The s.s. Wairarapa, from Melbourne, arrived at the .BltilT la-.t evening. Sho has a full pas senger list for Dunedin, including the Most Rev. Bishop Moran, several new priests for the diocese, and a number of postulants for the Dominican Convent. Mr Charlos Wamoc and his dramatic company aro also among tho pas- I sengers. A lire brolto out in Mortiington, at an earl) hour this morning, by which two houses in Lawrence street were completely destroyed. The fico is supposed to have originated iv a house of some six or seven rooms, owned and occupied by Mr Attwood and his family, and then spread to the five-roomed house owned and occupied by Mr Smart, gardener. Both these bouses were levelled with the ground. By the efforts of neighbours and tho Salvago Corps • the adjoining premises (occupied by Mr Adam son, warehouseman)weresaved. Wewereuuable to ascertain the amount, if any, of tho iusur-

Ttio crimin.ul sessions of tho Supreme Court will commence at 10 o'clock this morning before his Honor Mr Justice Williams. There are not many cases on the calendar, and as they aro all offences against property, of an ordinary charac ter, they should not take long to dispose of.
A very interesting paper on "Children's Natu ral History Societies" was read by Mr Chilton at the meeting of the Dunedin Branch of the Otago Educational Institute on Saturday last, a sum. Mary of which is given elsewhere in this issue. The question of certain members of tho institute siguing resolutions, counter to those presented from tho institute, came up for consideration; but the discussion took place in committee.
