after balancing for a ga-;" j while as a Liberal Unionist. The "J i Government inconsiderately refased v make him a peer, and Sir John Oow*, » « stead of himself, was nominated as w* | didate for Cambridge Dniversity. A_ *Jj i tinct union of hearts has, howevor, oxurg for forty or fifty years past bctwewjlj Arthur and Mr Gladstone, The.fceg statesman as far back as 1850, while J* ing in the comparatively humble eaptfWJ of Private Secretary to the late Jj* j Aberdeen, was one of the main nt«r» \ ments in the great work of reviving W- j vocation, which had been provoi-oed g ■ 1717. Sir Arthur was thus for »*W_ j months hand-in-glove with all the g j Bishops, and his \ less be of service to Mr Gladstone m*■ j forthcoming disestablishment o»«P^ e | Waimakabib- Habboob BoAßo 'rfe.ld ! monthly meeting of tbis Board wm** \ at the Kaiapoi Municipal Chamtia- ] Monday evening. - KjJ" J j Moore (chairman) B. H. J tt Horrell, W. Doubieday and W. ftJJJ Letters were read. From ment, forwarding **^JSn& Kestrel on tne par ?*'~x l ~« _ n ? requesting to oe informed of ; J future casualfeiea. *••"*« " BOt lo reply that the Board was » aware P of any accident such « ttjjJJ ferred to, and would report all omow» as desired. The signalman's repor* Lined nothing of imporfeaace. }g inwards for the month were * w g^ tons. ,^ VtSoS was stated to be M® 15 Jj* Af JB2I 0a 5d were passed. Mc maa of the Works «P* Mr Baker had been engaged JS& and when Company's wharf was would probably this week clean in -oa M_ Shns* wharf, and be kept "J February. After pas Bin some lot" SS'theßoard tSeu Beautiful, Flowers. brld«i| brldeemaids' and hand gq«e*|, m

