Gravel. — James Gibson made an offer to the Council that, in lieu of the payment of two pence per yard for gravel taken from the land lcasod by him at Mangorei Bridge, he would accept a lump sum of £30 for all gravel taken from the pit during the period of his lease — say twenty years. — The matter was referred to the Engineer to report upon

Report of Borough Council, letters, &c, are pressed out of to-day's issue. The Simmotids English Opera Company will in all probability, visit New Plymouth in the course of a fortnight. The schooner Nelson left Greymouth this morning for Waitara, with a cargo of coal consigned to her owners, Messrs. Webster Brothers. Up to the time of going to press there was no sign of the 'Frisco mail at Auckland ; consequently the Taiaroa is not due till Thursday. The s.s. Wallabi left Greymouth at 8 o'clock last night, direct for New Plymouth, and may be expected here about 10 p.m. The lately appointed R.M. for New Plymouth is aboard. A tenderer to supply gravel tried to work upon the feelings of the Conncillors at the Borough Council meeting last evening, as fol lows :—lf: — If I get the work done in less than a month, I would accept a bill for half the money in six months. The bait would'nt go down. c From a Southern exchange we clip the fol lowing :—": — " Mr. Auctioneer, I have a horse I •want you to sell— a real good one— perfectly sound, quiet, a very good norae for a journey, and will carry a lady or anything else. I can ( confidently recommend it, and want £15 for it." " All right," said the auctioneer ; " bring the nag along to the sale early." The horse •was brought, and the hammer man, at once recognising the animal as one which had pre viously passed through his yard, the reserve price of which had been fixed at £5, which was more than its actual worth, told the would-be seller. " But, but," said the man, '•I bought it from a religious man — a man who would not tell a lie — and I haven't added anything to his recommendation." "My good man," said the auctioneer, "whenever you deal with a very religious man again, just look out. 