AUCTION Sale. — Under instructions from theßorough Council, Mr Osborne will to-mor row offer the right to graze on the recreation reserves, and the lease for fourteen years o the New River Harbor endowment. Full par ticulars will be found in our advertising columns. A Liberal Gift. — Tt will be seen from our report of last night's meeting of tbe Hospital Committee, that Mr J. T. Thomson has made a donation to ihe institution of £100. Tbis well-timed liberality will be highly ap preciated, and we hope others will be found to imitate Mr Thomson's example. The Father of the House of Repre sentatives — Mi A. De B. Brandon, who has r^pres'nt'd Wellington co'in'.r? district con tin ously for twenty -one j-.n'B bas announced bis intention of retiring from political life. He is known as the father of the House, but has never taken a very active partin its deliberations; indeed he was of late years sel dom in his place. Skcular Bigotuy.— The Dunedin Morn ing Herald says : — That other and more vigorous efforts will be made to remove the reproach of ignoring Biblical teaching can not be doubted, and as little cau it be doubted that common sense will ultimately prevail orer the secular bigotry, which refuses to permit or suffer religious instruction in our schools. Concert and Ball at Woodlands. — There will take place this evening, at the Woodlands Schoolhouse, a concert aud ball iv aid of the school fuuds. The promoters nssure us that an exticmcly am active pro gramme will be submitted, and that a great number of friendsfrom different quarters will be present, so that those who may attend will experience a treat. Verdant, Vert I— The North Otago Times mentions that a certain merchant not 100 miles frem Dunedin had occasion to send by rail a consignment of coconnuts, and inquired of the goods clerk as to the freight chargeable. This promising young s;enlleman looked down the tariff, and rinding nothing about cocoanuts there, charged for cocoa, which was the nearest article he could get at. Heckuits for the Ahmed Constabu l AV.T. — Amongst the 162 men who enlisted at Christchurch for service at "the front" were two medical men, one clergyman or ex clergjman, one lawyer, and a number of clerks, accountants, and some of the pick of aitisans. 