NEWS OF THE DAY.

The fourth winter entertainment takes place at Kaiapoi this evening.

Tho winter evening entertainment in connection with the Literary Institute will be hold this evening.

Yesterday eighty acres of land was bought in the Malvern lTilis district by Messrs Hill and Hassnll. The land is situated in the Big Ben range, near the Thirteen-Mile Bush. Mr Hill brought some specimens of quartz to town obtained from a reef situated on the land purchased by him. The quartz is white and blue.

The council of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Aeeociation will meet at the Pier Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Saturday, the 14th met, at twelve o'clock, when the time for holding and making arrangements for the ensuing exhibition of the society and other very important business will have to ba decided.

The Rangitoto with the English mail on board arrived yesterday afternoon at Hokitika, but owing to the state of the bar she was unable to communicate eicher at Hokitika or Greymouth, and had to go on to Wellington. It is perfectly evident that some change must shortly be made in our postal arrangements to prevent the community from being subjected to such inconvenience and delay in future.

A week's work in Birmingham in its aggregate results is something wonderful. It comprises the fabrication of fourteen millions of pens, cix thousand bedsteads, seven thousand gun 3, three hundred millions of cut nails, one hundred millions of buttons, one thousand saddles, five millions of copper or bronze coins, twenty thousand pairs of spectacles, cix tone papier mache ware, £30,000 worth of jewelry, four thousand miles of iron and steel wire, ten tons of pins, five tons of hairpins, hooks and eyes and eyelets, one hundred and thirty thousand gross of wood screws, five hundred tons of nuts, screw-bolta, spikes, and rivets, fifty tons of wrought iron hinges, three hundred and fifty miles length of wax vestas, forty tons of refined metal, forty tons of German silver, one thousand dozen of fenders, three thousand five hundred bellows, a thousand roasting jacks, one hundred and fifty sewing machines, eight hundred tons of brass and copper wares, besides an almost endless multitude of miscellaneous articles, of which no statistics can be given, but which, like those enumerated, find employment for hundreds and thousands of busy hands, and are dostined to supply the manifold wants of humanity from England to the Antipodes.

The New Fork Herald" says: — The "Journal of St Petersburgh " gives some details of the strength of the Russian navy. It comprises two hundred and sixty-seven vessels, of which two hundred and thirty are steam. These include four iron-clad frigates, three iron-clad batteries and thirteen monitors. Moro than one-half of this immense naval force is in the Baltic, where it is frozen up about one-third of the year. Thirty-two steam and nine sailing vessels are on the Black Sea, and twenty-nine steam and two sailing vessels on the Siberian coast, in the North Pacific. The whole force appears to be well balanced, well in hand and very efficient. The Baltic fleet is ready for any Prussian complication. Prussia has nothing which can hope to contend against it. The Black Sea fleet is sufficiently strong to make a dash against Turkey, when the moment arrives for opening the Mediterranean. The Siberian fleet is well posted to protect the aggressive movements of Russia upon the Chinese empire and the northern island ppssessions of Japan. While the rest of Europe quarrels and wastes its strength in silent warfare Russia progresses and swells her boundary lines. . The completion of the railway from New York to San Francisco brings New Zealand within thirty-seven days of England. Wellington is only twenty-one days' steaming from San Francisco ; the transit overland occupies six days, and will probably be reduced to five ; and New York is ten days from Liverpool.

A splendid new market, erected by Miss Burdett Coutts, in the poorest part of London, at a cost of over £200,000, was opened on April 28. It is, altogether, the most complete and magnificent building of the kind to be found in Europe.

