A Press Association message from Melbourne 1 states that over 100 paßsengere from England - to Melbourne by the s.s. Orient were tran ■ - shipped to the s.s. Kotomahaua, which sailed ior .the Bluff yesterday. • Among them were Mr W. J. M. Larnach and family. .The residents on the Windsor Downs are , looking forward hopefully to the completion of the Duntroon-Hakateramea railway. Not the leastl'among the many blessings to be derived therefrom will be a daily mail^ the flistrict at present' only having a mail twice a week. A correspondent informs us, under date the 9th inst., that the settlers in the Hakateramea Val • -ley hope ere long to receive the benefit of rail way communication with the chief centres of population, as work on the line is being apt on with as rapidly as circumstances wil permit. ,

Persons who are liable to pay land tax, but have not paid the game, are informed that proceedings will be -.taken for the recovery of all amounts which may remain>unpaid on the Slst instant. ■

At the Mechanics' Institute, Timaru, at 2 p.m. to morrow, Messrs J. T. Ford and Co., in conjuiction with Messrs 6. Wiikia and. Co. and Wright, Scepnen son, and Co., will offar lor silo the Embank E-itate, conoiatlng of 4800 acrea of agricultural land.
Shareholders in the Serpentine Quartz Company ' (Limited) are informed that a further call ot 10a per share ha* been mode.
