A medical gentleman, in his letter of application for the post of Surgeon-Super intendent to the Ross Hospital, asked how many servants he would be required to keep ; whether " trained lackeys" were procurable, and what was the ruling figure for necessaries and luxuries of life. The local Advocate very much fears lie has applied to the wrong place. During the incoming spring and sum mer it behoves parents to warn their children against eating of the various wild berries to be found growing in the vicinity of Westport, many of which are apt to cause sickness, while others are absolutely poisonous. An instance in point happened on Tuesday, in which the sufferers narrowly escaped the most serious consequences. Three young children of Mr A. J. Green, draper, with a playmate, were amusing themselves in the Railway Reserve, at the rear of Mr McElwee's residence, where the growth of the tutu plant is luxurious. The young Greens, being totally ignorant of the poisonous nature of the plant, ate some of it, their young friend fortunately finding it unsuitable to her dalate did not eat. Subsequently the children went home, when Mrs Green became alarmed by their frequent vomiting and appearance. Dr. Thorpe was called in, and pronounced the children to be suffering from tutu poison ing. The usual remedies in such cases were vigorously resorted to—the Doctor, Mrs Green, and neighbors working from 10 a.m. until the afternoon, when they had the satisfaction of finding the sufferers well again. The escape was a narrow one. Intending investors are reminded that the Gaming and Lotteries Bill positively compels the drawing of Mr Hughes's final consultation on the advertised date. No time should therefore be lost in secur ing tickets. The Committee of St, Canice's Church have decided to ma'ze extensive repairs to the Church building, Amongst other work, a new roof will be put on, and new ventilators fixed,

The next, and last, line on the Literary Society's syllabus is an essay, "Early Days of New Zealand," by Mr Z. C. Home. The annual conversazione will follow.