A meeting of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works was held on Thursday last. The question of the Opihi bridge was again discussed. Mr Macdonald moved—" That bye-law 20 be set aside to enable the Board to reconsider the question of the Opihi bridge." After a long discussion the motion was lost. On the eubject of immigration the following resolution was carried —" That this Board must express their disapprobation of the tenor of the letters of the London agent of the Provincial Government of Canterbury with reference to the despatch of an emigrant ship direct to Timaru, the eaid agent having only put himself in communication with one London shipping house ; whereas, had he acted in a more business-like manner, he would probably have eucceedcd in chartering a vessel direct to Timaru. Copy of this resolution to be forwarded to Hie Honor the Superintendent. Mr Hayhuret moved, seconded by Mr Healey, " That the Board instruct the Engineer to call for tenders for the erection of a bridge over the river on the site agreed on by the Board by the next meeting." Mr Macdonald said he hoped he was not influenced by factious opposition, but they must bear in mind that the making of approaches, if land hail to be purchased, to the bridge, would involve a frightful cost. He would there? fore move as an amendment on Mr Hayhurst'e motion—"That until the right of way both north and south of the Umukaha River be secured, it is not advisable to call for tenders for the bridge over the same." Mr LeCren seconded the amendment, which was put to the Board, and carried by a large majority. Mr Hayhurtst then moved, seconded by Mr llealey—" That the Board instruct the engineer to inquire if the proposed line of road to the site of the new brjJge

rims through any private land, where the right of road i« not reserved, north or couth. of the eaid eiu\ nml to mport at next meeting." The following resolution was al>o carried — "That tlii* Hoard communicate at once with Mr Paterson, C E., of Dtmedin, with, the view of ascertaining the cost of having plane and specifications of a bridge over the Rangitata placed before it, and also upon what terms his services could be eecured by the Board to carry out such works if required." A meeting in connection with the Total Abstinence Society was held io the temperance hall last evening. The Rev B. Powell occupied the chair, and opened the meeting with some eppropriate remarks. The meeting was addressed by Messrs J. GL Baker, Hyde and Davidson. Several songs were sung in a creditable style by the temperance choir, and the meeting, which was fairly attended, terminated with the National Anthem. It was announced that on Monday evening next the proceedings would consist of readings, recitations, eongs and speeches.

A public meeting to discuss the Timaru County question was held on Thursday last. The letter from Mr Stafford was read, advising the propriety of postponing the introduction of a Bill constituting Timaru a county till next eessjon. After considerable discussion the following resolutions were carried :— "That the thanks of this meeting be given to the member for Timaru for the information afforded in the letter to the Chairman of tho Board of Works." " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable for our member to press on the Bill which ha has already framed in accordance with our petition for creating this portion of the district into a county separate from Canterbury, and that this Bill if passed would not only tend materially *o the advancement of the district, but would also benefit the whole colony, by removing from the House of Representatives the opposition which threatens any Government (however beneficial the measures they may introduce) should they attempt to legislate for the benefit of outlying districts.

A meeting of the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon at the offices of W. Wilson and Co. Mr G. Gould in the chair. Mr Duncan said he had been requested to state that Mr Fanthain was unable to attend on account of the death of his father. Several accounts were passed and ord red to be paid. Accounts for advertising " Local Manufactures " were laid before the meeting—viz., " Lyttelton Times," 15a ; " Star," 9s 10d ; "Press," 10s 2d. Mr J. E. Browne inquired whether there was such difference between the charges of the "Times" and the "Press." The seceretary said that the " Times" was 50 per cent higher than the "Press." The chairman said that the "Times " would reduce its charges to the same scale aa the " Press " in tvell-autbenticated cases. Mr W. Wilson said he had been informed that the circulation of the " Press" since it had become a penny paper had enormously increased, and this might also be taken into consideration. Ifc was resolved —"That the annual show should be held on the 9th November, Messrs W. Wilson and A. Duncan on the part of the Horticultural Society undertaking that the spring exhibition of that society should be held on the same day." Mr J. E. Brown said that the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show would be held two days after. The following sub-committee was appointed to rovise the catalogue, viz., Messrs G. Gould, R. Wilkin.Higgins, Washbourne, Mitchell, and Grigg. The chairman said that no answer had been received from the Government respecting the offer to sell five acres of land to tho Government for a cattla market, but thero was reason to believe that the offer would not be necepted. Mr W. Wilson said it had been hoped that the sale of these five acres would enable tho Association to pay off the £2000 mortgage ; the gentleman who had lent the money, wished to call it in, and he (Mr Wilson) would state that he would lend £2000 at 8 per cent, which was less than the rate of interest now paid. He was prepared to advance the money at any time, and to lend it from year to year for a period of eighteen years if required. It was determined to accept Mr Wilson's offer, and instructions were given to have the necessary deeds prepared. Mr Wilson moved "That Mr Wilkin be authorised to take such steps as were necessary to establish a Herd Book for the Province of Canterbury, and that the secretary be requested to ask the aid of other Agricultural and Pastoial Societies in the province to the movement." Tho motion was seconded and agreed to. Messrs Stace, Norman, and A. Duncan were appointed to represent the association at the forthcoming Champion Ploughing Match. On the motion of Mr Duncan, ifc was resolved to call for tenders for letting the association's paddock, for a term commencing on 15th November next and terminating on the 15th October of the following year. A letter was read soliciting the signature of the association to " a petition to the Superintendent asking him to include Colombo street south in the Heathcote Road Board district, instead of the Spreydon district. Mr W. Wilson was of opinion that it would be better to petition the Governor to include all the streete a certain distance outside of the South Town belt withm the boundaries of the city, so ac to bring them under the control of the City Council. The matter then dropped. After the transaction of some routine business the meeting adjourned.

