LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Metropolitan Show Pbizbs.— The value of the various prizes awarded at the MetroPliUin Show amounts to £819 11s. Thb Avon Road Board.— This Board, at their meeting on Monday last, after long deliberation, resolved that in any part of their district where land was cut up and sold for building allotments, no roads would be taken over by them of a less width than 50 feet. •*Matobaii Election.-^Up to noon to-day, the hour of closing the nominations for the above election, only those of Messrs Ick and Thomson had been received. The former gentleman was nominated by Messrs H. jawtell and J. Gapes, and the latter by Messrs A., Duncan and J. P. Jameson. The polling will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 27, between the hour of 9 a.in. and 6 p.m. HANDSOMBpBKBBNTTOTnBMDBBUM.— The large handsome garden vase, encircled with a grape vine bearing leaves and fruit artistically worked in fireclay, and which attracted bo much attention on Messi-B Austin and Kirk's stand at the Metropolitan Show, has been presented by that firm to the Museum. The vase is valued at £25. Nbw Zealand National AGiucnLTUHAL Association.— Messrs A. Duncan and John Grigg, two of the delegates from the Canterbury Show, proceeded to Oamaru this morning. The Hon J. Hall, the other delegate, goes down to-morrow. The meeting ot the delegates from Otago, Invcrcargill, Christchurch, Oamaru, and other places will be held on Saturday, after the Oamaru Show, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of forming an Association to be called the National Agricultural and Pastoral Association of New Zealand. Harper Street Sunday Schools— Sermons in aid of the above school were preached on Sunday last, in tho Colombo road Wesleyan Church. The attendance was largo on each occasion, the church, in tho evening, being crowded to excess. The children of the school were placed on a raised platform around the pulpit, with very pleasing effect, and sang very effectively under the leadership of Mr George Daltry, who deserves great praise for the manner in which ho has trained the young people. The annual soiree takes place on Thursday evening, when the children will sing again, and several of tho ministers who are attending the District Session will address tho meeting. Soicidb. — At 9 a.m. to-day a man named Henry Cook, gardener at Collins Hotel, reported to Sergeant Beck that Charlea Morgan living near the hotel, had hanged himself. On going to a little shanty at the rear of thb hotel the sergeant found Morgan quite dead, hanging by a ropo which had been fastened to one of tho rafters of tho roof. The body was at once cut down. The act must have been a very deliberate one, as a strap which was fastened to the end of the rope had been passed through a slit in the rafter, this requiring considerable trouble and patience. The deceased, who was well known as the manufacturer of Morgan's oils used to take his meals at tho Provincial Larder, and had tea there at six o'clock on Saturday night. He seemed to be very much depressed then, and told Mr Klingenstein, the proprietor of the restaurant, that he would not live until morning. At 8 o'clock on Sunday evening, Mr Klingenstein went to his place, knocked at the door, and asked him whether he would not come and have something to eat, wh?n he replied that he would have nothing. That seems to have been the last time any communication was held with decessed. No money was found on the body, but on Saturday deceased told Mr Klingenstein that ho had another £5 left yet. SSpoetino.— Natatpr has been scratched for the Wellington Cup.

