Third-class Inspector McGovern, of the New Zealand police force, has been pro moted to the rank of second-class.
Hunt for an Escaped Prisoner.
[Press Association.]

Lyttei,ton, This day. ; Wm. Dennistou, au old offender, now serving 12 months for vagrancy, escaped torn the bard labor gang this morning, ight men left the gaol at 7 a.m. for the top of Oxford street, where the road mak ing is in charge of one warder. The men had just started work when Dennistou was missed! having apparently stepped behind a gorse fence and under that cover got away, The rest of the men were marched back to gaol, and the alarm given. The warders and police started to scour the hills at the back of the town, and at 1Q o'clock Warder Ironsides found the pri soner's hat, trousers, and boots hidden in the scrub. At 10.30 a lad named Hard ness informed Ironsides that he had seen the prisoner in the distance heading to wards Heathcote Valley. A large body of warders and police are now out.
The State of France.
SIGNIFICANT PROCEEDINGS.
Paris, December 29.
The rise m consols is mainly due to the French transferring money to Eng land, the fear being prevalent in France that a political crisis will be the outcome of the Panama Canal revelations.
Fire Brigade excursion on Monday next. Warrimoo arrived at Sydney yesterday. A late telegram states that Otago won the cricket match against Auckland by eight wieketfaqd three runs.
THE EVENING STAR.