.- _-»»_**ttY Bowling CLtrß.--A meefc€Al 7sfeMembers of the above Club H SS in the Pavilion this evening. -~}• behemi 0a _ London corres . W__fSS«« that the Earl of BurP° n / e *L\f is now visiting New Zealand, tot hZ and the Heir Apparent as •*® d „I.™ when he was baptised two **^*^-SI_ r __A forest fete snd sale of f f Steepened at the Trinity Con«Anal schoolroom this afternoon, at P*fZ aid of tbe church fencing fund. 8 *u\ he OF 1 * iB th * evenin S' and also Kj.isorroj. p amWoM> __ At Mr Buss's salsrooms yesterday the privilege of * wtw kKSs booth at the North Canter- **■ pa ace?«a-* taken -v Mr w - A - Ta y lor bary jit The yards, sports, card 3, and booth were not disposed of. Recipients.—A list of eHA «M of those persons in receipt of ??S& *d and within the <*** of o roh may be seen at the City °SJ__«As_ocTATiON.--The half-yearly r!ri_ ff of the Canterbury and Westland "_*_** st Association will be opened toffrow at the Baptist Church, Lincoln **j j, t; 11.30 a.m. there will be a devof*Z\ meeting, and at 2 p.m. the session •jlcommence. In the evening at six "Vbckthere will be a tea, and at 7.30 a bSc meeting, when several, addresses Sije Slivered L _so«-j Day Demonstration. —As will *k*,«e_. jjy reference to a notification else- *«* the Labour Day Demonstration will T jKfl on the 16th inst., on the Riccarton i_jßs._rse, and will comprise a monster %«je trade competitions, sports of Ert<y_B kinds, while members of several S e3 will practically illustrate their Jgnditrork* The Committee will provide boiling water gratis for the convenience ff those desirous of making their own j_re_iNa.**-At the Eangitata on Tuesday Eorning,' bet-ween 5.30 and 9 o'clock, Dr. •ffati'n-*, of London, now on a fishing *_.nr-ion to Temaka, caught twelve fish, scaling SO-J-lb; and Mr Nicholas, "The veteran,"' nine, weighing 46£ib. In "Edition to the above, four kawhat, weaging 71b, were caught. The latter M are coming into the mouth of the litrer in shoals, and take the Devon freely. f_e trout were taken with a whitebait Wa_.hah School. —Owing to a mild of influenza, a large number of children attending this sohool are absent iast now, including several of those who vera to take leading parts in the concert is aid o" the children's prize fund to have {gen held on Wednesday, 7th inst., in the Oddfellows' Hall, Sydenham, which, in goasequence, has had to be postponed __til such time as the children to take jjart in it can attend. It is extremely safortttsate there should be sickness in $3i3 school just now, as every endeavour had |been made to make the entertainment a complete success, the teachers having bestowed a great amount of care and attention on its preparation. ' Aua.eub Orchestral Society.—The programme of the first concert of the ixsafceur Orchestral Society for the prefgQt season, which will be given in the Qddf-Uowa' Hall on Monday, December i_th, appears elsewhere. It is a very attraetire one. The vocal soloists will be Siss li. Wood and Mr H. Weir. Miss Wood will sing "The Flight of Ages," by B_van, sod " Caro Mio Ben." Mr Weir's ti?o solos comprise " Happy with winged lest,* from the new opera of "Ivanhoo," sad Campana's "Evening bringeth my .katt back to thee." Mr JF. M. Wallace plays a violin solo," La Folia," by CorreUi. fti& principal numbers for the orchestra will be Mozart's overture •' Titus," Beethoven's Symphony in C, op. 21 j selection JT-m " C-valieria Rusticana," and a suite, *If"Ariesienne," by Bizet, the composer of * Carmen." The plan of the reserved pts will open on Friday next at Miiner lad Thompson's. Ihportant Land Sam.—-A sub-division rfoaeof the prettiest estates in ChristsirErch, as well as one of the most con"nmient to the city will take place on B*e_nber 20fch. This is the sale by Mr .Cimrles Clark, under instructions from Hrs Marion Matson's-trustees, of the two estates, Springfield and Myrniong. The kaier has been divided into two blocks, sss fronting on the Papanui road and lanes' road and the other on Innes' road tad a chain road to be formed. The bat block comprises eighteen sections of from half to three quarters of an acre -ia each, having from 150 to 250 link 3 fesatage on "the Papanui road and Innes' ' KJsd. The chain road, which it is understood is to be known as-Victoria Avenue, •rill ma through the centre of the block sad along the homestead block into l.Des' road, giving perfect road accom-Sttd-tion. The situation and quality of the laad doe_ not require any comment. The *-*_- block comprises three sections on a "wll fronting Innes* road. Then there is . ihat may be called the homestead block, eocaoriaing 12 acres, prettily laid ont, and th. house. With the advantages of tram find coach service, the property is very do*, to town. Myrniong is also prettily situate aad comprises 6_ acres and the iottse. No doubt there will be keen com* .station-for both properties, as no land __a been obtainable near Springfield for soma time past. Ak Ih_o_p__u_-n-ED Oarsman. — The fes. states that an amusing scene was fiituea-ed at the Star Boating Club sheds, Wellington, the other afternoon. An iadifidual who had made his way into tha sheds uninvited was standing on the ik-d. when a member of the Club came in otoai a row. The stranger asked if he ■aight have a spin, and the returning •asaiber, concluding that he had a right «hwe he was, resigned his sculler to him. past-anger went out fully clothed, but «*4aotgot mors than a few yards from fee skids before it was evident that he jssild not row, and his efforts to manage «J craft caused much amusement amongst fese who were watching the Club races, pst a brief struggle the boat turned ht-tie, aad the would-be sculler was «w>*ni into the water. He seized an outrigger, -«_■£ the result that the boat i-med round with him and immersed him **fsatedly, amidst roars of laughter. It *"■» soon seen, however, that there was a •"-sums aspect to the matter, as the man _""jMi not swim, and seemed incapable of -.lisping himself, so a boat was launched "•JAgat off to his assistance; but a boat **_*hieh some coxswains were paddling ®x*& reached him first, aud effected a *sea&

