Should the manufactured article turn out a success,' the reduction in the price of tbo im ported article at which they will bo able to sell will probably secure for them a large share In the market. The residence of Mr 0. Godfrey Knight, situated on the Terrace, very narrowly es caped destruction by fire Wednesday afternoon. Prompt action, however, prevented anything very serious occurring. It appears to have originated iu a chimney, which caught fire. Some time after the chimney had been ex tinguished, crooks was seen issuing from the shingles by one of the inmates of the house, who immediately went out to seek assistance, which was soon found. A couple of men mounted to the roof, armed with wet blankets, and set to work to beat out the flames, which had already obtained a good hold. Valuable assistance was rendered by two gentlemen handing water. By the time the fluries were were got well under, Mr Smith, agent for the Norwich Insurance Company, arrived on the scene, and, with bis assistance*, the fire was subdued without the help of the fire brigade, who had now got a hose to bear. The damage was confined to a hole in the roof about four feet square and some plaster washed from a ceiling by the water. The home was insured for .£SOO iu tho Norwich Union office. The first of a aeries of winter entertain ments which it ia proposed shall be given at short intervals by the Musical aud Dramatic Association of the Southern Cross Lodge No. 24, L0.0.F., took place last Friday evening at the Princess Theatre, Tory-atrcet, the initial enter tainment taking the form of a vocal and in strumental concert. The affair, n mU'ical point of view, was a most unqualified success, and it is a pity that tbs attendance was not larger-than It wad. However, tho theatre was more than half filled, and a number of tickets which had been purchased were not presented, ao that at any rate the association will not bo ou the wrong side of tbs balance-sheet. The band consists of nine in strumentalists, tho majority of whom are well known musician*, most of whom, so far as ability goes, rank os amateurs of tbo highest order, one of the violins being played by ayoung lady. 