News of the Day.

The Supplemental English Mail.— Mr. Dick . informs us that the mail for England per Albion , will close at noon to-day, and lor tho Australian Colonies at one o'clock p.m. The steamer, there* love, may be expected to arrive on the forenoon's tide, and to sail about two o'clock. Masonic Hall. — Mr. Neville Thornton has been i engaged by the Freemasons to paint a set of scenery, i and to decorate the stage of their hall (hitherto known as tho Assembly-rooms, in Trafalgar-street). The work is in progress, and so far as we can judge, Mr. Thornton's employers will have no rdason to regret having entrusted thoir work to so excellent an artist. The interior flat is rich in detail, the colour bright, though perfectly harmonious, and being relieved by bright gold mounting, the effect is very agreeable. A landscape is now commenced, the view being, we believe, Lake Maggiore, and it promises to be also a bold and effective scene. We under1 stand it is intended to place the latter at the disI posal of the Art Committee of the Exhibition, and s we are sure it will bo worthy a place in one of the Exhibition rooms. Mr. Thornton has entered al^o upon a projsct, on his own responsibility, but under 1 the sanction of the Freemasons, to paint an " Adver- • tising Drop Curtain " for the proscenium. This, although a novelty here, is by no means unknown iv t Australia and in New Zealand also, it having been introduced into many of the larger theatres. The curtain is elegantly designed, and painted in columns • with ribbons, medallions, and entablatures in various colours, with the Royai Arms in the centre, and other devices surrounding. In these entablatures trade advertisements will be inscribed in letters of gold, silver, and colours, the painter's "remuneration " being the income from the advertising charges. It will be at least a more agreeable object than a dark green curtain for the eye to rest on during the intervals of a dramatic entertainment, and we believe that when the present works of improvement are ' completed, the Masonic Hall will be a well appointed and pleasant little theatre and concert-room. " Choeal Union. — The second rehearsal for the town was held in the Harmonic Society's room, 1 Trafalgar Square, on Tuesday evening. Notwith- \ standing the absence of a considerable number of j those who had responded to the invitations, there 3 was bo large an attendance, both of voices and instruments, that the volume of sound was almost ' overpowering in the comparatively and proportionj ately small room. Most of the pieces were gone - through, and chorus and orchestra seemed to blend excellently for a first trial. On next Tuesday evening and subsequent rehearsals it is hoped that all who have promised will endeavour to attend, so that • due justice may be done at the concert. The solos L and duets having been "cast," it is probable that - the programme may be proceeded with iv its regu- \ lar order. Members of the orchestra can bo supplied with their instrumental parts on application to Mr. Stanton, so that they may be able to practice them at home individually. The music has been " forwarded to the various centres in the country, and 3 favourable reports have been received from Stoke, I Richmond, Spring Grove, aud other places, where | practices are already being held. 3 Bank of New Zealand.— lt will be noticed that s the dividend and bonus declared at the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of tho Bank of New Zealand at Aucklaud, on, the 22nd instaut (at the " rate of 10 per cent, and 2^ per cent, per annum), r was payable at all the offices on the 24th instant.

The Custom- House. — The Westport Times state thnt Mr. Rodgerson, who has lately been Acting Collector at Westport, is about to return to Nelson The Cf.ntbal Ram Show. — It will be observe! that this show will take place on the 12th, in plac of the 1 Otli November. The date ior which it wa first, fixed (the lOlh), is the anniversary of the birth day of the Prince of Wales; and the 11th is th clay of the elections. It was prudent, therefore, t postpone the exhibition till the day now namedWednesday, the 12th November. The Electoral Roll pob the Peovi> tee.—Tht cc.— Th new roll of the names of persons entitled to vot« ii the election of the Superintendent of the Provinc has now been published. It embraces 4,169, o about I,IOP more than tho number on the last roll The new names are chiefly of electors in the miniiij districts. Appointments. — The following appointments ii the Post Office in the Province of Nelson have beei gazetted : — To bo Postmasters : Hermann Landon German Terrace (September 1) ; Greorge Mcßeath No Town (August 1.) ; Froderick Davis,' Nelsoi Creek (September 1.) ; W. H. Phillips, Sherrj (July 1.) ; Charies Orchard, Tadmor (July 1.) William Campbell, Twelve Mile (August 1.) ; Lev Buck, Westport (September 1.) Post Office Closed. — We observe from th< Gazette that the Postmaster-general has closed th< post-office ut Wangapeka, in this proviuce. " Canteiiihjrv; Pilgrims." — It will be pleasan to those who propose to visit Christchurch during the race meeting to learn that a special trip hai been arranged by the New Zealand Steam Snipping Company for the occasion. The Ladybird wil leave Nelson for Lyttelton via Picton and Welling ton, on the Bth November, and will reach Lytteltoi in time for the races (which take ' place on the lltl 12th, and 13th). The agricultural show takei place on the 13th. The steamer will sail from Lyt telton on the return trip on the 14th, and the fan for the trip, there and back, is only eighty shillings The National Insurance Company. — The Dun edin newspapers sympathise with the directors ol the National Insurance Company in the task or which they are now «Ttgaged — the allocation of ti» shaves in the association. It is stated that eve! since the 22nd instant, when the latest applications were received, the directors had met every evening and gone -on with the work of allocation, but th< applications were so numerous that it was not ex pt-cted the task would be completed before the cut of the present week. One great cause of the delaj was the non-receipt of tho Northern applications foi a fortnight after theperiod for receiving applications had. closed. The Auckland Fire. — In a letter received yesterday from Auckland we are told that the ruins ol the late lire were still burning, at thirteen days from (he date of conflagration. This will give some idea of the mass of bulk goods, closely waruhoused,.whicli has been destroyed. The insurance losses will be found to bo over £'10,000, and the proportion to the various offices will be something like the following : — New Zealand, over £20,000 ; South British, £8,000; Victoria, £9,000 ; Northorn, £3,000 ; Norwich Union, £1,100. At length tho inhabitants ol the "City of Fires" seem to be awakened to a coir vietion of the necessity of obtaining an adequate water supply.