?SC*fXSEOS MAC-tIIiLAN BSOWN. —OttT i*n-l.a correspondent, writing on October f&, .says:—Tour good townsman, Pro-*<-**of J. Macxmllan Brown, though he •*** locked at London through the iuxu- !*■*•• "spectacles of the Hotel Metropole, is |J co means "enthused*" with London or *"*-_*aad. Coming over with very exalted he and his wife are going back *tta a very strong idea that New Zealand ™ -"est after aIL I always, or nearly «*sys, find that visitors from the colofor the first few months, are disg?*** *»ith London. Then they grow to p7 B ,«» aa d it is perhaps, just as well that **"»esao_ Brown ia going back before he r,* 6 * 3 " seduced into too great a liking «*: the manifold attractions of the " little fc S *« s *" It would not do for him to get t "-"fard Christchurch as par-*chiaL He g*? 6 *"* a good deal of his old pupil, Mr ""■"Rati "Watson, since he has been over Jgafd will be able to tell w all and on his return what good way Mr *«_*_. is r___dng in literary and jaurcircles here. & 2ba___k_» Pboducb at Hosts.—Mr Perceval has written to the Chief lector of Dairy Factories that he is fe_* g forward to a very successful season SL**-* Zealand butter. The Agentadds—" The article has now got a g-jPfc-*---". the London market, and it will sL v , J -**t of producers if they do not of their opportunity. The t**w.""" fc "*_ Beat * if «" h *** quality is good, gjj*?.*l>* Prices that will be got."— a writes to the Bawkt's Bay Miv% ™"*emove the current belief that i_ii*rT aad fcozea meat *** not Baat to W_S na _* a - He says that his Company •'-teaTr- Btores at Biraiingham, Cardiff, sS*f«*pM!, Manchester, Newcastle. #_y^ to *-«rect three new ones in "**•*__ ? i . vatt y districts. Last year through 329,774 sheep. 53,840 lamßs, of beef and 14/365 were distributed in the

Volley Fn.iNO.-The City Guards will do tnerr volley and independent firing on Saturday afternoon next, expresses leavine Cathedral square at 3.30 and 4 30 MiniStkriai, Movemsnts.—The Hon. A. J. Cadman, Native Minister, left for bouth by the express yesterday morning, n iv he -nr Hcm * E * J * Seddon, Minister for Public Works, left for Wellington yesterday afternoon.

S-trbmb Court.—His Honour Mr Justtce Dennistoa sat in chambers and in bankruptcy yesterday morning, and disof posed the cases on the list. To-day the nisi prius sitting will be continued, when the case of Kinley v Wakelin will betaken before the Judge alone at 10.30 a.m. Girls' Friendly Society.—The annual meetingof the G.F.S. was held yesterday afternoon at the recreation room. There was a good attendance, including several clergymen, A report appears elsewhere. Holiday Crickbt.—The following will play for J. Ballantyne and Co. v D.I.C. at Hag ley Park to-morrow at 2 o'clock : — Messrs Triggs, Ricketts, Seager, Gurney, Price, Wilson, Main, Brown, Neilson, Andrew, Cowie; emergencies —- Davis, Johnson, Forbes.

Thbatbical.—The Kennedy Dramatic Company passed through Christchurch en route for Invercargill, where they play a short season, after which they will work South. Among the members of the company are Mrs Hill, Messrs Kennedy (2) and Saville. Mr J. A. Montgomery, advance agent, also accompanied the company.

