NEWS OF THE DAY.

Attention is directed to our advertisements in reference to the Christmas number of the " Weekly Press." There was an exceptionally long train from the South last night. Most of the passengers were returning from the Ashburton Show. On Friday Constable Cartmill, of Kaiapoi, arrested a boy, an escapee from Burnham, at Mr Flack's farm, near Chainey's corner. Mr W. J : Bassett, who is leaving Stormont after nearly twenty years' residence, was entertained at a dinner at the Town Hall at Oxford on Thursday and presented with an illuminated address. Pickpockets were in evidence at the Ashburton show yesterday. A lady had not been long on the ground before she was relieved of her purse, which contained several shillings and, what was even more valuable, her railway return ticket. In the city and at Lyttelton yesterday a gale from the north-east blew till the afternoon, when it changed to north-west. Throughout the North Canterbury district there was a strong drying wind and no appearance whatever of the predicted further fall of rain. A fire broke out in tiie back part ofDevane's hotel, A&iDurton, shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday morning. The fire brigade turned out smartly, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames before any serious damage was done. Had it not been for the exertions of toe brigade the whole building would have been destroyed. People who open up a road for the purpose of putting in a drain, or with any other object, should take greater precautions against accident than were apparently taken on Thursday. A section of Cashel street was opened, and a lady cyclist, with her bicycle, tumbled into the excavation. Beyond a very severe shaking and a fright no injury or damage were reported. At the annual meeting of the Christchurch Beautifying Association the five members who were elected committeemen were elected to vacancies on the committee caused by the retirement by rotation of that number of members. Of the five three had served for the twelve months and two were new members in place ot an equal number who did not seek re-election. All the other members retain office until the expiration of the Association's present financial year. The conference on the drainage at Papanui were rather funny ac the expense of some Road Boards last night over the manner in which they carried out their footpath shingling. One member noticed that a load was dropped in a certain place and a seoond was tipped at a distance of about as far as the eye could reach. Another member had a better story, which was that the employees of a Board not many miles from Papanui used to scatter the shingle broadcast with their hands as the dray progressed. The looming trouble between England and France has aroused the practical patriotism of some people, and admission was sought to at least one of the Volunteer companies. It required five more members to bring it up to the regulation strength. Ihe applicants exceeded that number, and the accepted ones will probably be decided by ballot. At a meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board letters were read from Mr Maxwell, consulting engineer, stating that so far as he could judge from letters, plans, «fee, there did not appear to be any startling development, or one at present calling for special action beyond that he had advised in June last. He recommended that the dredge be fitted with a Wellman pump, but as Mr Maxwell will be in the colony again in December, it was resolved to take no action until he returns. The Spreydon Baptist Church, which was re-opened on Sunday last, after radical alteration to the building, now presents a very attractive appearance. The chief labour consisted in turning the church round, and tfiis was done by Mr J. Clark, of Kaiapoi. A new front has been added with a porch in Gothic, a rose window and two Gothic windows with lead-lights in appropriate colours. The front of the rostrum is in Gothic design executed in figured rimu. This reading desk is supported by brass scrolls on a turned column. The building is lighted by three groups of incandescent lights. The carpentry work was done by Mr C. E. Otley, and Mr J. Archbold designed the interior decoration. The ceiling has been broken into panels. The old front door leads into a lobby which connects with the old schoolroom and with. a new and commodious infant room designed for sixty children. The total outlay is about £300. The architect was Mr A. Chidgey. The annual soiree was held on Thursday, when addresses were given by the Revs. W. Morley, Gordon