BABY'S NAME.

"If those eyes could only see, ifthoso lips could only speak," sings tho sentimental person, referring to an adult, once much loved, but now "not dead but gone before." But what about baby? What would the infants say if they felt the full weight of the names that are put upon them? Since Lieut. Shackleton left for tho Antarctic with the Nimrod a baby —presumably a boy — at Lyttelton has been christened "Nimrod Shackleton." Shall we hear of a dainty wee girl being dubbed Mollyma wk, and will these islands bo by-and-byc picturesque with Albatross Jones, King F.dward VII. Land Smith, Penguin Potcrcon, Antarctica Adams? A critic —probably a crusty bachelor —has alleged that children should havo a voice in the selection of their names. 1 He declares that the little ones shoultl bo numbered or coded till they reach years' of discretion, and then they could pick names for themselves.

Referring uo the sale of the HirstInnds Estate, Hawcra, the Stnr says that "Hirstlands" has been somewhat of a grievance to the countryside ovor since dairying transformed tho industry of the district. From the settlers' point of view its 1300 well-grassed acres, occupying a groat proportion of tho hind between two factories, formed an impediment to progress; while tho towns of Normanby and Hawera looked with no favourable eye upon such a rich tract of country being occupied by ono settler, let him bo ever so generous, when, it was capablo of giving a good return to a host of fanners. Under the circumstances, therefore, it wns not surprising that nppouls should havo been made to the Govtirnmont to take ovoi tlfe place nnd to subdivide it. This course wns not adopted, beciiuse it was understood Unit tho citato wiis to he- subdivided when the Jenso, held by Mr. A. Alexander, hud run its course. Pnrtieulut'3 of the prices realised have nlreally been published. The averaeo per acgo wa& £333 18«.