Ob-To-ab,-.—Mr William Bradley, one of the longest settled and most respected of the residents at West Eyreton, died somewhat suddenly on Monday. Though in delicate health for some time he was not taken seriously ill till Sunday. Not only will his family but a large circle of cquainsan.es mourn h*3 loss. Water Supply.—A meeting Of the Waimakariri Ashley Water Supply Board was held at the Rangiora Municipal Chamber yesterday. Present —Messrs J. Dobson (chairman), E. Wilder, E. Chapman, J. Smith, and T. Pashby. It wa3 decided to submit the Rock Ford scheme to the ratepayers at an early date, and that the local Boards be asked to fix days and places of meeting. Accounts, .£63 93 9d, were passed, and the Board adjourned.

Smuggled Tobacco.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Timaru, yesterday morning, before Captain Sutter and Mr Melville Gray, J.P.s, a youth named Higginbotham, steward of the barque Ganymede, which arrived from Newcastle on Sunday, was charged with smuggling 31b of tobacco. He pleaded " Guilty " and was fined 395, the treble value of the smuggled goods. He was caught trying to sell the tobacco in the streets. Smuggling among sailors is becoming quite a common practice in Timaru, and the police intend to take severe steps to stop it.

Thh Volunteers. —A daylight battalion parade of the City Rifle Companies took place last night. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon was in command with Major Richards, and Lieutenant Day .acted as adjutant. The following was the parade state of tha various companies:—City Guards, Captain Massey. 27; College Rifles, Colour-Sergeant Smith, 28; Christchurch Rifles, Captain Andrews, 28; A Company, Captain Whitesides, 44; Scottish Rifles, Captain Ross, 33; Richmond Rifles, Captain Bowron, 14; Garrison Band, Bandmaster Searell, 18 ; total, 192. The battalion marched to Hagley Park, and had an hour and a half of good drill.

Bazaab.—-A bazaar was opened yesterday afternoon in connection with the Bible Christian Church, Lower High street, by the Mayor, Mr W. Prudhoa. There was a good attendance of visitors, and the schoolroom, which has been fitted up with stalls, Sec, was nicely decorated. The bazaar was projected in aid of a fund for reducing the debt on the schoolhouse aud land. The various lady stallkeepers did a brisk business during the day and in the evening. The bazaar will be open again to-day through the day and.in the evening. Cash Amateur Cyclists* Club.—The weekly meeting of this Club was held last evening, in the Club rooms, Mr W. E. Thompson in the chair. A lot of correspondence was dealt with in connection with the cycling carnival to be held on anniversary day and December 17th. Telegrams were read from members "of the Australian team, who are passengers on the Waihora, and it was decided to invite all cyolists to meet the team at the railway station on Thursday morning. Tickets for the reception to be held in the evening were reported to be going off very well. Two new members were elected, and the meeting closed after disposing of some routine business.