Webster, T. H. Lyon and C. Porter.» The fifth annual convention of the Canterbury Christian Endeavour Union came to a conclusion last night, when an evangelistic aervioe was held at the Congregational Church, Manchester street, the Rev. Dr. Erwin presiding. An address was given by the W. Grant from Psalm lv., 6, and Mr Randeraon made a special appeal to young men. A prayer on their behalf was also offered np by Dr. Erwin. Daring the evening the speeches were interspersed with hymns, and at the conclusion an after meeting was held in the interests of the young people. The officers on the previous night were:—President, the Rev. Dr. Erwin, North Belt Presbyterian Church.; vice-presidents, Rev. C. Porter (St. Asaph street Methodist Church), Rev. J. J. North (Spreydon Baptist), and Rev. J. Orchard (East Belt Methodist); hon. secretary, Mr W. J. Jenkins, St. Paul's ; and corresponding secretary, Mr H. Heelop, St. Albans. A conference was held at Papanui last night between delegates from the Avon and Riccarton Road Boards mad the Papanui Progress Committee over the scheme for the drainage of Papanai. Dr. Brittan presided. Upon the report* of the canvassers it was found that there were fifty-tive ratepayers in favour of and twenty-two against the proposal asking the Boards to raise a loan-for concrete channelling and kerbing and grading the footpaths where necessary. It was resolved that the scheme should embrace the following streets :—Papanui road, from the Sawyers' Arms to Palmer's; north and south sides of Church street, and St. Johns street to the creek ; the north side of Blyth's road to the railway and the south side to Brown's; the west side of Nursery road, from Bligh's to Hawthorne road ; north side of Hawthorne road, from Nursery road to the Papanui road; the North road, from Sisson's to Jackson's corner; the north side of Homer's street to Loftua street, and the west side of Loftus street, from Papanui road to the creek. It was/also decided to ask the Boards interested what they would do in the matter of regrading the footpaths where necessary, and the representatives present promised to fir* to* acWw all thtir bnUUbm.

Telephone Bureaux are n§w open at Kaiapoi and Woodend. Detective Fitzgerald -arrested a man yesterday who deserted from XL M.S. Torch in February last. He will be 1 sent to the nearest warship in New Zealand waters. There is now on view in Mr Alpe's shop, High street, some trout caught in the north branch of the Waimakariri by Mr W. J. Alpe and a friend. The weights were 341b, 31b, 21b, lilh, ljlb, lib, fib, and fclb. A Christehureh syndicate has drawn Massdnissa in Tafctersalrs £1 Melbourne Chip sweep, which has half filled, making the first prize worth upwards of £13,000. Massinissa promises to start first or second favourite. The Prohibition League Union met last eveninsr. It was decided to address a letter to the coming Methodist Synod, suggesting that a Temperance Sunday should be inaugurated in the Sunday schools of Canterbury. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the unknown person who had inserted in the " Press" a sermon of Canon Farrar's, entitled " The Vow of the Nazarite." A rating race was held by the Christchurch SaiUng Club on the Estuary course on Thursday afternoon. There were only two starters, and they finished as follows :— Water Lily (Lorimer), 4hr 23min 16sec; Patiki (Blakealy), 4hr 29min 25sec. Water Lily thus beat Patiki by lmin 28sec on the time allowance. Handicap races will be sailed to-day over the same course. The Lyttelton Harbour Board's dredge ' "Manchester" may be expected to start for , the colony very shortly. The Board yesterday afternoon discussed the question of deciding upon a route and a master. It was decided that the Agent-General should consult the New Zealand Shipping Company on. the matter. The usual eight page editions of "Truth" will be published to-day. The contents will comprise., a varied selection of reading matter and all the latest local and telegraphic news of the day. A cartoon dealing with the humours of the week will also be issued as a supplement. On .the ringing of the secretary's bell on Thursday night, in connection with the Musical Union, there was a regular stampede of "grave and reverend seigniors,".and- fashionably-dressed ladies. A stranger dropping in accidentally, and not acquainted with the manners and customs of the city, might reasonably be excused if he came to the conclusion that an alarm of fire had been raised somewhere. Mr L. Mathias left for Waitaki yesterday, on the way to the Waikakahi