NEWS THE DAY.

Boahb of Education. —A meeting of the Board of Education will be held at the Normal school, at 3 pan. this day.

Kaiatoi Borough School —The distribution of prizes at this school has been arranged to take place on Friday afternoon.

OrpoßD B.M. CJoubt.—The next sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. FaiBKDLT SOCIKTIBB.—It is notified that the Government has appointed Mr .William Robert Edward Brown Registrar of Friendly Societies, under The Friendly Societies Act, 1877.

Geeaidotk IC&aieTßiaEs's Ooosr.—By proclamation in the " Gazette " of the 13th instant, the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Conrt for the GeraMcn district is extended to £100. * -

Ahmed Gohbtabvxaby. — Sub-Inxpeetor William Airy Richardson has been appointed Firet-daa* Inspector, and Sub-loepector Forster Yelverton Goring Seeond-Olaee Inspector ; their commissions date from August 17£h,1874. jt ..v. .x,--,7. vsy, UJt!

Thb Bbibbbt Cabb.—At the meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club yesterday, it was announced that the stewards of the Metro* politan Meeting had decided to remove the disqualification from Matthews, the rider of Bribery in the Railway Plate. Woodbitd.—A public meeting will he held here on Friday, to obtain an expression of opinion on the question of making a grant to the Waimakariri Harbour Board from the Bo id Board funds.

HPKRMAKKNT INTKBTMKHT ASSOCIATION.— A special general meeting of the Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Canter* bury will be held in Mr C. Clark's auctionroom, at 7-30 on the evening of the 28th instant.

Railway Aheangements. —lt is notified that trains on the Lyttelton and Christchurch lino will be run on Christmas Day as they usually are run on Sundays, and that the ordinary trains will be run on the North and South lines and their branches. The ordinary trains will be run on all the lines on Boxing Day. For minute . particulars, readers are referred to the advertisement.

Pbospkctivb Picuio.—At a meeting held at the Scotch Stores last night it wu resolved that a picnic should he held at Samner on Boxing Day by the employees of city merchant*. A committee was appointed to wait upon the employers, and it was resolved that another meeting should he held on Friday evening, at the Scotch Stores, to make final arrangements. St. Michael's.—The last of the present series of entertainments will he held this evening in the new schoolroom, and promisee to be thoroughly enjoyable. In addition to an attractive musical programme, the magic lantern of Professor Bickerton will be a special feature for the second part of the evening. The proceeds will be given to the Sunday School funds. Accident at Oxpobd.—On Wednesday a German named BZoff, employed by Mr Lee at bis saw-mill as a casual hand, while feeding the circular saw placed his right hand on it, the raw indicting a serious wound across the middle of the hand. He wae removed to Dr. Weld's surgery, and was subsequently forwarded to the Chrietchurch Hospital.

Cbiokbt at Sbfton. —A match between elevens of the Seffcon and Rangiora clubs was played at Seffcon on Saturday. The scores made in both innings were Sefton, 85; Bangiora, 86, with three wickets up. The players were entertained at an excellent lunch at Bamsay'a Sefton hotel, by the home team.

Pbopebty Salb. —Mr Charles Clark held a sale of town and rural land at his office in Hereford street yesterday, at which there was a good attendance, and the following sales effected:—A six-roomed house and hind in Gloucester street for £675 ; a twenty acre section at the Sandhills at £4 7e 6d per acre ; two allotments in the township of Lincoln for £33 each, and a small cottage and parcel of land in Harper street for £165. The remain* ing properties not sold at auction are under offer by private treaty.

SIGWOBA G-UADAGNINI'e BbWKFIT.—It ifl, perhaps, unnecessary to remind opera-goere that the benefit of Signora Guadagnini is fixed for this evening, when the euccessful opera of "Aida" will be repeated. Aβ an artiste, Signora Guadagnini has established herself in the front rank of favorites with the Chrietchurca public, and we hope to see her receive this evening, as no doubt she will, a bumper house. Mubioal Union.—The last concert of the season in connection with the Mneical Union will be given this afternoon in St. Michael's schoolroom. The work selected is Haydn's " Creation." The principal soprano solos will be sung by Signora Caranti Vita, the other soloists being Miss A. S. Taylor, Dr. Haaat, Mr Knox, and Mr Appleby. City Coxrsoiiu —At the annual meeting of the City Council held yesterday, Mr Henry Thomson was duly installed as Mayor for the ensuing year. A number of ex-Mayors, ex* Councillors, and other gentlemen were present, (and, the formal "busineßß having been disposed of, a number of toasts were proposed and responded to, the speeches embracing ft variety of subjects. A report appears else-,. where. '■/■■