Thb Suez Mam,.— The outward Suez mail was despatched per s.s. Arawata yesterdays /> Thb Mayob of Lttxemoit.— The^gAiy nomination for the office of Mayor of^fctelton yesterday was Mr Harry Allwright^and that gentleman was : therefore declared las duly elected Mayor for the ensuing year* /^Additions to ; thb ; Hospitai.. — The Colonial Secretary, Rafter inspecting the Hospital last week, expressed a willingness' on the part of the Government to sanction the building of a new operating room, and to recognise the expediency of removing* the public morgue to the Police Dep6t, . . /"The Union Stbam Shipping Company. — It will be^ seen from our Australian telegrams that this Company has made a most important addition to its fleet.; Mr G. M'Lean has purchased on their behalf the well-known steamships Eingarooma, Arawata, ITararua, and Albion. PoptriAß Spobts. — A meeting of the Popular Sportß Committee was called for four o'clock yesterday afternoon, but as it was then, found that some of the members could not be present on account of other engagements of importance, it was arranged that the meeting should be held over until Friday afternoon, TheAtbe RoyAl — Last evening the Irish drama " Peep O' Day Boys," was repeated, and to a fairly good house. The drama played with a much, greater degree of smoothness than on Monday night, and appeared to be well appreciated, the fair scene especially evoking hearty applause. To-night, the evergreen story or " Our Boys" will be re-told, Miss Florence - Colville appearing aa Mary Melrose. , Mayobal Election.— ln connection with the forthcoming Mayoral election an exceed- j ingly well attended meeting of ratepayers was held last evening at Mr Ick's Colombo street i Salerooms, and matters of detail for securing the election of Councillor Ick were considered. It was abundantly evident that a really efficient working committee had been secured, and that all its members were thoroughly in earnest in the work they had in hand. MINISTEBIAi.— In the Press Agency telegram of yesterday, stating that the Premier was expected to leave Wellington for Oamaru on Wednesday (to-day), Oamaru seems to have been substituted by mistake for Kawau. We have reason to know that Sir George Grey intended to start for the latter place to-day. The Hon 3. Macandrew was in Ohristchurch yesterday, and will leave for Dunedin this morning. The Hon R. Stout, who is Immigration Minister as well as Attorney- General, is now at Wellington. IMPOBTATION OF AGEICTTMUBAIi iMPiEMENTS.—The barque Willard Mudyett, which arrived from New York on Monday, brings one of the most valuable cargoes of agricultural implements ever imported into the Colonies. It consists of reaping and binding machines, grass mowers with and without reaping attachments, side delivery reapers, combined harrow and seeder, horse rakes, tsteam threshing machines, lawn mowers, and other implements of less importance. The vessel is consigned to Messrs Wood, Shand, and Co. Tiie Sugar Maple.— Some fine healthy plants of the American giant sugar maple {Acer Saccharinum) have been raised from imported seed, and a result has thus been achieved which was supposed to be- almost unattainable. Mr Armstrong, the curator of the public gardens, is naturally not a little proud of his success, although it must be stated that the six plants were all that were obtained from a large quantity of seed. He anticipates an increase of hisstock by cuttings from a well-grown tree which has been presented to the Domain Board by Mr G. L. Mellish. Fiee. — A lire occurred at about 1 p.m. yesterday in the Eichmond road, a thoroughfare at the rear of the West Christchurch Schools, Lincoln road. The five occurred in a lean-to tenement, the property of Mr Edward Robery, Ashburton, and occupied by two men, named M'Cartliy and M'Donnell. M'Carthy was home to dinner about midday, leaving again before one o'clock, and soon afterwards Mrs Trent, who resides in the neighbourhood, noticed flames about the chimney. _ An alarm was at once given, and the furniture removed, but the building, which was not insured, was speedily burned down. Bakers' Cricket Club.— A meeting of this Club wa9 held last evening at the Golden Fleece Hotel, Mr W. Taylor in the chair. The Secretary reported that six new members had joined the Club since the last meeting. A letter was read from the Rangioro Club, challenging the Bakers' Club to play a match at Eangiora. It was decided to accept the challenge, and play the Eangiora team on Thursday, Dec. 5. The Secretary was instructed to send a challenge to the Eastern C. C, to play a match on Thursday, Nov. 28, on the Haglcy Oakleaf ground. Accounts^ amounting to £9 6s 8d were passed for pay-* ment, and the meeting adjourned. Ihqubst. — An inquest was held yesterday before Dr Coward, District Coroner, upon the body of Elso Maude Guddon, aged one year I and nine months, whose death by drowning has been recorded in our columns. From the evidence given by Mr Cuddon, and a man in his employ named Georgo Hagin, it appears that the child was playing with two others on the lawn, through which there runs a creek. She was missed by her two companions, and was shortly afterwards found by her father and Hagin, who were about to start the waterwheel. The child wa3 floating. Every endeavour was made to restore animation, but, unfortunately, without success.' The inquiry showed that no blame could be attributed to anyone, and the jury returned a . verdict of " Found Drowned." < Tnß Messiah.