estate, which has been purchased by the Government. Mr McClure, who is associated with him, left on Thursday. They are to be joined by two surveyors from the Otago Land Office, and the party are to make a complete survey of the estate. Pick-pockets were at work at Ashburton yesterday, probably attracted there by the show. Mr Chas. Stabbs had his pocket relieved of his purse and £3 on the Ashburton station while he was waiting amongst the crowd for the express to Christchurch. The purse also contained a return saloon ticket to Greymouth. A telephone message was received by the police last night that Mr Vale's coach factory in Ferry roid had been broken into. A constable was at once despatched, but it was found that a door which was supposed to have been broken into by burglars had been forced by one of the inmates of a portion of the factory who had lost his key. A meeting of the Victoria WateT Committee was held at Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co.'s office yesterday afternoon. It was decided to open Victoria Water formally, on Saturday, sth November, at 2.30 p.m., and to request'his Excellency the Governor to conduct the opening ceremony. The Garrison Band has agreed to give its services on the occasion. The Model Yackt Club intend to exhibit a procession of yashts and have ! yacht races on the lake. Those of the public who appreciate the attraction that the lake has added to our park will have an opportunity afforded them of contributing to funds for further improving Victoria Water. The second day's racing of Canterbury Amateur ''Athletic Club's' Championship Meeting will be held on Lancaster Park this afternoon. The sport is likely to be even better than was seen on Thursday, as there are very good entries for the different events, including some of the best amateurs at present on the track. The Club has made a strong effort to present a very attractive programme to the public. Iα addition to the sports, the first round of the Senior Cup cricket contests will be played on the green. The 'spectators will thus get double enjoyment for the very modest charge which is made for admission to the park.. The final of the 250yda Flat Handicap (the heats of which were run on Thursday), and the 440 yds Half Mile and Mile Flat Handicaps will be run in< addition toother events. There will be a frequent tram and 'bus service to the park. The Christchurch Drainage Board has raised the ireof the residents of Papanui who have a drainage scheme in hand. They wrote a letter to the Board,' the reply to which included the following from the Board's engineer:—" I have taken levels at Papanui with a view to ascertaining the fall from the side channels complained of into the Board's drain, and find that under ordinary circumstances there is a fall, although such is certainly not excessive. If the Papanui people are in earnest they should have levels of the etreets taken, aud a general scheme prepared showing their requirements. When that is done, no doubt the Board will consider the matter on its merits." The Conference last night was very decidedly of the opinion that the Board had altogether ignored the subject submitted to it, and had introduced extraneous matter. Dr. Brittan and Messrs P. M. Stewart and H. Tjsoh were appointed a deputation to place before the Board the opinions of the Conference, and repeat to it what had been asked about the main drain. Morris, photographer, from Dunedin, personally takes all the portraits in Colombo street.' Call and see new speci mens.—[Advt.] Oates, Lowry and Co. are now making a speciality of Ladies' Zealandia and Atalanta Bicycles, at reasonable prices and and easy terms. Zealandia Cycle Works, Christchurch.—[Advt.] If you require a tonic take the best— Syrup of Hypophosphites. Barneet, Chemist lib bottle, 4s 6d; £Ib, iJs 6d.— Advt.] Just now we are offering summer dress lengths 4s lid, 5s lid, 6s lid, a real bargain. Ladies' 2s lid white sailor straw hats for Is 6d. 2s 6d kid gloves for !*■ lid; art muslin, plain colours, Is lid per dozen; small boys' sailor suits 4s lid, 5s lid, 6s lid, genuine goods; real good washing prints s£d, 6£d, all worth 2d per yard more money; colonial tweed suite 24s 6d. ' genuinely cheap. Shaw, Robinson and C 0. ,, 213 Cathel street, opposite "Press" office. 2528 Two Nuts to Crack.—Excelsior and Bed Bird Bicycles.—Send for catalogues! Barlow Cycle Manufacturing Company, Manchester street. Crown Brand Tea Prize Competition.-— Next distribution closes 31st this month (October). Ladies , watches, albums, workboxes, 4c Hnbbard, Hall and Co.— [Advt.]