Ohoka and Btbeton Spoetb. —Every preparation for these sports on Boxing Day is. now being made to render them very successful. There will, no doubt, be a large attendance. On Tuesday, Mr Buss, at auction, sold the privileges, viz, booth to Mr W. Bornip, Kaiapoi, £36; confectioner's stall to Mr J. Lewton, Bangiora, £5. It is expected that the committee will engage the services of a good band for the occasion.

Kaiapoi Pabish. —A meeting of the vestry of this parish was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs C. Whitefoord, churchwarden (in the chair), Porter, Revell, and Dr. Dudley. It was resolved that the stipend of £25 to the Eev. W. H. Elton for his services during the past month be paid. It was decided that application be made to the Diocesan Treasurer for the grant now due. A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Mr Elton for his valuable and efficient services in the parish during the past -month. The members of the vestry afterwards waited upon the rev. gentleman to take their leave of himself and Mrs Elton befoxe their departure for Hokitika.

Nobthbbn Railway.—The preparations for changing the gauge on this fine were fairly begun on Wednesday morning by a large party of workmen. The change in the gauge is effected by reducing the width of the present gauge sft. 3in. to 3ft. 6in., by bringing in one of the rails. AH along the line the spikes have been drawn in every other chair, and at the crossings the new gauge has been put in, therefore the work of last night and to-day will be to bring one rail nearer to the other for a total distance of thirty-four miles from Chrietchurch to Amberley. The work of altering the sidings will be done i afterwards. Special trains with men and \ material will be kept going till the work is finished. The workmen will be boarded at Papanui, Kaiapoi, Bangiora, Ashley, Sefton, and Amberley, at whichjplaces properfarrangemente have been made with hotel-keepers for a plentiful supply of food and beds. SwAnhahoa.—The Weskyan Church and Sunday school services were preached here on Sunday by the Rev. W. Lee. On each occasion, there was a full congregation. On Tuesday, a tea meeting was held, at which there was a large concourse of persons present. The tea was provided by lady members of the congregation. The public meeting afterwards was presided over by Mr James Thompson. Mr Joseph Thompson read the report of the progress in connection with the church and school, which was considered to be highly satisfactory. The Beys. W. Cannell and J. A. Luxford, and Messrs Thompson and Graham delivered addresses. A choir of church members from Bangiora and Southbrook contributed the music, ably assisted by Mrs Cannell, who presided at the harmonium. Hearty votes or thanks to all who had assisted to render the meeting a success were passed. The meeting then terminated.

Tub Opbba.— "Pipele" was repeated last lasterening at the Theatre Royal and went moat successfully throughout. Signore Vita and Venoeta both sang and acted with great humour and vivacity, and Signer Teeaada's Pipele was a wonderfully clever performance. Signori Gambetti, Paladini, and Cesari slso rendered their parts with much precision and force. Hie aolo playing of Signer Cescbina on the contra baaeo wti a nat musical treat. His first solo was a fantasia on airs from " Iα Sonnambula," which was beautifully played. Signer Cesebina produced a tone of such sweetness, and yet volume, as almost to resemble the human Toioe. Hie variations are marvels of execution, ranging as they do through the most florid passages with such precision and clearness as to be almost wonderful, when the unwieldy nature of the instrument is considered. ,In response to an enthusiastic encore he played the'" Carnival of Venice" with the came facility of execution of the running passages aa if he were playing a violin. Such a rare treat has never before been afforded us. His other solo was & fantasia on aim from " Poliuto," and was played with equal artistic finish. We hope before the company leave us onoe more to hear Signer Ceechina'a admirable solos, as they in uiemeelvee form an era in instrumental mask) here. To-night I " Aida " will be repxoduead lor tibff benefit of Sjgaozs Guad&gnini. .". :