The idea of illuminating the town clock lias been so often mooted without anything coming of it that people have become scep tical on the point, and are inclined to believe in its realisation when they see it. However, we think they may at length safely anticipate that the progress of time will be shortly indicated by night as clearly as by day from the tower of the Insurance Buildings. For some nights past Messrs Branston and Forster have been engaged in a series of experiments with gas reflectors of various degrees of brilliancy, with a view to determining which kind will be most suitable for the purpose. Last night the Mayor and several of the Councillors were down town to witness the trials. Each face was illuminated in a different manner, and the civic party "walked round" and "took sights 1' from Shortland-street, the wharf, and Queen-street by the Greyhound Hotel. Strange to say, the dullest light, which was that illuminating the wharf side face, was found to indicate the time most clearly at a distance. We understand that the Council havo absolutely determined to illuminate the clock at once, but it is not settled which degree of light will be used. The "Herald" makes it rather "hot" for a constable who, according to our veracious

contemporary, was on thepoinc of "running in" his Worship and the whole civic party. The truth of the matter is that the olHcer knew what was going on, and was simply endeavouring to prevent the crowd from interfering with the municipal vision. Unfortunately for him his efforts seem to have been slightly understood.
Fire at Wanganui.