— The Christchurch Harmonic Society met last coning for the first practice of "The Messiah," which is to be performed at Christmas. There was an attendance of about fifty vocalists, and the rehearsal was a satisfactory otic, though tho absence of a band was felt very decidedly. It is hoped that next week this deficiency will no longer exist. The Messiah has not been performed in Christchurch since the Christmas before last. In order to ensure its effective presentation the Harmonic Society invito the assistance of non-members who aro able to take part in it. Those willing should communicate with the Conductor or.Secretary on or before next Tuesday night, as it is desirable that the rehearsals of tho oratorio should be as complete as possiblo, the joining of vocalists at the oleventh hour being generally found, to mar rather than assist efficiency. ,' Nabhow Escape.— A man named Hon'ry Dunn, a storekeeper residing at Waimato, met j with a serious accident, and had a narrow escape of losing his life last night. It appears that Dunn was standing on the platform of one of tho carriages of the express train, and on the engine passing round the slight curve and over the points at Addingfcon, the jerk threw him off, and ho fell heavily to the ground. By those who saw him fall, it was thought, that he must have been killed. On arrival at Christchurch the matter was duly reported, and shortly afterwards information was received that although Dunn was seriously injured he was alive. The unfortunate man was put on a trolly and brought on to the Ohristchurch station, and thenco taken to the Terminus Hotel. Dr Frankish was Boon in attendance, and found that the loft leg was broken just above the ankle. Wo learn that the sufferer is doing as well as can be expected. Leciube.— A temperance lecture in connection with the newly-formed St.Asaph street Temperance Society was delivered in the schoolroom last evening, by tho Rev. S. Macfarlane, President. There was a good attendance, and Mr W. Tremayne occupied the chair. The Rev. lecturer dwelt generally on the evil effects of intomperanco on the working classes, illustrating his subject by numerous extracts from Charles Lamb's "Confessions of a Drunkard." Mr Macfarlane also strongly advocated tho necessity for ministers of the Gospel grappling with this evU, and furthering the cause of temperance, not only by precept, but also by example. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Rev. Mr Macfarlano for his interesting and instructive lecture. It maybe added that although tho St. Asaph street Temperance Society haß only been a short time in existence, it already musters a, largo number of members, and is weekly increasing in strength, j A Band of Hope for young .children has been formed in connection with the Society.

Fbiday's ,GUi«.— During the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. on Saturday the mean velocity of the wind has been gauged at 554*5 miles. The mean pressure per square foot would be 2 > 62lbe, but at times the wind blew with more than double the mean velocity. Tho pressure that buildings exposed to tho utmost' force of the gale would have had to bear has been calculated at from 10 to 121bs per square foot. Mori? CaiOEET Mateh — Lyttemon v. CHBiSTCHCTfiOHv~- A muff match, twenty aside, between Lyttelton and Christchurch, came off at the Cricket Ground yesterday, and was a thoroughly enjoyable affair. The sides were captained by the Mayors of- the respective towns. From the display of cricket made by several of those who took part in the match, it was considered that to them could hardly be applied the term "muffs." The result of the match was a victory for Chriftphurch. The Christchurch men went in first; and when the nineteenth man was put out the score was 126. The Lyttelton men then went in, and in their first innings scored only 63. They were therefore ■ atoncesimt'ih again. Their second innings began extremely well, no fewer than 41 being scored when the first man was run out, 74 when the second was bowled, and 97 when the third retired. Eyes^who went in at tho beginning of the innings, was not out at the end j and hud meanwhile run up a score of 89. It had be:n arranged that the stumps should be drawn at six o'clock, and as at that time the second innings of Christchuroh had hot concluded, the match was decided on tho result of the first innings. As, however, the vhitorscould not return to Lyttelton before eight o'clock, the ganie wUs continued and left Christchuroh still victorious, with nine wickets to spare. The scores were— Christchurch 126 and 41, for five wickets ; Lyttelton, 63 and 156.