An amended " Permissive Bill " has been passed by the Auckland Provin cial Council, and by a recent division the clause empowering only adult males to sign memorials under the Act was {■truck out. Females can now exercise their voices in regard to the licensing of public houses. At a silting of the Supreme Court at Dunedin on the 6th inst. Mr Smithies applied to have his petition heard, and it was placed on the list. The death of Sergeant-Major Mur dock, of the Volunteer Staff, Dunedin, is reported as haying taken phice on the 12th inst.
