Mr Sproule Graham died suddenly at his residence in West Belt at 4.45 this morning. The deceased who was well-known and much respected, has suffered for the last two years from heart disease, and though not confined to his room during any portion of that period, he has been unable, to work. Yesterday he seemed to be much better than usual —so much so, that his re ; latives entertained hopes of great improvement in his health. He took a walk down the street during the morning, and retired at about 7 o'clock in the evening. During the night he enjoyed undisturbed sleep; but, awaking suddenly in the morning, he shortly after expired from heart failure. The deceased leaves a. widow and a grown up family of three sons and seven daughters. His age was 69 years, and he had been in the dominion for the last 20 years.

Some idea of the migratory habits of the people of New Zealand may be formed from the fact, that there have been no fewer than 4000 alterations made in the Ashburton electoral roll during the last three years, and even these figures do not represent all the changes that have taken place, foi the roll is only properly compiled and i printed once in three years, and during the interim, while many names are scratched off, few are added. The roll in its present form is so incomplete that it does not meet the purposes of either the No-License party or the Liquor party, both of which are already in eager quest of reliable information in- this direction; and it i; thought that some provision should be made for keeping the roll more up-to-'.late; but to have it at all times complete and absolutely reliable is obviously impossible.

Counsel for the defence in the sly n-rog case heard at the Magistrate'-. Court yesterday became unusually serious in his address to the Court. "Ii Ashhurton," he said, "the people wer living in holy terror of the police pay ing them a visit and seizing the spiritu ous liquor they kept in their house for medicinal purposes." O tha' blessed word piedicinal !