Local & General.

♦ ■ ■ The Registrar's returns for Christchurch. and district last month show-^Births, 151 ; marriages, 44 j and deaths, 72. In no case do they compare well with the record for April last year. Mr Federliand a party of settlers started for Hokianga yesterday, accompanied by|two surveyors, who are to survey the block of land intended for the settlement. It is stated that the idea of forming a settlement, as at first proposed, has been abandoned, and that the promoters intend carrying on the settlement themselves. The members of the E Battery of Artillery volunteers present at the inspection parade on Wednesday night numbered 52, and not 28 as stated in our issue of yesterday. The error arose from the fact that the battery was divided into two detachments, and the strength of only one was supplied to our representative. Relative to the appointment of Sir G. Whitmore to the Volunteer command, Professor Hutton writes to the Lyttelton Times of this morning as follows : — "In your leading article on Sir G. Whitmore, you say, "It is a better appointment than that of an officer well posted in theoretical knowledge, whose abilities have not been put to the test of actual fighting." You will, therefore, be glad to learn that Sir G. Whitinore's theoretical knowledge is equal to his practical knowledge. In 1859, Brevet-Major Whitmore entered the Staff College at Sandhurst, and the following year he passed out at the vary head of the list. In consequence, he was selected by General Cameron as his Military Secretary, and in that capacity came to New Zealand." An eight -roomed house at Opawa, owned by Mr Willis and occupied by Mr Long, was burned down at 10 minutes to 8 o'clock last night. Mr Long was away from home when the fire began, but Mrs Long and the children were in the house. Mrs Long, who was ironing in the kitchen, accidentally upset a kerosene lamp, which was the cause of the fire. Mr Long came home just afterwards, and saved a sewing machine and a few other articles of furniture. He values his furniture at about .£2OO. It was insured in the Imperial Office for .£l5O. The house was uninsured. The chemical engine went as far as the South Belt, and the railway hand engine also turned out, but the fire was too far distant for them to be able to arrive in time to render any assistance. The respect which was shown by so large and representative a body of mourners as followed the remains of the late C. T. Ick to the grave yesterday, showed tf t'the good work which he had done in 1». 3 had not been forgotten by his fellows. The funeral, which left Mr Ick's late residence in the Papanui road yesterday afternoon, was attended by the Mayor of Christchurch, ex-Mayors Thomson, Gapes and Ruddenklau, the members of the City Council, Benevolent Association, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Town Clerk and the Secretaries of the Hospital Board and Benevolent Association, in addition to a large number of private mourners. Over i twenty carriages were in the cortege, which proceeded to the Church of England Cemetery, where the funeral service was performed by the Rev T. Flavell, of Merivale. The monthly meeting of members of the Pioneer Bicycle Club was held at head-quarters last evening. There was a full attendance, Mr Preece presiding. It was decided to close the present season, so far as the Club's runs are concerned, with a trip to Akaroa, on May 24, returning on ! the following day, and the Secretary pro- | iuised to arrange for a launch to meet the cyclists at Barry's Bay. A discussion en- \ sued as to the advisability of forming a Cyclists' Volunteer Corps. The Secretary was requested to take steps for holding a meeting at the Commercial Hotel on Monday evening next, of all cyclists favourable to the object. After transacting some routine business, the meeting adjourned. According to an investigation made by Dr Koch, there has not been a single death from small-pox in the German army since 1874, whereas in the French and Austrian armies, in which vaccination is less care--1 fully performed, there have been many.

On Wednesday evening a coinpli- 1 mentary supper was tendered to Mr I Davies, of the Junction Hotel, Spring- ' field, followed by a ball held in the Kowai ■ Pasg schoolroom. Over 20 couples met to { do honour to ihe occasion. Great credit is due to the Committee of Management for the success of the event, and the aid which ! they received from lady friends was par- j ticulatly noticeable at the supper table. | The toast of the evening was entrusted to ; a gentleman not altogether unused to public speaking, and in paying a tribute to Mr and Mrs Davies in their character of i host and hostess, he said that, as one who j came, not so very long ago, a perfect j stranger to the district, he desired to I acknowledge many kindnesses received at j their hands, and he requested the company to join him in wishing them happiness and I prosperity. The toast was received with ! musical honours. Mr Davies briefly replied, I thankmg them for himself and Mrs Davies. An enjoyable night was spent, Mr Bowman presiding at the piano.