Tima-vd* WoOi Salb.—The first wool sale of the season was held at the Assembly Rooms, Timaru, yesterday, and as the catalogue comprised nearly 4000 bales it was late in the afternoon before the last lots were submitted. The attendance of buyers, Home and colonial representatives, was large, and there was also a large number of woolgrowers, farmers, and others interested present. Very few lots were passed, thus showing that sellers were very satisfied with the prices realised. The wool was on view at the various warehouses, and many of the lots were exceedingly good. Some scoured was about the best ever seen at Timaru. Halfbreds realised 6£i to 9d, threequarterbred 6d to Bd, crossbred 5d to 7_u_ merino 4_d to 6_d. Compared with the opening sales last year crossbreds were 2_d to |d lower, merino about on a par. STD-WHAM PosTAit Aebangbmbnts.—-A deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Sydenham, Crs. Forrester, Booth, Taylor and Smith and Mr J. Forest, waited yesterday morning upon Mr D. Cuming, acting Chief Postmaster, and pointed out that the proposed arrangements for the delivery of the whole of the letters in Sydenham by carriers and doing away with the r counter delivery at the local office would be a great inconvenience to the business people, chiefly on account of the delay and there being no delivery on Saturday; afternoons. Mr Cuming explained that it was proposed to do away with the sorting of letters in Sydenham and make Christchurch the central sorting and delivery station, and carry out the system that was in force in. all the other large towns. The convenience, of the residents of the borough would be studied as far as possible. The deputation considered that the proposed arrangements would be a retrograde movement, and it is probable a petition will be got up and sent to the Postmaster-General protesting agaiust doing away with the counter delivery in Sydenham. A Happx Sugq-bstion.-—As is now pretty generally known through the advertising columns of the Passe, Mr John Deans has decided to cub up the historic estate of Riccarton, and submit it in convenient sized sections at auction on the 22nd inst. Mr John T. Matson will act as auctioneer on the occasion, the »sale having been placed in the hands of Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with the .National Mortgage and Agency Company). The estate to be submitted comprises 150 acres, and this has been subdivided into 105 lots. In order to carry out this subdivision it has become necessary to lay out roads. These have been, aa will be seen on reference to them, very happily named when the great pains taken by Mr Deans, sen., in conserving the native forest trees is remembered. It is also noticeable that in these the Maori names are perpetuated, a state of things which is exceedingly in keeping with the home of the earliest settlers on these plains. The streets have been named as under *—Tarata (white matipo), Hinau (honeysuckle), EAkikatea (white pine), Rarauke (fern), Puriri (wormwood), Kouini (fuchsia), Koran (flax stick), Toi (tai toi), Matai (black pine), Totara, Harakeke (flax). Artistic.—Edek Gkobqk Company, L mi-ED, the leading photographers of Christchurch, are now producing from their new workrooms in Worcester street the most beautiful and artistic photographic work ever seen in New Zealand. Persons holding deposit tickets are re minded that they only remain good until December 31st, and as a great rush is expected the last two weeks holders of deposit tickets should sit early and avoid the crush. All opals and portraits are now finished In a fortnight, as owing; to our new workrooms proving such a success we are able to produce 1500 prints per day.—CAnvr.) Standish and Pbbbcb nave just completed extensive alterations to their studio, and their new dhmlay of photoJSpfcs is well worth a viaUs-LAovxl

Hotei. Changes.—lt is understood that Mr H. J. Pick, formerly of the Club Hotel, Rangiora, has arranged to enter upon the Criterion Hotel, at Ashburton. Theological Debate. — A debate has been arranged between Mr Wallace Nelson and the Rev. J. Hosking, to take place at the East Oxford Town Hall on Thursday evening, on the subject of " The Existence of God."

Cyclino.—-A Dunedin telegram says that a_t the outcome of the dispute among members of the Dunedin Cycling Club as to the ground on which the championship meeting should be held a new cycling Club has been formed, which is expected to start with fifty men-bars. The Australian cash amateurs who compete at the Christchurch Cycling Meeting arrived at Dunedin yesterday. Police News.—A youth aged nineteen, was arrested yesterday by Detective R. Neill, on a charge of breaking into the house of Mr John Lambert, Middle Lincoln road, and stealing various articles value 19s, on or about the 4th instant. Detective Benjamin last evening arrested a woman on a charge of stealing a gold mounted umbrella value _23, the property of Miss A. Eccles, from the Christchurch Railway Station yesterday. Death op a Maori Chief. —New 9 has been received, says a Wellington telegram, of the sudden death ot Taonui Hikaka, the well-known chief of the Ngatimaniapotos. He was a very large land owner, dwelling upon his ancestral lands in Upper Mokau, and was possessed of a great mana. His defection completed the breaking down of the isolation which had been created in the King Country. He was about fifty years of age, and was descended in a direct line from Horotoria, captain of the canoe Tainui.

Mr Knott's Recitations. — The St. Asaph street United Methodist Church was filled last evening by an appreciative audience, when Mr J. Knott recited the poem "Enoch Arden." Mr Knott has evidently made a careful study of the piece, and gave it with much feeling and effect. A collection taken up_was divided between the Church and Mr i-uotc.