The Doyleston Mutual Improvement Association met at the usual hour in the Creek Lodge, August 7th, Mr John Rennie in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman called upon Mr D. Boyle to open the debate for the evening, viz., " Whether is dairy farming or grain growing the more profitable." Air O'-Boyle stated that, owing to pressure of business he was not so fully prepared as he wished, and as he understood his opponent, Mr Eothery, was well prepared with a very elaborate paper, he wished the debate to be postponed till next evening of meeting. This was sgreed to. A fine was, however, inflicted on Mr O'Boyle in accordance with the rules of the Association. Mr Oaborn then read, very fairly, a selection from " Words for the Wise," by T. S. Arthur. Mr McLachlau then gave as his recitation '* The Ruined Cottage." The style in which Mr McLachlan delivered this called forth loud and deserved applause. Arrangements were tben made for next evening of meeting. Mr McLachlan undertook to give a reading, and Mr Wilcox a recitation. The meeting then adjourned.

Yesterday (he Gorernmont mad 9 a large reserve in the Ly Helton district. It comprises 14,000 acres (more or Jess), end extends from Camp Bay to the Head of the Bay running

inland a certain disffwoe. Tho reserve ia for public purposes, mil is ninio tvuipora .-i\\ under clause 19 of the Waste Lands Ko»i v tions. We are infornmi that prospectors w.i start from Lyttelton flu's morning to propel the-district, and as th***- »re practical nien of many years' experience, we Imvo no doubt n thorough search will be made.

On Saturday afternoon some twenty or thirty boys amused themselves with swinging on the wires of tho suspension bridge, now being erected over the river near the Hospital, and did some damage. Wo hear thut the police are in possession of the names of tho youngsters, who will shortly have to make their appearance beforo the Beaident Magistrate.

The Heathcote Road Board held the usual meeting yesterday, whon there were present Mr Kennaway (chairman), Messrs Ensor, G-arland, and Kerr. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following letters were read from the Secretary for Public Works, giving the Board permission to use the drain on the Kailway Station property for draining Colombo street south; from the Spreydon Boad Board, asking the permission of this Board to deepen the side channel on the west side of Colombo street south for about fourteen chains, so as to improve the drainage of that part of rural section 79 west of tho above etreet, and in the Spreydon district. The Surveyor's report was read and considered. lie reported on the question of relieving the Ferry road drain by deepening Jackson's creek, and gnvo hie opinion against this course being takon, as besides the Ferry road drain being deeper than the creek, the railway had blocked up the creek near Mr Dodd's brickyard, and if a culvert were placed there tho expense of clearing and deepening tho creek would bo beyond the means of the Board ; and as no other means could be takan without considerable expense to lessen the quantity of water in the Ferry road drain, that drain should be protected either by covering in or retaining its present sides, and the expense should be borne by those districts that naed it a* an outfall, as well as the Government, The Surveyor also reported on the matter referred to by Mr Brittan in his interview with the Board at its last meeting, namely the drainage of the canal reserve road and his property adjacent, and Aid win's road; recommended the widening and deepening the drain referred to. The Board then instructed tho surveyor to inform the Spreydon Eoad Board that it would allow th« deepening the side channel referred to, under the surveyor's supervision; and directed him to havo the work on Aid win's road carried out, and to fix a culvert at the foot of the hill near Dyers pass road. The Board decided to take no further action at preeent in the matter of drainage. And after passing accounts for work done, adjourned until Monday, the 23rd instant.